Aztecs 68 Jets 14
A 68-14 defeat at home to the Bristol Aztecs served as confirmation that the Coventry Jets will miss the playoffs for the first time since their inaugural season in 2004. Dominic Olney was, once again, outstanding as he stepped in to play quarterback in the absence of Martin Ringeisen. Olney’s play-making ability kept him out of trouble as he completed 10 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns.
Olney’s touchdown passes accounted for both scores. A short pass in the first quarter found Josh Hughes in the back of the endzone to keep the Jets in the game early on. Another short throw saw Sam Hyde continuing his impressive rookie season with yet another score, this one from two yards late in the first half. The game was effectively all over by that point though, with Bristol securing a 42-14 lead at the break as they scored on every possession.
Coventry, missing several key linebackers including Dave Cowen, Mufaro Dune and Toby Skelton, were unable to stop the Aztecs ground game as the visitors churned up over 400 yards. Warren Thompson, Oliver Barrett and Tyrone Simpson all ran in long scores during the first quarter Dan Maher added another early in the second. As the Jets looked to respond the heavens opened and Dom Olney made an uncharacteristic mistake, dropping a slippery football in his own endzone. Mark Proctor dropped on the lose ball for an easy score padding an already dominant lead.
Ade Okuneye scored the first of his two touchdowns with the penultimate play of the half. The imposing receiver striding in untouched from 23 yards on the end of Dominic Westwood’s pass. Nick Proctor scored the only points of the third quarter, his 10 yard touchdown run stretching the lead to 48-14. Coventry finally managed a stop on the Aztecs following drive, Anthony Patterson making the play of the day as he plucked a Westwood pass out of the air.
Thompson added a further touchdown in the final period and Dayne Robinson completed the scoring for the Aztecs. For more details on the Coventry Jets and to find out how you can be part of their 2011 campaign, please visit their website www.covjets.com or follow them on Twitter www.twitter.com/CoventryJets.
Report courtesy of Adam Etheridge and the Coventry Jets.