The London Blitz American Football team made a white hot start to their 2009 campaign with an emphatic 40-16 victory over the Bristol Aztecs.

Before the game kicked off into the May sunshine, both teams paid their respects to former London Blitz player and 2008 Team Captain Dan ‘Raiders’ Dawson with a minute silence which was met by rousing cheers from both teams, sidelines and fans alike.

With the game under way the Blitz’s first possession following the kick-off was short lived. It only consisted of four plays before the Aztec defense forced them to punt. London Blitz Punter Fabrizio Gargiulo pinned the Aztecs deep in their own territory. Undeterred, the Aztecs offense marched downfield. However, it was when they reached the Blitz red zone that their offensive march ended. On 1st & Goal, the Aztecs Quarterback tossed up a pass looking for a receiver in the corner of the end zone only to find London Blitz defensive back Aaron Sanders-Percival who intercepted the pass.

Despite the turnover, the Blitz’s ensuing possession didn’t last long as a forced fumble on a sack gave the ball and the advantage back to the home team. The Aztecs made their second trip to the red zone count, scoring a touchdown, running the ball in from a yard out. The point after kick was good which gave them a 7-0 lead.

However, the Blitz only needed one play after the kick-off to get on the score board with a connection from new Blitz QB Fred Boyle to Wide Receiver Rod ‘Spartan’ Bradley finding the end zone on a 39 yard catch and run. However, Fabrizio Gargiulo’s point after kick sailed wide left, leaving the score 7-6. The Blitz continued to take the initiative as it was the Aztec’s turn to fumble the football, which London Blitz linebacker Mark Penfound recovered and rumbled 20 yards all the way to end zone for the Blitz’s second score of the game. Fabrizio Gargiulo converted the point after attempt to make the score 13-6.

With 2.19 left in the half the Blitz’s next possession didn’t end up with a trip to the end zone; in fact, it was stopped short of the 40 yard line leaving enough time on the clock for Bristol to have one more drive. With the Aztecs eager to put some points on the board, they settled for a 27 yard field goal and three more points after not being able to follow up on the trickery of their faked punt.

With 39 seconds remaining in the half the Blitz offense took to the field. With QB Fred Boyle in his first senior start at Quarterback he searched out veteran Wide Receiver Marcin Lai who made a catch deep in Aztec territory worthy of his career highlight reel on a crucial third down, with a twisting, over-the-shoulder diving grab all while dragging his feet to stay in bounds which was met with gasps and applause of recognition from the fans in attendance. Within field goal range and 14 seconds left in the half, Boyle took to the air again only to be flushed from the pocket and on the move found wide receiver Rod Bradley at the front of the end zone. Fabrizio Gargiulo added on the extra point to make the score 20-16 to the Blitz at half-time.

After the half, the Blitz were eager to extend their slender lead but found their field goal attempt blocked and returned to mid-field to set up another Aztec attack. This was short lived after some bone crunching team work from London Blitz defensive linemen Lawrence Reid and Paul Summers, with Reid forcing the fumble after making a jarring hit on the Aztecs quarterback and Summers making the recovery. The favour was soon returned as the Blitz coughed up the ball giving it right back to Bristol.

Determined to get the ball back, the Blitz defensive unit wreaked havoc once again, forcing another fumble, 1 of 7 forced turnovers on the day, which this time was recovered by linebacker Lloyd Buxton. Running back Gareth Dauley took advantage capping off the ensuing possession with a three yard touchdown run and Fabrizio Gargiulo tacked on the extra point. The Blitz defense were alert to a Bristol reverse and caused another forced fumble to which Aaron Sanders-Percival was the recipient and he returned it 32 yards for another Blitz Score.

Full Back Nathan Holt completed the scoring for the Blitz, running the ball in for a Touchdown from seven yards out and adding his own extra point to cap off the first rushing touchdown of his career. The game was all but a formality but Blitz safety Ed Morgan ensured the victory with the game’s second interception to leave the final score London Blitz 40, Bristol Aztecs 16.

After the game, London Blitz Full Back and Kicker Nathan Holt said: “It was never going to be an easy game, but it was a great way to start the season. I think a lot of people didn’t think that we would come here and do that, so it was brilliant.”

London Blitz Head Coach Mark Moss said: “We were probably just a little bit nervous going into the game as we didn’t have much preseason work with the Team Canada game being cancelled but I’m very pleased with the way the players performed today, the way they stepped up and got the job done.”

The London Blitz will now be looking to their next road game against the Farnham Knights on May 10th.