Week 5: October 3-4

What a Player! Blues back steamrollers over Sonics

The final score couldn't have been more fitting when the whistle blew to end Saturday's New Brunswick High School Football League game at Oromocto High School Field.

The host Beaver Brokerage Blues scored a resounding 49-0 win over the Sussex High Sonics before some 200 fans. The victory boosted the Blues' record to 3-1 on the season and into a four-way tie atop the standings in the league's Southwest Conference.

They share that lofty mark with the Fredericton High School Black Kats, who defeated the Kennebecasis Valley Crusaders 40-7 on the road Saturday, and the St. Mary's Leo Hayes Lions, who edged the previously unbeaten Hampton Huskies 21-19, leaving all four teams tied for top spot at 3-1 with a single week left in the regular season.

In Oromocto, the scoreboard showing the big number 49 on the home slot displayed, not only the final score, but the number of the player of the game.

Running back Mitchell Player ran for four touchdowns and caught another, running for a total of 210 yards to lead the Blues. The Sonics really couldn't figure out what to do with him.

Player had a simple explanation for his success.

"The blocking by the line was awesome," Player said. "That screen left play, they (Sussex) couldn't touch me. They didn't have a chance, the blocks were that good. All day they did the job and made it look a lot easier than it was."

Besides Player's quartet of majors, Cody Doak plowed for a pair of touchdowns on the ground and quarterback Jesse Rae also ran for one. Josh Blanchard converted all seven.

It was obvious from the start that this game wasn't going to be close. On the Blues' first possession, they marched from their own 35-yard line to the Sonics' end zone on seven plays, culminating with a four yard run by Player and a Blanchard convert.

Sussex replied with a two-and-out drive that started the Blues' return march on their own 40. Seven plays later, Player finished things off with a 29-yard scoring run and after a Blanchard convert it was 14-0.

The quarter ended that way but it didn't take long for the Blues to strike again in the second. An 11-yard run by Player set up a one yard plunge by Doak two plays in.

Just past the eight minute mark, the Blues struck a fourth time: a 32-yard pass from Rae to Rob Goodwin put the ball deep in the Sussex end, setting up a six yard score by Doak.

It was 28-0 at the half, a half of football that had passed without the Sonics' achieving a first down on offence.

The OHS defence dominated the second half even more. Linebacker Mitch Dingley haunted Sussex quarterback Aaron Tabor with three interceptions. Justin Brown and Gary Girvan each added another. Add in a fumble recovery by Tyler Gillis and it wasn't a good half for the Sonics' offence.

Meanwhile, the Blues' offence kept rolling: Rae rolled out to run 17 yards for a touchdown to make it 35-0 through three quarters and hit Player with a 28-yard scoring toss early in the fourth to make it 42-0. Player, saving the best for last, ran 47 yards on the screen for the final touchdown of the game to close out the scoring.

It could have been worse: the Blues had the ball inside the Sussex one with seconds left, but Rae took a knee to keep the final score, appropriately enough, at 49-0.

"We were trying not to think too much about the score," Player said. "We just kept each other up and focused on going forward.

"We're a team that has had a hard time in the past putting teams away. Wwe've had teams come back on us and take the game away. It's a part of our game we wanted to stop and we obviously got it done today. As well (Sussex) never quit, they never gave up, so we kept playing hard too."

In Millidgeville, the Kats dominated as A.J. rurling scored three touchdowns to lead the way. Quarterback Jeff Madsen hit the veteran receiver with TD passes of 30 and 15 yards, and Durling returned the opening kickoff in the third quarter 80 yards on a reverse to lift the Kats. John Morse, on a 40-yard run out of the backfield in the first quarter, Jeff Khoury on an 18-yard sprint and Joon Lee on a 22-yard run in the fourth, had the other majors for the Kats. Defensively, Joey Ley and Pat Downe picked off passes.

The lone KV major came on the final play of the third quarter as Adam Spurrell grabbed a 20-yard touchdown pass.

In Hampton, the Lions came from behind to defeat the Huskies and move into their share of first place. Damien Dustric ran for a pair of touchdowns to lift the Lions, while Jesse Everett recovered a fumble and ran it in for a first quarter touchdown.

