17th April 2005 EFAF Cup Personal Assurance Knights (GB) 20-6 Templiers d'Elancourt (FR) The PA Knights started their 2005 European campaign in the EFAF Cup with an historic win against the Templiers from Elancourt (Paris). The game was the first ever Stadium based home game for the Knights with 570 spectators watching on from the seating at Aldershot Towns Recreation Ground Stadium. It is also the first time ever that a British club team has defeated a French club team in a European competition. Having two years previous European experience the Knights knew that the pace of the game steps up from that generally experienced in the British League - that was certainly the case with this game as the physically smaller French team more than made up for that aspect with their speed. Knights kicker Steve Belcher (sponsored by Expio Consulting) got the game underway and the French team led by American QB Perez Mattison (East Carolina University) started on Offense. Despite a good early run from the speedy Mattison the Knights Defense closed down the French and they were forced to punt. The crowd enthusiastically got behind the Knights but the French Defense limited their progress and the pattern for the first quarter was set as the teams exchanged punts and posession with no scoring in the period. The Knights were maintaining the majority of the time of posession as their ground game using Kingsley Ejiogu, Joe St Louis and Moses Tomas continued to make progress but dropped passes kept them out of the French endzone. With halftime rapidly approaching the Knights embarked upon another Offensive drive from within their own half as their Offensive Line started to dominate the tiring French Defense. Led by QB Ashley Heath (Sponsored by Premier Prospects) they drove deep into French territory on the speedy rushing of Ejiogu and the determined conversion of 3rd down situations by Joe StLouis. With less than a minute to go in the half it was Kingsley Ejiogu (who would go on to notch up close to 200yds for the day) who dived in to score from 2yds. Belcher added the extra point kick and the Knights led at half time by 7-0. The visitors American coaching staff made some key adjustments at half time in an attempt to close down the Knights attack and this appeared to have paid dividends as the Knights first series gained only 2 yards. The reliable boot of punter Belcher set the French back at their own 24yd line as Neil Edwards followed up the kick with a crunching tackle on the returner. Templiers came out passing but had little success and they too were forced to punt after a minimal gain. The teams had two further exchanges of posession as both Defenses dominated - the Knights being led by former London Monarch Tony Mackenzie. With three minutes remaing in the quarter the Knights embarked on a 9 play drive that would see them score as the 4th quarter began. Starting at their own 33yd line the Knights were boosted by Ejiogu as he followed his blockers and broke clear for a 28yd gain indeed it was only the speed of Perez Mattison (Also playing on Defense) that prevented him adding another score for the Knights. Ejiogu on the ground and a quick pass from Heath to Moses Tomas saw the home team on the visitors 1yd line. From here nothing could stop the powerful Tomas crashing in to score behind the blocking of the Knights OLine. Belcher added the extra point kick and the Knights lead stretched to 14-0. Templiers knew they need to get back into the game quickly and came out passing. The Knights however pressured the QB and three plays later Templiers were forced to punt the ball back to the home team. Tomas and Ejiogu again made good yards on the ground and then QB Heath found Dwain Clarke open down the sideline - the Templier defender had two options - to allow Clarke to catch the ball and score or to commit a penalty and give up 15yds - he understandably chose the latter option. That put the ball into Templier territory at the 40 yard line - Ejiougu followed Tomas for 4 yds and then Heath found Clarke again - this time however the Knights WR was beyond any defenders reach and the Knights celebrated a 36yd touchdown. The extra point attempt failed and the Knights led 20-0. This time the Templiers passing attack had greater success as Mattisin hit Tanvet and Yann Audrain picking up two consecutive 1st Downs to move into Knights territory. Three subsequent incomplete passes saw the visitors foced once again however to punt the ball away. In a regular game the Knights would have eaten up the remaining 5 minutes with their rushing game but as QF match up is a two leg tie they were concious that the aggregate score is what will decide who goes forward in the competition. They therefore continued to chase points and embarked on an 11 play drive that took them to a third down situation at the visitors 17yd line. Seeking to stretch their lead however led to the only turnover of the game as Mattison stepped in front of Heath's pass at the 4yd line and took the interception 55yds back down the field to the Knights 41 yd line. With 1min and 12 seconds to go Templiers sought to at least reduce the Knights lead by one score. Two pinpoint passes to Yann Audrain (21yds) and speedy WR Larroque (14yds) saw them knocking on the door at the Knights 6yd line with just 50seconds remaining. Confusion on the Templiers sideline saw them run the next play with too many players on the field and they were moved back out to the 21yd line after the penalty. Mattison hit Rano for 13yds on the next play but two incomplete passes saw the visitors forced into a desperation pass on third down from the 8yd line - when it fell short it seemed the Knights had held on to their 3 score lead - however a roughing the passer penalty saw the visitors given another chance as the ball was moved forward to the Knights 4yd line with a fresh set of downs and 30 seconds to go. An incomplete pass was followed by Mattisons quick strike to Yann Audrain who did well to hold on to the pass, which was deflected by GB cornerback Simon Kockleburgh, for a precious 6 points. The Knights successfully defended a two point trick play and with 8 seconds to go the game was effectively over with the score at 20-6. The Knights recovered the onside kick and ran the clock out to record an historic victory. Knights Head Coach Steve Rains said "This was a very tough game. Templiers are a very good team and we know that we still have a lot of work to do when we visit them for the second leg. Kingsley Ejiogu was outstanding today and impressed everyone who was here to watch, I know that he will be the first to say that the lead blocking of Moses Tomas and Joe StLouis with the awesome work done by our Offensive Line deserve equal credit - but he is a real talent and he took full advantage of the opportunities that their work gave him."