July 15, 2006
PARMA, Italy -
Former Illinois State quarterback Mike Souza passed for three touchdowns and former Redbird Andrew Papoccia scored the game's first touchdown as Parma defeated Bolanzo 34-26, Saturday night, to advance to Italy's Superbowl XXVI on July 29.
With the victory, the Panthers will now face the regular season co-champion, the Bergamo Lions, which won 21-6 on Saturday. Kick-off for the championship will be at 1:30 p.m. CT.
Papoccia scored the first touchdown of the game from 20 yards out, to give Parma a 7-0 lead. The Giants cut the lead to 7-6, before Parma returned an interception for a touchdown to take a 14-6 advantage. Then it was the Souza show. Souza connected on back-to-back touchdown passes in the second quarter for a 27-6 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, the Giants scored and trailed 27-14, but Souza added his third TD pass of the game for a 34-14 lead. The Giants added two scores in the fourth quarter, but came up short.
ISU graduate Tyler Larick is also a member of the Parma Panthers.
