Demons Dominate in Devon Bowl Derby

With arctic winds, grey clouds and threatening rain, Plymouth was to be the venue for this years DevonBowl varsity.

After a heartbreaking 34-29 loss to the Blitz last year, the Demons hit the field raring to go and hungry for revenge.

The Blitz offence took the field first and, three plays later, were sending the ball the other way as the Exeter defence refused to be broken.

It took just one play then for the Demons to score as running back and Club President, Ollie Tribe, went untouched into the endzone.

Exeter Demons vs. Plymouth Blitz

With a successful conversion, the Demons were quickly up 7-0 as their defence were soon back on the field.

Living up to their reputation, the aggressive Exeter defence held again, allowing no more than five yards in two years.

In what could not have been a better start for the traveling Exeter side, the Demons were then quickly up 14-0 after a quick pass from Quarterback Finlay Brown to a wide open Sean Mitchener.

Unfortunately, this moment was where disaster struck.

Here comes the boom…

On the ensuing conversion kick, Josh Callinder was injured and both teams were advised to return to their locker rooms and await the ambulance’s arrival as Callinder was carted away with a lower back injury.

The majority of the third quarter proved to be a series of drives-dominated by either teams defences.

With two fumbles and an interception, the Blitz offence couldn’t seem to stop coughing the ball up, whilst the Demons failed to finish off their drives.

It was at least not until deep into the third quarter when, once again, Quarterback Finlay Brown found his receiver, Alex Briggs, wide open in the end zone for another Exeter touchdown.

Quarterback Finlay Brown on the run again.

Early in the fourth quarter, a series of quick passes on the ensuing Blitz drive meant that Plymouth were marching down field and threatening a score, but, luckily, receiver-turned-cornerback Alex Briggs picked off the Plymouth quarterback.

Unfortunately, the Demons offence could do nothing with the opportunity and were forced to punt the ball back, a drive that would prove fatal as the Blitz again marched down field and were allowed to score on a (questionable) fumble non-call from the referee.

With the score being 28-12 late in the fourth quarter, though, it was too late for the Blitz to amount a comeback.

The result meant that the Exeter Demons, after so many years and so much heartache, were able to start off their BUCS season with a bang and bring home the first bit of silverware for the year as they were crowned DevonBowl Champions.

Captains Myles Bebbington, Michael Reece and Dan Hogg with the DevonBowl Trophy.

Images: courtesy of Charlie Hall and Rosalie Francis.