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Nottingham Caesars 20 Leicester Falcons 0
The Nottingham Caesars travelled to Conference new comers
the Leicester Falcons in the first true East Midlands clash in a number of
years. With unseasonably high winds, controlling the ball was going to be a
challenge to both teams.
With the Caesars winning the toss and electing to receive the ball their offense
took to the field, and despite a number drives were unable to make sufficient
ground to threaten the Falcons goal line. Likewise when the Falcons offense
took to the field they were unable to gain any advantage over a very mean
Caesar's defense. With the ball changing hands a number of times neither side
could break the deadlock and the quarter finished 0-0
The second quarter followed a similar pattern to that of the first with both offenses
finding it difficult to make headway against the respective defenses, and as
the game moved towards the end of the half it looked as if 0-0 would be the score.
That was until the Caesars offense found themselves on the Falcons 22 yard line
and with approximately 2 minutes left on the clock. Offensive co-ordinator
Steve Brittle called for a time out and went into deep conversation with his
quarterback Jason Smith. On the next play the ball was handed to wide receiver
Dervan Alleyne who following his lead blockers and evading a couple of
defensive backs wriggled through the Falcons defense to score a touch down.
With the Caesars failing to add the extra point the half finished with the
Caesars 6-0 in the lead.
The Caesar's defense continued to dominate the Falcons offense and keeping them
well away from the red zone, the Caesars offense went looking for more points
to secure the victory. But it was the Caesars special teams that came up with
the goods, following some hard Caesar's defense the Falcons were forced to punt
the ball on a fourth down. With the wind carrying the ball high and long, Dervan
Alleyne caught it at his 21 yard line. First he evaded two Falcons and then
with a swerve of his hips he changed direction and pace which wrong footed four
Falcons, finally he out paced a Falcon who despite a desperate lunge could not
stop him, great work from Nottingham’s lead blockers then saw Alleyne in open
ground, with no one to stop him scoring a touchdown. With James Smith kicking
the extra points the Caesar's extended their lead to 13-0 at the end of the
quarter.
With a change of quarterback, Mike Hibbert in for Jason Smith, the Caesars went
hunting for more points. Hibbert really got his offense rolling with a series
of first downs that ended up with the Caesars on the Falcons 20 yard line. A
pass play was called and following some fantastic pass protection from his big
guys up front Hibbert rifled in a pin point pass to rookie wide receiver
Richard Musk who found himself completely unmarked in the Falcons endzone
another 6 points to the Caesar's. ‘Mr Dependable’ James Smith then stepped up
to add the extra point, no mean feat with the strength of the wind. 20-0 to the
Caesars. With the game now secure the Caesars took the opportunity to ring some
changes and try a few different things. As the clock wound down to the end of
the game the Falcons put in one final effort to secure some points, but the
Caesar's defense were in no mood to accommodate them and as the final whistle sounded
the Caesars celebrated a victory in the first East Midlands Derby of the year
20-0.
Images courtesy of Jason "Vegas" Bridges