Hampton led 13-7 whgen Dusturic tied it on a 10-yard TD run to tie it up. He added another 10-yard run to paydirt with less than three minutes left and Cody Stewart grabbed a two-point convert that proved to be the margin of victory. Hampton scored late, on a long run with 1:15 left, but a two-point convert attempt that would have tied the game was unsuccessful.

The Kats and Lions square off next Saturday for their final regular season game in the eighth edition of the North-South Bowl. It's a 1 p.m. kickoff at FHS Field. Oromocto and Hampton, the other two 3-1 teams, also go head-to-head in Hampton next Saturday.

Titans run over Matadors
Tantramar defeats Mathieu-Martin 55-6 in N.B. high school football action

SACKVILLE - The Tantramar Titans used a powerful running game -- racking up over 500 yards on the ground -- to hammer the Mathieu-Martin Matadors 55-6 in a New Brunswick High School Football League game here Saturday.

Running backs Tyler Nadolny and Mark MacDougall each rushed for over 200 yards and three touchdowns as the Titans improved their record to 3-2 and moved into sole possession of third place in the Eastern Conference. The Matadors dropped to 0-4.

"Those guys just ran tough, they played really hard. They ran inside, they ran outside," said Tantramar head coach Scott O'Neal, whose team was without another weapon on the ground, injured running back Chris Wheaton.

"Our offensive line is finally coming together. We have one guy back from last year up there, Tyrone Brine at left guard, and he's been anchoring the offensive line for us."

Quarterback Zack Fisher and Jacob Bulmer also ran for Titans touchdowns in the victory. Matt Rose kicked seven converts in the win.

"We were pretty strong defensively. We pressured their quarterback and were in their backfield all day," said O'Neal, whose team was coming off a 42-0 thumping by the two-time defending provincial champion Bernice MacNaughton Highlanders in its last game.

"It was a good team effort and we're pretty happy at this point. We're getting better each week."

Running back Gilbert Deguire found the end zone on a 55-yard run for the Matadors. It was Mathieu-Martin's first points of the season.

"We're slowly coming along on the improvement trail," said Matadors head coach Shane Mosher. "We've got a lot of new kids this year and have been hit hard by injuries and illness, but we're scrapping and fighting and hanging around."

In Southwestern Conference games Saturday, the Oromocto High Blues beat the Sussex Sonics 49-0, Fredericton High Black Kats defeated the Kennebecasis Valley Crusaders 40-7, St. Stephen High Spartans blasted the Rothesay High Redhawks 51-0 and the Leo Hayes Lions edged the Hampton High Huskies 21-19.

Spartans' ground attack runs wild
Football St. Stephen's running game proves too much for Rothesay High

ROTHESAY - The St. Stephen High Spartans grounded the Rothesay High Red Hawks 51-0 on Saturday in New Brunswick High School Football League action.

The Spartans (2-2) took control early and owned a 30-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. The scoring began when Matt Wells ran into the end zone from 18 yards out, followed by a single-point convert by Cody Boucher. Then it was Boucher's turn to score a touchdown on a 47-yard run and another point after, giving the Spartans a 14-0 lead.

St. Stephen added two more points when defensive end Matt Wells sacked the quarterback for a safety. Boucher's 45-yard TD run and extra point made it 23-0 and Pat Beck added another major, followed by another point after from Boucher, giving St. Stephen a commanding 30-0 cushion after the first quarter.

Wells scored his second touchdown of the contest early in the second quarter and added another before halftime. Boucher converted both majors and the Spartans went to the dressing room up 44-0.

St. Stephen's offensive song sounded the same in the third quarter, as Wells scored another touchdown, followed by another point after by Boucher. That play completed the scoring.

Meanwhile, Wells had 16 carries for 112 yards and Boucher carried the ball for 104 yards and was a perfect 6-for-6 on single-point converts. The St. Stephen defence allowed only one first down the entire game.

