The opening game in the BYAFA Youth Kitted league Southern Conference set the tone for what is going to be a hard fought season in one of the toughest and most competitive conferences the league has seen in years. Neither side ventured into the league last season as they rebuilt their small squads, but instantly proved they were back with a vengeance.

The Aztecs took a commanding two touchdown first quarter lead. Marching his side downfield behind the running of Ed Collins, quarterback Rich Sutherland had the presence of mind to pick up a bad snap and scamper 21 yards to open the scoring on a broken play. The solid Aztecs defense disrupted any rhythm that the Blitz offense strived to find. This led to a highly charged Aztec offence driving down the field with Lewis Nixon punching the ball home on a 7-yard run. With the conversion failing the visitors had a healthy twelve-point advantage as the quarter expired.

The Blitz however, would not let their spirits dampen. The appalling weather conditions, and stand in quarterback Hawar Goudarzpo only having a few hours practice, meant that the Blitz offense would have to rely on the strong running of Chris Onyliogwu. Onyliogwu stepped up his game in the second quarter as he broke a succession of tackles on a dazzling 62 yard touchdown run which went unconverted leaving the London side trailing by six at the half.

Onyliogwu, on his way to over 150 yards of the Blitz total of 294 yards on the ground, flashed his superb athleticism again, this time bursting home from 86 yards. Lorne Mayers rumbled his way in for the extra two leaving the Blitz with a slender two-point lead as the third period came to an end.

Solid defense and a deteriorating field prevented either side been able to control the ball effectively in the fourth. With around seven minutes left on the clock the Aztecs managed to drive into field goal range. Lewis Nixon converted what proved to be a game winning 32-yard field goal in what was a truly well spirited and hard fought game. Both teams were well drilled, disciplined and displayed a high degree of athletic ability in dreadful conditions. This was the perfect advertisement for youth football in this country and set high standards for the rest to follow.