The Coventry Jets were humbled in their 2010 season opener as they were comprehensively beaten 39-14 at home to the Bristol Aztecs. Head Coach Gerry McManus has 15 days to prepare his team for a return match as they travel to Bristol for a match on the 6th of June. The visitors were efficient on offence and ferocious on defence as the Jets failed to ever hit their stride.
Bristol took the early lead and never looked back. Former Jet Nick Jones took his first carry for 14 yards before Derek Yenerall hooked up with Adam Stenlake for a 25 yard touchdown to leave the Jets trailing early. Jon Wyse, who is having an incredible season, nailed the extra point and was perfect kicking on the day. Down 7-0 Coventry's offence didn't respond as they were held and Alan Steel did well to recover a wayward snap but the damage was done as the Aztecs took possession on the Jets' 13 yard line.
Wyse stepped up to boot a 27 yard field goal and extend the lead 10-0 after Coventry's defence stood firm. Quarterback Lorne Sam took his team by the scruff of the neck on the following possession, a long completion to Jeremy Simms was followed by a 19 yard scramble from the former Green Bay Packer. Sam finished the drive with a 34 yard touchdown pass to compatriot Courtney Pope, the American pair linked up for the first time to pull the Jets to within four. It was, however, as close as they would get.
There was plenty more scoring in the first quarter, Wyse notched his second field goal, a 34 yarder, to capitalise on a Jets' turnover after another blown snap. Ade Okuneye, comfortably the game's star player, scored a 48 yard touchdown from Yenerall's pass with the final play of the opening quarter for a 20-6 lead for the visitors. Bristol's next drive spanned 10 plays and took them down to the Jets' two before ending with Jon Dwyer's touchdown saving tackle. It was to prove futile though as a blown snap led to a tackle in the endzone for Mark Proctor who earned a safety and two more points for the Aztecs.
An ill-advised fourth down attempt ended Coventry's next possession and they were quickly punished as Yenerall picked out Steve Leonard for a 34 yard touchdown. Wyse added the extra point before taking advantage of the Jets' sloppy special teams play with a well executed onside kick. The Jets' special team play in the first half was farcical at best, 3 times they failed to get 11 men on the field for kick returns and, whilst they had 12 on the field this time, no one was paying any attention as Wyse nudged the ball 10 yards and recovered his own kick.
More farce was to follow, the Jets stopped Bristol shy of the endzone, but after seeing Wyse finally make a mistake, Pope ran into the kicker to give him a second attempt. This time the Jets got good pressure up the middle and blocked the kick, only to be flagged for once more putting 12 men on the field. Wyse made no mistake on his third attempt, a 24 yard chip shot with the final play of the half as the visitors romped into a 32-6 lead that few would have predicted.
Defensive Co-ordinator Rowelle Blenman made some half time to the Jets' formation, switching to a 4-3 front with good success. Neither team could get on the board in the third quarter but the Jets' did start to the move the ball late on. Kofi Campbell dived in from two yards out to pull Coventry to within 20 and Sam chipped away further adding two more with a run for the conversion. Bristol weren't finished though, Warren Thompson gashed the Jets' defence wide open for a 21 yard score. Coventry took the ball for one final possession but with little time remaining the officials cut the match mercifully short after a head to head collision that floored two players.
Bristol top the Premier league standings at 3-0 while the Jets are left to lick their wounds. It's the first time that Coventry have lost their league opener since losing every game in the 2004 season, McManus will be hoping that history won't be repeating itself.