The Coventry Jets moved back into the Premier Division playoff race with a convincing 48-6 victory over the visiting Sussex Thunder. Seven different players got into the endzone for the Jets under the floodlights at the Butts Park Arena. There were touchdowns for the usual suspects in Mark Cohen, Kofi Campbell, Courtney Pope, Tony Perkins and Vince Brown as well as Dervan Alleyne and Shadrach McCook getting on the scoresheet for the first time.
McCook had the breakout performance that he's been threatening for years after coming through the Jets youth programme. The young Coventrian running back amassed 88 yards on 9 carries including his 16 yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Coventry got off to a flying start as Dave Cowen came up with the first of his two interceptions on Sussex's opening stanza.
Lorne Sam wasted no time in completing a 13 yard pass to the returning Pope who's absence was all too apparent in Coventry's previous outing. Sam moved the Jets in scoring position and hit Pope who'd wriggled free in the endzone for the opening score. Alan Steel had two attempts at his kick after a penalty on the first but neither would be converted, the only blot on an other wise faultless performance for the Scottish kicker.
Leading 6-0 Head Coach Gerry McManus let his defence loose with the influential Brown leading proceeding for the ferocious unit. Sussex were forced to punt after a three and out the Jets offense found themselves in a favourable position once more. Big plays came courtesy of Campbell and Pope before Brown crashed into the endzone from 3 yards out for a 13-0 lead.
Things got worse for the Thunder when a mistake on a kick return left them on their own two yard line. The visitor's couldn't move the ball and when the snap on a punt attempt went awry Campbell was left with the simple task of falling on the ball in the endzone for a touchdown and a 20 point margin. The relentless onslaught from the Jets continued into the second quarter as Sam hooked up with Cohen for the giant receiver's 95th Jets touchdown, this one from 30 yards.
Cowen's second pick of the game set up Alleyne for his first touchdown as a Jet, the speedy receiver still had plenty of work to do once he'd made the catch. Dodging tackles down the sideline Alleyne scampered 23 yards for the score. Cohen ran in the conversion on a wayward snap to extend the lead to 35 as half time arrived.
The second half began with big completions from Sam to Alleyne and Pope which set up Perkins' touchdown run from 2 yards out. Leading 41-0 the Jets took their foot off the gas and allowed some mistakes to creep into their game. There were several dropped passes from the receivers, none more costly than when Pope missed one that deflected into the hands of Ben Soro-Perez who was able to return down to Coventry's 14.
David Saul, fresh from his time with the Great Britain Lions in the European Championships, made his first catch as a Jet but coughed the ball up at the Thunder nine to end the third quarter. That turnover, along with some costly penalties, helped Sussex drive downfield where Eber Kington hooked up with Adam Fishlock for a 33 yard touchdown, only their fourth of the season, to cut the deficit to 35. Kington attempted to run in the extra point but came up just inches short.
Campbell picked up 31 yards on just two carries as the Jets searched for an immediate response. Rookie Sat Dhaliwal's first reception set up McCook's scamper for what proved the final score of the game. Steel's kick made the score 48-6 in favour of the hosts who entertain Farnham next week at the Butts, knowing that victory in that game will guarantee a playoff place. Coventry have already played Farnham, a team they've never lost to, once this season winning 43-19 in Farnborough on the 11th of July.
A repeat of that performance will guarantee the Jets at least fourth place in the end of season playoffs. Coventry have long been out of contention for a home game in the semi finals and know that if they do qualify they'll face a trip to either the London Blitz or Bristol Aztecs, two teams that have already defeated the Jets twice each this season. Saturday's match kicks off at 16:00 at the Butts Park Arena and will be preceded by the youth team's final match of their season as they entertain the Sheffield Predators at 12:00.
Tickets for the doubleheader are reasonably priced at just £5 for adults and £2 for under 16's. A family ticket is also available at a cost of £10 and grants admission to 2 adults and up to 4 children. For more details on the Coventry Jets please visit their website www.coventryjets.co.uk or follow them on Twitter www.twitter.com/CoventryJets.