ONE week after helping the Valencia
Firebats retain their Spanish title, quarterback Stuart Franklin
arrived with the Coventry Cassidy Jets and reignited hope that they
might also retain their British crown.
Franklin (pictured right) was on the
losing end last season when Fraser Houston’s epic kick beat his London
Blitz squad as they looked to repeat their victory over the Jets from
Britbowl XXI in 2007. This time around Franklin was on the right end of
a last-gasp victory, his 25 yard bomb saw Jeremy Simms lay out in the
endzone for a miraculous game winning touchdown as time expired.
The 24-21 victory at Farnham has the
Jets firmly in the driving seat for a second place finish and home
field advantage in the playoff semi-finals. Simms earned MVP honours
for the game, with numbers of seven receptions for 95 yards with two
touchdowns, whilst playing through the heartache of a family
bereavement. The hosts took the ball from the opening kick off and
whilst they struggled to move the ball on the ground former Jet Tim
Spaull had no trouble connecting with his receiving core.
A typical deep ball set the Knights
up in scoring position before a penalty pushed them back, a problem
that would haunt them all afternoon. Spaull’s next pass only found
Jets’ defensive back Ahmed Hashim who returned his pick close to
midfield, setting up Ed Tate and the Coventry offense with a short
field. Two more Knights’ penalties moved the Jets over halfway before
Tate hooked up with Mark Cohen for 14 yards to put Coventry in position
to open the scoring. Tony Perkins finished the job diving in from two
yards out for a 6-0 lead.
