Last matchup on the opening round schedule was an evening clash in the UK. Two new arrivals to the CEFL Championship, Bristol Aztecs and Amsterdam Crusaders have had an official rematch after playing a friendly last year that went to the Dutch.

This time it was dramatically different. Playing without their starting quarterback, who dislocated his shoulder a few months ago, the visitors experienced a very rocky road game. A solitary touchdown they mustered wasn’t enough to counter an outpour of points by the energetic Brits.

It was the defenses that took an early spotlight, each by forcing and recovering a fumble.

The Aztecs kicked off the scoring with a rainbow pass from Ethan Gretzinger to Darius Saint-Robinson, who sprinted to the end zone unchallenged, 7-0.

Tom Seager gave the home team’s offense another go by intercepting a deep ball by Jordi Anröchte. Gretzinger’s long pass to Oliver Luck was an intro to Kacper Salik running the rock in for 14-0.

Following a fruitless 4th down attempt from their own half, the visiting team was faced with defending the short field. Gretzinger refreshed the scoreboard over the ground to 21-0.

Another touchdown by the Aztecs quickly ensued. Two tight ends did most of the work on the drive. Joshua Petrie first grabbed a lob for big yardage and knocked at the Cru door and then Sean Cook went in for 28-0.

A mental error by the home team’s punter, who knelt to catch a long snap, handed the ball to the Dutch team in front of the rival’s goal line. Running back Le’Anthony Reasnover scrambled around and jumped across it for the first and only points by the visitors, 28-7.

Kieran Cutlan booted it through the uprights to set the half time score at 31-7.

Third quarter was uneventful but the last period saw the Brits extending their gain. Gretzinger located Petrie in the back of the end zone for 6, and then with Salik for 2, 39-7.

Gretzinger delivered a pass to Tom Bowering for the decisive victory and Cutlan dropped the curtain on the game with a drop kick for the final 46-7.