THE Sundevils captured the inaugural BSL Division 1A title with a crushing shutout victory over the Aztecs last Saturday. Southern outgained Bristol by 304 yards to just 94 as the Aztecs completed just one of 15 passes all afternoon.

The Hampshire side started with an impressive drive that stalled on the Bristol 21. However, it didn’t matter as linebacker Paul Jenkins picked off Aztecs’ quarterback Dave Keen’s first pass attempt and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown. Leo Lindsay kicked the extra point to give the Sundevils a 7-0 lead with 9:50 left in the first quarter.

The early excitement couldn’t be matched during the rest of the half, which ended with several exchanges of punts.

The Sundevils, though, came out firing again in the second half. Jenkins stopped Bristol rusher Abdul Saro on fourth-and-one at the Southern 34 and the Hampshire side took full advantage. The Sundevils tricked the Aztecs by bringing Davin Jones in at quarterback for one play in place of starter Bruce Gemmell. On third-and-12, Jones hit tight end Russ Goodall for a 31-yard pickup which moved the ball into Bristol territory. Running back Rahsonn Williamson, who led the game with 80 yards on 15 carries, then rumbled for 11 yards with Lindsay adding a 12-yard pickup on the ground.

Gemmell then found tight end Tom Jenkins for an 11-yard touchdown. Lindsay’s extra point sailed wide right, but the Sundevils still led 13-0 with 6:16 to go in the third quarter. Things went from bad to worse for the Aztecs as Southern defensive back Corie Savage forced Saro to fumble at the Bristol 39. To add insult to injury, the Aztecs were also penalised 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Gemmell then passed to running back Suvon Hoque for a 12-yard gain on third-and-14 before Williamson’s three-yard run converted the fourth down and set up a first-and-10 at the Bristol 11. From there, Lindsay ran over left end for the score. His PAT was blocked, though, but Southern’s lead was now 19-0 with 2:23 to play in the third.

Turnovers kept haunting Bristol. Savage intercepted Keen at the Southern 12 and returned the ball all the way back to the Bristol 33. However, Southern couldn’t take advantage and were forced to punt. Unfortunately for the Aztecs, returner Mike Sutherland fumbled at the two, Steve Shergold recovered for the Sundevils and went in for the touchdown. Lindsay’s extra point was good and Southern led 26-0 with 10:41 to play in the game.

Bristol could only manage a three-and-out on their next drive and Jim Roberson’s side killed the game off with a drive that last just over five and a half minutes. The Aztecs got the ball back with 2:22 to play and came out throwing. However, it was not to be successful as new quarterback Ashley Richer’s errant throw only found linebacker Greg Douglas, who took the ball 40 yards to the end zone. The extra point was blocked, completing the scoring at 32-0.