St. Malachy's 84, Harbour View 0

Trevor Harrison threw touchdown passes to Kyle Orr, Nick Noel and Will Bursey, while Rob Gale scored twice on runs of 25 and five yards, leading the Saints to the lopsided win over the Vikings. Joey Pilmer, Walker Blizzard, Chris Reid, Chris Moore, Isaiah Nice and Paul Carson also scored touchdowns. Blizzard collected 10 converts.

Reid's 55-yard touchdown came after he blocked a pun. Wayne Ryan caught the Vikings' offence in the end zone for a two-point safety. Pat Craig returned an interception 40 yards.

Leo Hayes 21, Hampton 19

In Hampton, St. Marys Leo Hayes started the scoring in the first quarter when Jesse Evert recovered a fumble and ran the ball into the end. Cody Stewart scored the extra point.

Hampton stormed back with two touchdowns and one conversion to lead 13-7, but the Lions roared back to tie the game on a 10-yard run by Damien Dustric.

The score remained tied with less than three minutes left in the contest when Dustric ran in from the 10-yard line. Stewart made the score 21-13 on a two-point conversion.

The Huskies pulled within two points but couldn't complete the comeback.

FHS 40, KVHS 7

In Millidgeville, the Black Kats took control early and cruised to the win over the Crusaders.

Black Kats quarterback Jeff Madsen hit AJ Durling for a 30-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. After a missed convert, FHS got the ball back on an interception by Joey Ley.

John Morse followed with a 40-yard touchdown run and Jason El-Khoury added the convert.

The Black Kats added to the onslaught in the third quarter when Durling kicked a pair of safeties. In the third quarter, Durling ran the ball into the end zone from 80 yards out. Although FHS couldn't convert, it grabbed possession of the ball on another interception, this time courtesy of Pat Downe.

Madsen hit Durling for a 15-yard TD play. After another failed convert, the Crusaders finally scored when Adam Spurrell caught a 20 yard-bomb in the end zone. KVHS made good on the convert. FHS added another major on Jeff Khoury's 18-yard TD run and scored their final touchdown on a 22-yard run from Joon Lee. El-Khoury added the convert.

Riverview Royals get by Purple Knights
Harrison Trimble records win over l'Odyssée

The Bernice MacNaughton Highlanders have some company atop the New Brunswick High School Football League's Eastern Conference.

Quarterback Jon Stevens connected with receiver Anthony Pickard on a two-yard touchdown pass with less than 10 seconds remaining to give the Riverview High Royals a 11-7 win over the visiting Moncton High Purple Knights yesterday.

The win lifted the Royals into a tie with the two-time defending provincial champion Highlanders for first place in the Eastern Conference. Both teams are unbeaten at 4-0. Bernice MacNaughton has a bye this week.

In another game last night, the Harrison Trimble Trojans hammered the l'Odyssée Olympiens 63-0 at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.

In Riverview, the Royals were trailing 7-3 late in the fourth quarter when Stevens went to work.

The rookie quarterback drove his team down the length of the field in the final two minutes to set up the touchdown pass to Pickard. Riverview High then recorded a safety on the ensuing kickoff to secure the win.

"Jon Stevens pretty much won the game for us. This is a guy who wasn't playing quarterback six weeks ago. He had never played quarterback before," said Royals head coach Guy Messervier.

"He stood in the pocket and didn't make bad decisions. He directed the game the way it was supposed to be directed and completed some critical passes on that final drive."

Moncton High took a 1-0 lead into the half on a single by Same Zeid, but Matt Archibald kicked a 30-yard field goal in the third quarter to give Riverview High a 3-1 lead.

Fullback Brad Doiron ran for an eight-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter as the Purple Knights retook the lead only to see the Royals rally in the final two minutes.

"It was a tight football game and Riverview High put together a nice drive to cap off another last-minute loss for us," said Moncton High head coach John Allanach, whose team dropped to 2-2 and sits in a three-way tie for third place with Harrison Trimble and Tantramar Titans.

"Now it's back to business on Monday. We have two more regular season games left and we just want to move forward and keep working hard."

Trojans 63 Olympiens 0

At Rocky Stone, Matt Turple and Mac Mazerolle each ran for three touchdowns as the Trojans rolled over the Olympiens.

Harrison Trimble evened its record to 2-2. L'Odyssée fell to 0-5.

