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After a change of governing body and several unfortunate criteria changes an inexperienced but talented Nottingham Caesars Youth Flag American Football team set off for Kings Norton Rugby Club in Redditch for the first tournament of the BAFA season.
A change in the age limits ruled out 7 potential starting players leaving Head
Coach Matt Walker a small squad. However he pulled the team together and got
them ready to compete on the National stage.
In the opening game of the tournament against reigning UK Flag Champions, the
South Wales Sharks. The Caesars led by quarterback Jon Newell started with a
stutter, false starting on the first play but with the pressure on and facing
fourth down and long Newell improvised his roll out to avoid the South Wales
blitzer and hit second year sensation Craig Devonport with a 60 yard bomb which
was taken to the house for 6 points, the conversion was added to make it 7-0.
7-0 soon became 14-0 on the next drive, Will Nolan with the score. South Wales
added a comeback score before finishing the half with a fourth down on the
Caesars goal line.
Facing the possibility of a tied half safety Jack Chambers
in his first tournament broke superbly on the slant pass and snatched it from
the Sharks wideout and sprinted down the sideline for the score, 21-6 at half
time. The Sharks showed why they are the National Champions in the second half
by raising their game; particularly on defense where they pressured quarterback
Newell into errant passes, which left the game to finish up 30-27 to South
Wales.
The final tournament game saw a rejuvenated Caesars face
last years title runners up the Sussex Thunder, a team the Nottingham Caesars
had yet to beat in tournament play. However this fact meant nothing as
Nottingham set about their southern counterparts, Newell running his offense
with Favre like flair and Henry Young the reigning Defensive MVP running down
the Thunder quarterback Neal at any opportunity. Nottingham took the lead on
their second possession when Newell found Adam ‘ Alligator’ Grant down the
sideline and that was the opening he needed to streak into the endzone. Sussex
answered back with a score of their own before a fine catch from Devonport, who
lists Nate Burleson as his hero, caught his final score of the day. Once again
Sussex were able to respond but being unable to convert their score found
themselves trailing 13-12. With the clock ticking down it was down to some
power running from Jock Chamber to see out the game, however he was too good
and scored on a dazzling run. With the conversion unsuccessful Sussex would
need to score and add a 2 point conversion to tie the game. With under a minute
left this looked unlikely. In American football the unlikely happens more often
than not though. On the first play of the drive Sussex beat the defense with a
hopeful long pass brought down in the endzone to set up an all or nothing
conversion attempt. With nerves on edge and the game on the line Henry Young
showed why he is the leader of the Caesars defense with a game winning sack on
the Sussex quarterback.
This left the
Nottingham Caesars finishing third overall and is a fantastic base for the
season ahead. The team performed well and have proven they can more than live
with the best teams in the country.
In 2 weeks time the Nottingham Caesars continue their
quest to reach the National Finals at the Keepmoat stadium in Doncaster with a
trip to Gateshead for the Woodham Warriors tournament.
The Caesars are always keen to attract new talent to the club;
if you are interested in joining the team please contact:
Flag Team Head Coach - Matt
Walker
Tel: 07876 616580
Email: mattwalker75@hotmail.com