Week 11: November 14: Championships

Moncton High Purple Knights running back Marc McDougall has been waiting for this moment since he first strapped on his helmet as a peewee player nearly 10 years ago.

McDougall, with the power of a plowhorse and the speed of a thoroughbred, scored two touchdowns and led the Purple Knights to a 43-21 win over the Harrison Trimble Trojans in the New Brunswick High School Football League championship game played before more than 5,000 spectators Saturday at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.

The Grade 12 student racked up 211 yards of rushing on 21 carries and was named the offensive player of the game.

Still trying to catch his breath after celebrating with teammates and the Ed Skiffington Trophy, named in honour of Moncton High's first coach, McDougall said he had trouble believing his childhood dream had come true.

"Words can't describe what I am feeling," the 18-year-old said. "It's hard to explain, but this means everything to me. I think of all the hard work our team put in to win this championship and it makes me proud.

"The offensive line deserves all of the credit," he added. "This was their best game ever. We kept running the same play and the line kept moving Trimble's line back so we had big holes to run through. Those guys were the ones who made it happen."

Moncton High and Trimble have each won 14 New Brunswick championships, more than any other team. Saturday's matchup marked the first time the cross-town rivals had met for the provincial title in 26 years.

Purple Knights stormed out to a 14-0 lead on touchdown runs by McDougall and Luke Dickinson before Jeff McCarty put the Trojans on the scoreboard with a spectacular 80-yard kickoff return for a major.

However, the Moncton High's response was emphatic.

In the closing moments of the second quarter half, the Knights scored 21 points in only 52 seconds to give Moncton High a commanding 35-7 lead at halftime.

"We dug ourselves a big hole and we just could not recover," said Trojans coach Mark Teed. "Hats off to Moncton High. They played a great game and they deserved to win this game."

McDougall scored his second touchdown of the game on a seven-yard run with just 1:09 left in the first half.

Thirty-five seconds later, Moncton High's Matt Toogood returned a punt 65 yards for a major. Less than 30 seconds later, after the Knights recovered an on-side kick, Same Zeid caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Rogers to put the game out of reach.

"We made the most of our chances," McDougall said. "We got those chances because our defence always gave us the ball in great field position. The defence forced a lot of turnovers and they didn't let Trimble's offence do much at all."

Matt Toogood, on a 21-yard reception, had Moncton High's lone touchdown of the second half. Lucas Constantine kicked all six converts and Zeid punted a 33-yard single.

Matt Seely, on a 33-yard pass from John Toogood, and Toogood, on a two-yard quarterback keep, had the other touchdowns for the Trojans. Will Rochlow had three converts.

Rogers completed 10 of 16 pass attempts for 206 yards with just one interception while John Toogood was 16-for-27 for 305 yards, but he was intercepted five times.

Brett Gray and Adam Benson each hauled in two interceptions for the Knights and Jordan Bedard had one. Steve Fox, who was also Trimble's primary receiver, had one interception.

"You have to give our coaches a lot of credit because we were very well prepared," said Gray, who was named defensive player of the game.

"We were aware of everything Trimble was going to throw at us because our coaches did their homework," the linebacker said. "The defence also stuck together and stuck to the game plan even when things didn't go well.

"We kept our cool. Coach always tells us to 'stay frosty' and that's what we did. Everyone on the team stayed frosty."

Head coach John Allanach said his team had a "well-researched" game plan, but the players still had to execute it.

"Our coaches and players were ready, but it was the players who came through with great fundamentals," Allanach said. "I am extremely proud of the players, the coaches and the families involved. We've been fortunate to have great support from the families and the school."

Sonics complete their dream season with thrilling victory
High School: Sussex, Moncton earn provincial football championships

MONCTON - Three plays defined a season and kept the Sussex Sonics perfect.

The Sonics, led by a determined defensive stand late in the fourth quarter, edged the St. Stephen Spartans 16-13 in the New Brunswick High School Football League's 10-man division final before about 1,500 spectators Saturday afternoon at Rocky Stone Memorial Field in Moncton.

Sussex finished the season with nine consecutive victories, but none were as emotional or tense as the championship win.

Sonics led 16-6 at halftime, but the Spartans running back Kurtis Delaney broke free for a 99-yard touchdown just 1:25 into the fourth quarter to set up the thrilling finish.

Spartans, with Delaney, Gage Ross and Scott Bell consistently picking up yardage out of the backfield, controlled the ball for much of the fourth quarter. With just 2:39 left in regulation time, the Spartans had first down and goal on the Sonics two-yard line.

However, the Sonics defensive unit was resilient and the Spartans could not move the ball any further. In fact, the Spartans actually lost a yard on three attempts to muscle the ball into the end zone.

Sonics linebacker Corey McMillan, who was in the middle of all the game-saving tackles, said the players knew what had to be done.

"We realized that we had better suck it up if we wanted to win this game," said McMillan, a Grade 12 student.