Trojans receiver Miguel Vercheure hauled in a 80-yard touchdown pass from quarterback John Toogood. The other Harrison Trimble touchdowns came on runs by Matt Seeley and Brett Robart. Will Rochlow kicked eight converts and recorded an interception in the win.

The Tantramar Titans (2-2) host the Mathieu-Martin Matadors (0-3) today at 1 p.m. in Sackville.

In a Southwestern Conference game last night, the Saint John Greyhounds downed the Simonds Seabees 72-0. The Sussex Sonics (0-3) visit the Oromocto High Blues (2-1) today at 1 p.m.

Doucet paces 'Hounds attack 

SAINT JOHN - Matt Doucet scored three touchdowns and Evan MacAulay added two others as the Saint John Greyhounds downed the Simonds Seabees 72-0 in New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association High School Football action Friday.

Chris Tilley, Caleb Jones, Peter Paulin, Ryan Ferris and Shawn Craig had the other majors while the Greyhounds defence recorded a safety in the South Western Conference contest.

With the victory, Saint John remains undefeated at 4-0 while Simonds fell to 2-2.

In the Eastern Conference, Riverview shaded Moncton 11-7.

Today, Hampton (3-0) hosts Leo Hayes (2-1) in a key afternoon matchup.

In other action, Kennebecasis Valley (0-3) entertains Fredericton (2-1) in Millidgeville, Sussex (0-3) travels to Oromocto (2-1), Rothesay (0-3) hosts St. Stephen (1-2) and Mathieu Martin (0-3) makes the trek to Tantramar (2-2).

All games today kick off at 1 p.m.

Royals rookie turning heads
Riverview High hosts Moncton High in football game tomorrow

Guy Messervier has coached some standout high school running backs in his day, so he knows a good one when he sees one.

The Riverview High Royals head coach can add rookie running back Brett McNeil to that list.

McNeil has scored 12 touchdowns in three games -- four in each of Riverview High's three games this season -- to help the Royals get off to a 3-0 start to the New Brunswick High School Football League season.

"I was a coach at Harrison Trimble for seven years when we won three provincial championships and we had some good running backs there like Joel Gagnon, Prince Mwenga, Steve Cormier," Messervier said this week. "Brett's got something special like those guys."

McNeil and the Royals host the Moncton High Purple Knights (2-1) in an Eastern Conference game tomorrow at 4 p.m. at Riverview High.

Also tomorrow, the Harrison Trimble Trojans (1-2) take on the l'Odyssée Olympiens (0-4) at 7 p.m. at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.

The Tantramar Titans (2-2) entertain the Mathieu-Martin Matadors (0-3) Saturday at 1 p.m. in Sackville.

The Bernice MacNaughton Highlanders (4-0) have a bye week.

McNeil leads a rookie contingent of Riverview High players up from last year's Riverview Royals team, which won the Maritime bantam championship. The Grade 11 student has made a smooth transition to high school football.

"I've received some great blocking and the coaching has been great this season," said McNeil, a 16-year-old speedster. "Everyone is just that much faster, stronger and bigger at this level, but I just go out there and try my hardest every game and fortunately I've had some success."

McNeil credits his fullbacks, J.P. Bowie and fellow rookie Tim Jay, as well as his offensive line for helping him find the end zone on a weekly basis.

"We've got a really strong backfield. We're all good runners and we can all block, so we just try to help each other out," said McNeil, whose team is coming off a 57-0 win over Mathieu-Martin last week.

"The offensive line is doing a great job, too. We've played with this group of players for a long time and we know each other well. They stick their necks out for me each week and I just try to put the ball in the end zone for them."

Last year's stellar Riverview Royals bantam team blasted the Oromocto Blues 52-0 in the New Brunswick final before beating Timberlea, N.S. 35-7 for the Maritime crown. The year before, Riverview reached the provincial bantam final only to lose to St. Stephen.

"We've got some big expectations here," said McNeil. "This group has had some success together in the past and we've played in some big games. That's going to help at this level because we're used to that pressure."

Moncton High head coach John Allanach knows all about Riverview High's ground game."We expect a very complex offensive attack from them. This should be a good test for us."