UPDATED - Tue 08-May-2007 1:26 PM
Mixed fortunes for the Aztecs as London Blitz and the Knights visit BAWA

 

 

AZTEC SENIORS

Blitz Visit Bristol and Share Spoils

by Pete Jones - photos © Pete Tiley / UNiCOM

After winning the First ever BAFL Premier game 48-12 against old rivals the Southern Sundevils several weeks ago, the Aztecs were keen to continue their progress against last years Division 1 national finalists the London Blitz.

The game was the season opener for the Blitz who started slowly on Offense in the first quarter, with the Aztecs making more headway. The Aztecs failed to reach the Blitz red zone however despite some promising drives, as the Blitz Offense settled down. Some solid run plays were followed by a 32 yard touchdown pass from Henry Allen (his first in senior football), to Blitz veteran Duncan Aldous. Aldous, usually solid on extra point missed, the wind proving problematic for him, and Aztec kicker Chris Hunt all day.

Despite good running from Guy Hughes-Games and Nick Proctor enabling the Aztecs to get in field goal position towards the end of the second quarter, Chris Hunts 3o yard attempt was blocked.

In the third quarter, the Aztecs took the field with renewed vigour, and soon after, Canadian QB Neil Balthazaar threw an 18 yard strike to Nick Smith. The extra point sailed just wide of the upright to leave the score 6-6.

Both Defenses held strong for the remainder of the game, and despite both the Blitz and Aztecs Offenses driving deep into opposition territory, both Defenses were in unforgiving mood.

Notable performers for the Aztecs were the 4 defensive stat leaders on the day, Linebackers Tom Proctor with 7 tackles, Tom Johnson with 5 and a sack, Defensive end Anthony Lartey with 6 tackles, and Safety Ty Williams with 3 tackles. All four are Aztec Youth graduates, Proctor in his 4th year, of senior football, Lartey in his 2nd, and Johnson(who leads the team in sacks and tackles) and Williams both in their 1st year of senior football. Collectively with the rest of the Aztec Defense, they held the Blitz Offense to 109 yards total all day, while the Aztec Offense recorded 186 yards.

Head Coach Mark Hopkins was pleased with the result, "The Blitz proved how good they were last season, and the were going to be no pushover, but I think we also showed that we can be competitive this year, with the best teams in this division. A real test will be next weeks game against the London Olympians, which will be another tough game".

The Aztecs play the London Olympians on 13th May, with a 2.30 kick off, at the BAWA club on Southmead Rd. For further information on the Aztecs, please visit www.aztecs.co.uk, or email bristolaztecs@hotmail.com.

AZTECS 2007 SCHEDULE

13 May v London Olympians - 20 May @ Southern Sundevils

27 May v East Kilbride Pirates - 17 June @Gateshead Senators

22 July @London Blitz - 29 July @Birmingham Bulls

12 August @London Olympians [4pm KO] - 26 August v Coventry Jets

For further information on the Aztecs, please visit www.aztecs.co.uk
 

 

AZTEC YOUTHS

What a difference a year makes

The Bristol Aztecs Youth Team today were shown what a difference a year makes. This time last year almost the same exact score line entering the 4th quarter resulted in them running out 34 - 11 comfortable winners. A year on and the result was a completely different outcome. The Knights coaches have done wonders with a strong returning squad and added two or 3 quality players. A pre-season game leading into the fixture for them had allowed them to play at game speed from the get go.

The Aztecs Youth Team were in the Knights position from a year ago. Having lost 17 of 22 starters from their English Conference winning team of 2006 (many of whom were 3 or 4 year players for the team) the team today fielded many 16 and 17 year olds with no game experience. No one would play the Aztecs pre-season and this meant it was late into the game before the Aztecs got moving on both sides of the ball and had cut out the mental errors. In the end they just ran out of time driving to tie the game with the clock running out on the oppositions 20 yard line.

The game started well for the knights with some good gains from Appleyard at Quarterback including a 10 yard bootleg to open the score. Shortly after that he met Charles "CJ" Baker in a crunching sideline tackle that sidelined the Knights Quarterback for the rest of the game.

His replacement did not skip a beat though and their offense did not suffer for his loss. The Aztecs stiffened their resolve and dug deep into the type of passion that had done them so well over the previous 3 seasons.

Captain Jack Kelly ripped off a Barry Sanders Esq run with a spin making 3 defenders miss for a 45 yard score in the second quarter for the teams to enter at the half all tied up.

Mental errors that had haunted the Aztecs on both sides of the ball in the first half continued into the 3rd quarter. A turn over inside their own 30 meant that the Knights had a short field to work their power running game on and they pounded away on short sweeps all the way to the endzone.

Fianzo Smith gridded out a short run up the middle in the 4th quarter to level the game at 12 - 12 and give the Aztecs hope in a close tense game. Then a bad injury to rookie corner back Adam Jenkins (dislocated elbow) on a 45 yard reversing score for the Knights woke the Aztecs offense up. With less than 2 minutes on the clock they took the ball from their 20 and drove 60 yards before running out of time in their attempt to tie the game.

Whilst the win would have meant a lot to the young Aztec Team the character they discovered in their loss and the way the handled themselves will mean more to them down the line. Again 40 plus on the sideline for the Aztecs and again everyone played. The Knights celebrated the win as though they had won the National Title which shows what a reputation and team the 2006 Aztecs had built.

   

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