Second game of the first round was played on Sunday. Bristol Aztecs turned what was expected to be a competitive matchup into a shutdown, scoring 3 times in the first half and setting a tone Belfast Trojans never recovered from. The home team added a third-quarter touchdown to effectively put the game out of reach, then closed with a field goal.

The start of the game was a one-man show with RB Josh Breece doing the heavy lifting. His combination of quick rushes and a catch kept the chains moving. With the goal line in sight, Ethan Gretzinger hit Andrew James Carr in stride on a crossing route across the middle for the opening touchdown, 7-0.

Ensuing kickoff looked destined to bounce out of bounds, but it stayed live and home team’s Edward Onamade hustled to snatch it on the short field. Breece took the snap and slalomed through traffic. Gretzinger put another one in the books, first avoiding the blitz, then scrambling to find a leaping Oliver Luck in the end zone, 14-0.

On the Trojans’ first drive quarterback Dominic Lynn sprinted for the first down. A sack pushed them into third-and-long, but Lynn found an open receiver to keep the drive alive. Another Lynn’s rush followed, but Idrissa Forfana’s tackle forced a fumble that Ryan Davies pounced on, abruptly ending the visiting team’s possession.

Another Aztecs’ series looked promising when Gretzinger stepped out of the pocket, searching for an open receiver. Dayle Kelly caught up to him causing a fumble and Trojans’ Ben Porter recovered it.

Running back Rayshawn Boswell fired up his jets constantly leading his team downfield. When he finally lost steam, the Trojans took a chance on a fourth down but failed to convert.

Breece continued where he left off and Gretzinger threaded the ball to numerous receivers ahead of the chains. The concluding punch of the first half came when Gretzinger screened to Carr for 21-0.

After the intermission, Trojans’ Boswell and Mohamed Ramadan ground out tough yards but the team turned the ball over on another unsuccessful 4th down. Breece took over, broke through the defensive ranks and sprinted home for his first and most deserved TD, 28-0.

Next, Boswell found a hole and darted down the field, before being tackled mere yards in front of the goal line. The Irish tried a long field goal, but the kick fell short.

The Aztecs milked the clock in the final quarter. Tenacious running by Emmanuel Abedi-Bawa took time off the clock. When Gretzinger went for the end zone, Brandon Falconer picked him off and returned the ball to the rival’s side of the field. Lynn linked up with Chad Higgins, but Uchena Obasi forced a fumble, and his teammate Josh Ricketts recovered.

On their finishing offensive series Gretzinger dismantled the secondary connecting with Max Holland and Luck on big plays and setting the scene for the kicking team, 31-0.

Warsaw Eagles await the Aztecs in the second round. The Brits will fly to meet the Polish national champion on 16 May.