Warsaw Eagles soar past Bristol Aztecs in CEFL Quarterfinals

In an exciting quarterfinal matchup of the Central European Football League, the Warsaw Eagles defeated the Bristol Aztecs 35-21 in Zabki, Poland, securing their spot in the semifinals.

Game preparation for the Aztecs was marred by the fact that their gear was delayed in transit, forcing them to borrow equipment from local teams.

Fast start for the Eagles

The game kicked off with a bang as Warsaw running back Meril Zéro burst through the Bristol defense on the second offensive play, sprinting 63 yards for a touchdown, putting the Eagles up 7-0. The Aztecs quickly responded however, with quarterback Ethan Gretzinger leading a drive that culminated in a touchdown by running back Josh Breece, narrowing the score to 7-6.

Later in the quarter, the Eagles regained control. Quarterback Vidal Woodruff connected with Bruno Waszkiewicz to move the chains and then found Krzysztof Nosow in the end zone, extending the lead to 14-6.

Eagles pull ahead

The second quarter saw Warsaw take command. After a failed drive by the Aztecs, Woodruff threw a deep pass to Jakub Sema, setting up another touchdown pass to Nosow, making it 21-6. Deep in Eagles territory, the Aztecs turned the ball over on downs and Warsaw took advantage with Woodruff connecting with Sema on a Hail Mary touchdown to push the score to 28-6.

Just before halftime, the Aztecs struck back with a 53-yard touchdown pass from Gretzinger to Oliver Luck, closing the gap to 28-13.

Second half action

The third quarter opened with a promising drive for the Aztecs, but a blocked field goal attempt halted their momentum. Warsaw continued to execute their game plan effectively, with short passes and runs. Woodruff connected with Waszkiewicz again for another touchdown, extending the lead to 35-13.

Despite the score, the Aztecs refused to back down. Gretzinger led a final drive, culminating in a touchdown pass to Max Holland and a successful two-point conversion to Breece, bringing the score to 35-21.

With the win, the Warsaw Eagles advance to the semifinals, where they will face the Calanda Broncos in Chur, Switzerland, on June 6.