The first game on the CEFL Championship quarterfinal program was a clash between Warsaw Eagles and Bristol Aztecs. The integrity of the game was up in the air because the visiting team’s equipment wasn’t. London’s airport workers didn’t load it on the plane. To ensure the game went ahead the Aztecs had to borrow complete sets of gear from local teams: helmets, pads and uniforms.

They started close, a gritty opening quarter that left the scoreboard nearly even. The Poles struck first with a speedy touchdown, but the visitors answered quickly, keeping the margin negligible. It was the second quarter that decided the contest with three touchdowns by the home team to the Brits’ one. The Eagles extended their lead with a third-quarter score that put it away. The Aztecs’ lone fourth-quarter contribution wasn’t going to cut it.

On the second offensive play of the game Eagles’ running back, Meril Zéro broke through the front defenders and escaped the secondary for a 63 yard touchdown, 7-0.

Bristolians mounted their own massive attack. Quarterback Ethan Gretzinger moved the chains with his legs and running back, Josh Breece answered with his own long-distance ground work, 7-6.

Near the end of the leading quarter Vidal Woodruff hit Bruno Waszkiewicz in stride for a long gain and then, as the periods changed, connected with Krzysztof Nosow in front of the goal line. Zéro flanked to the right, touching the pylon with the ball for 14-6.

A failed Aztecs’ drive later Woodruff spiraled to Jakub Sema for big yardage. Waszkiewicz grabbed another pass to put the team within the striking distance, before Woodruff located Nosow in the end zone to up the score to 21-6.

On a 4th and long during the last minute of the first half the Aztecs decided to go for it. Gretzinger flung the ball to the scoring area but the intended receiver couldn’t corral it. That prompted religious Poles to go for their own Hail Mary passes and one of them materialized with Woodruff’s rainbow to a wide-open Sema, 28-6.

The Aztecs got the ball back 25 seconds before the HT break and answered in kind. Opposing secondary was attentive on all but the last play. Gretzinger threw as far as he could and Oliver Luck did the rest for a 53 yard touchdown to lower the difference to 28-13.

When Woodruff went long in the third period, Aztecs’ Tom Seager jumped the route and came down with the ball. The visitors’ drive looked promising when Gretzinger found Luck open in the opposing maroon zone. Their connection didn’t work on a scoring play though and the ensuing field goal try was blocked.

The Eagles continued with short passes and rushes by Jan Szwej. That proved effective and the offensive unit moved ever closer. Backed by a costly Aztecs’ penalty, Woodruff tossed the ball to Waszkiewicz who shed his defenders for another score, 35-13.

Not willing to quit, Gretzinger tried to go deep but the ball was intercepted by Dawid Magrean. Home team’s backup players couldn’t take advantage, but the Brits did on their last drive. When the Eagles’ defenders expected passing plays, Emmanuel Abedi-Bawa rumbled down the field time and time again. Finally, Gretzinger linked up with Max Holland for the touchdown and with Breece for the 2-point conversion to drop the curtain on the game, 35-21.

This win takes the Eagles to the semifinals. They are slated to go the Chur, Switzerland and face Calanda Broncos there on 6 June.