BAFL: The Blitz Make The Big Game Again

By Gerald Williamson

The London Blitz American Football Club booked their place in their fourth consecutive BritBowl, BritBowl XXIII, by defeating the Farnham Fast Lane Knights 33-13.

London Blitz kicker Nathan Holt kicked the game off into the picturesque early September sunshine. Excellent work from #35 Richard “Chicken” Cunningham shut down the Knights kick-off return, tackling the kick returner on the Blitz sideline and setting up the first offensive possession for the Knights on their own 29 yard line. Their possession didn’t last long however as a fired up Blitz defense quickly forcing them to punt with defensive back #3 Aaron Sanders-Percival missing an interception by the length of a fingernail on third down.

The Blitz offense’s possession was even shorter. On the first play of the drive, quarterback #8 Fred Boyle handed the ball off to running back #23 Gareth Dauley who only managed to pick up a yard on the ground before being brought down. On the second play, the Blitz went with the ground game again with #23 Dauley taking the hand off and raced some 67 yards to the end zone for the game’s first score. Kicker #25 Nathan Holt put his kick between the uprights and the boys in Blue were off to a flying seven point lead.

After the ensuing kick-off the stellar Blitz defense went back to work, when defensive back #3 Aaron Sanders-Percival recorded his first interception of the afternoon but his return was negated by a block-in-the- back penalty and forced the offense to start their drive from the Knight’s 29 yard line. The offensive drive stalled however, with the Blitz being forced to punt.

The Blitz defense then got the ball back for its offense, forcing another punt from the Knights’ offense. The Blitz offense then put together a sustained drive, which was capped off by running back #23 Gareth Dauley who strode into the end zone untouched from seven yards out for his second touchdown of the afternoon. #25 Nathan Holt added the point after and the Blitz led 14-0.

Both teams then traded possession as their defenses stood firm and forced the offenses to punt until running back #23 Gareth Dauley broke out into a scintillating 51 yard touchdown run, spinning out of what looked to be a sure tackle before accelerating down the near sideline and into the corner of the end zone to complete his hat-trick of touchdowns for the game. #25 Nathan Holt kicked the point after through the uprights and increased the Blitz lead to 21-0.

The Blitz defense were then burned by a deep ball after blown coverage on a half back pass on the ensuing Knights’ possession for a touchdown and their kicker added the extra point to put the Knights’ back in contention with the score at 21-7. On the following Blitz offensive possession quarterback #8 Fred Boyle was picked off trying to put the game beyond reach. However, the resulting possession didn’t last long with defensive back #3 Aaron Sanders-Percival stepping up and make yet another big play by snaring his second interception of the afternoon.

However the ensuing offensive possession didn’t last very long running back #23 Gareth Dauley fumbled the ball for the Knights to recover. The Blitz defense took to the field only to be backed up by a controversial late hitting penalty on Blitz safety #20 Ed Morgan that bemused sections of the crowd. On the very next play veteran defensive back #29 Lennox Johnson was penalized for pass interference in the corner of the end zone. From there, the Knights were able to punch it in from a yard. The point after kick was blocked, leaving the score 21-13 at the half.

The Blitz came out running in the third quarter with key carries from running back #23 Gareth Dauley and fullback #48 Jon Chilton. The offense’s long and grinding drive was capped by an 11 yard catch and run by team captain and wide receiver, #11 Rod “Spartan” Bradley who strode into the far corner of the end zone. #25 Nathan Holt added the extra point and the Blitz lead 28-13.

Stubborn defending from the Blitz defense saw big plays from defensive back #29 Lennox Johnson and defensive lineman #69 Aaron Chambers which kept the Knights offense at bay. The Blitz offense came close to extending its lead but a holding call ruled out a touchdown run from running back #32 Deji Alli. A 27 yard field goal from kicker #25 Nathan Holt and a Safety rounded off the scoring with the final score London Blitz 33, Farnham Knights 13.

After the game, wide receiver and team captain Rod “Spartan” Bradley said: “For this game to be somewhat tougher than we expected was probably the best thing for us. We’ve got work to do, we’ve got a lot to prepare in the next three weeks but it’s great for the new guys and everyone who’s put in the effort this year to be in the Bowl game.”

London Blitz Head Coach Mark Moss said: “We’re there now. It was all a bit tense today, we didn’t play that well in the first half but that [key] drive in the second half from the offense set the tone of the second half. We’ve got eight practices [until the Bowl game] and we’ll be working our socks off to be ready, to be prepared.”

The Blitz now prepare for their final game against the Coventry Jets at BritBowl XXIII in Doncaster’s Keep Moat Stadium on September 27th.

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