The Caesars took their season opener in style with a solid victory over last years premier side the Coventry Jets. The final score Caesars 27 Jets 20.
A Danny Miller-inspired Nottingham Caesars chalked up a win in their opening National League Division One game of the season, beating Coventry Jets 27-20 at the Harvey Hadden Stadium.
Fresh from being named in the BUAFL “Team of the Year” by website Double Coverage, Miller ran for 198 yards and three touchdowns in a domineering display, carrying the ball 32 times.
After a solid return on the opening kick-off, the Caesars flew out of the blocks as quarterback Dan Johnson found wide receiver Tom Snee for a big gain, setting himself up for a 27yard field goal to give Nottingham a 3-0 lead.
Coventry’s reply lasted just two plays, as Chris O’Dea intercepted Joe Brammer and returned the ball to the three yard line, leaving Miller with the equivalent of a tap-in to make the score 10-0.
Not to be outdone, the Jets fought back via a Tom Singleton-Wells touchdown catch, but by this point Miller had really began to hit his straps. Following a fumble recovery by Caesar's captain Karl Walkinshaw at the Jets two yard line, Miller punched in his second score before racking up two big runs and adding yet another touchdown to give the Caesars a 24-6 lead at the half.
The 2008 National Champion Jets regrouped at the break, but went further behind thanks to a 24 yard Johnson field goal who was flawless with his kicking all day.
That score seemed to galvanise the vistors, who began to reap the reward of some impressive special teams play with a long kick-off return for a touchdown by former Valencia wide receiver Dom Olney to keep their challenge alive.
Nottingham continued to move the ball, but the penalties began to mount up for both sides as the game reached the fourth quarter.
Some impressive punting from Snee, however, pinned the Jets inside their ten-yard line on several occasions, and – despite a late touchdown from former Great Britain running back Tony Perkins – the Caesars ran out the clock to start the 2012 season with a win.
The Burgundy and Gold will now begin their preparations for next week’s trip to the Merseyside Nighthawks as they embark on a run of eight games in nine weeks
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS AVAILABLE HERE
STATISTICS
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | TOT | |
| NOT | 10 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 27 |
| COV | 6 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 20 |
PASSING
| C/Att | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | INT | ||
| D.Johnson | 5/15 | 48 | 9.6 | 14 | 0 | 2 | |
| S. Denning | 7/16 | 48 | 6.9 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
RUSHING
| ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | |
| D. Miller | 32 | 197 | 6.2 | 29 | 3 |
| S. Dale | 2 | -4 | -2 | 0 | 0 |
| S. Denning | 1 | -15 | -15 | 0 | 0 |
RECEIVING
| REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | |
| N. Wadlow | 4 | 42 | 10.5 | 16 | 0 |
| T. Snee | 4 | 35 | 8.8 | 14 | 0 |
| C. Paterson | 1 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| D. Miller | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| J. Edwards | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
DEFENCE
| TKL | SACK | HUR | SFTY | INT | YDS | TDS | FF(R) | BLK | DEF | |
| K. Walkinshaw | 5.5 | 1 (1) | 1 | |||||||
| C. O'Dea | 5 | 1 | 21 | |||||||
| J. Muller | 5 | 3 | ||||||||
| T. Davis | 2.5 | 0.5 | ||||||||
| M. Boswell | 2 | 1 | ||||||||
| J. Spencer | 2 | |||||||||
| J. Smith | 1.5 | 2 | ||||||||
| S. Martin | 1.5 | |||||||||
| D. Hine | 1 | |||||||||
| M. Smith | 1 | |||||||||
| J. Williams-Jenkinson | 1 | |||||||||
| M. Newall | 1 | |||||||||
| T. Harrison | 0.5 | |||||||||
| A. Cusworth | 0.5 | 1 | ||||||||
TKL=Tackles, HUR=QB Hurried, FF=Forced Fumble, R=Recovered Fumble, BLK=Blocked Kicked, DEF=Pass defended
KICKING
D. Johnson 3 FGS (Long 27yds), 3 PATS
N. Wadlow 6 Kickoffs for 252 yards
PUNT
T.Snee 6 for 158 YDS (31.6 AVG)
KICK RETURN
C. O'Dea 1 for 30 YDS
M. Boswell 1 for 11 YDS