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NAPLES, Italy - Kyle Smigelski rushed 23 times for 231 yards and two TDs, and Naples never allowed Hohenfels to cross the 50-yard line Saturday in a 39-0 victory to open the season.

Naples led 4-0 at halftime on two safeties, but Smigelski broke a 65-yard TD run on the Wildcats’ first possession of the second half and the rout was on.

“It took our offense the first half to figure out what (Hohenfels) was doing, but defensively we shut them down all day long,” Naples coach Dirk Lambertson said by telephone. “They only made 28 yards rushing.”

John Bruce and Sam LeVault led the Naples defense.

“Bruce made just five tackles, but all of them saved big plays,” Lambertson said. “They’d throw to their wide receiver, but Bruce was there every time to make the tackle.”

LeVault was just as effective as a drive-stopper. “He made nine tackles,” Lambertson said, “all of them in the backfield.”

Naples is to play at Aviano on Saturday; Hohenfels next hosts Ansbach on Friday night.

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