"We did the same thing every time," McMillan said. "We just tried to block up the middle and not let the ball carrier get through. We knew they were going to try and run up the middle so we just stacked as many players in there as we could."

Mark Folkins, on a 12-yard pass from quarterback Aaron Tabor, and Robert Dunfield, on an explosive 78-yard run, had touchdowns for the Sonics. Folkins caught a two-point convert and Tabor chipped in with a kicked convert and a single on a missed 33-yard field goal attempt.

Ross, on a three-yard plunge, had the Spartans other major. Neither of St. Stephen's touchdowns were converted.

Liam Anderson recorded an interception and fumble recovery for the Sonics while David Parker had an interception for the Spartans.

"I'm proud of everyone on the team and I'm going to miss them next year," McMillan said. "We worked together as a team and we have great coaching that brought out the best in all of the players.

"It hasn't been easy, but now we've got the trophy and a banner. We know what it feels like to be champions."

Meanwhile, Moncton High Purple Knights running back Marc McDougall has been waiting for this moment since he first strapped on his helmet as a peewee player nearly 10 years ago.

McDougall, with the power of a plowhorse and the speed of a thoroughbred, scored two touchdowns and led the Purple Knights to a 43-21 win over the Harrison Trimble Trojans in the 12-man championship game played before more than 5,000 spectators Saturday at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.

The Grade 12 student racked up 211 yards of rushing on 21 carries and was named the offensive player of the game.

Still trying to catch his breath after celebrating with teammates and the Ed Skiffington Trophy, named in honour of Moncton High's first coach, McDougall said he had trouble believing his childhood dream had come true.

"Words can't describe what I am feeling," the 18-year-old said. "It's hard to explain, but this means everything to me. I think of all the hard work our team put in to win this championship and it makes me proud.

Moncton High and Trimble have each won 14 New Brunswick championships, more than any other team. Saturday's matchup marked the first time the cross-town rivals had met for the provincial title in 26 years.

Purple Knights stormed out to a 14-0 lead on touchdown runs by McDougall and Luke Dickinson before Jeff McCarty put the Trojans on the scoreboard with a spectacular 80-yard kickoff return for a major.

However, the Moncton High's response was emphatic.

In the closing moments of the second quarter half, the Knights scored 21 points in only 52 seconds to give Moncton High a commanding 35-7 lead at halftime.

McDougall scored his second touchdown of the game on a seven-yard run with just 1:09 left in the first half.

Thirty-five seconds later, Moncton High's Matt Toogood returned a punt 65 yards for a major. Less than 30 seconds later, after the Knights recovered an on-side kick, Same Zeid caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Rogers to put the game out of reach.

Matt Toogood, on a 21-yard reception, had Moncton High's lone touchdown of the second half. Lucas Constantine kicked all six converts and Zeid punted a 33-yard single.

Matt Seely, on a 33-yard pass from John Toogood, and Toogood, on a two-yard quarterback keep, had the other touchdowns for the Trojans. Will Rochlow had three converts.

Rogers completed 10 of 16 pass attempts for 206 yards with just one interception while John Toogood was 16-for-27 for 305 yards, but he was intercepted five times.

Expect intensity at Rocky Stone Field
Trojans, Purple Knights clash today for N.B. High School Football League title

Moncton High Purple Knights and Harrison Trimble Trojans took different routes to reach the New Brunswick High School Football League final and there's only one guarantee heading into this afternoon's championship game.

It will be intense.

"I knows the players and coaches on both teams have a lot of respect for each other, but for four quarters, there's going to be some tough football played," Trojans coach Mark Teed said yesterday.

"There are going to be two solid teams and two rivals going at it for the championship so we know it's going to be hard-hitting, but clean," he said. "Both teams are ready to give it everything they have with everything on the line."

Game time is 3:30 p.m. at Rocky Stone Memorial Field, where the Purple Knights defeated the Trojans 31-0 and 13-12 in a pair of regular season matchups.

Purple Knights lost just once this season and have been regarded as one of the league's top teams since the opening game more than two months ago. They have an explosive offence, led by dynamic quarterback Dylan Rogers whose quickness and agility has given opponents fits all year long.

Moncton High's outstanding offence has overshadowed its proficient defence, which has often come up with big plays to thwart the momentum of opponents.

Trojans, meanwhile, won just two of their six regular season games, but the 31-0 thrashing was the only contest that was one-sided, largely because of their relentless defence. As the season progressed, however, Trimble's offence found its stride and the combination of quarterback John Toogood and receiver Steve Fox was lethal in playoff victories over the three-time defending champion Bernice MacNaughton Highlanders and favoured Saint John High Greyhounds.

"I'm expecting a very exciting game," Purple Knights coach John Allanach said. "We're expecting Trimble to be an emotionally-charged team with a lot of confidence.

"We're looking to execute our game plan with a business-like approach to the game. We're going try and play the same way we've played all year."

Both teams ran through practices this week that emphasized the familiar. Playbooks were not expanded, but were refreshed as players were reminded of their duties over and over by coaches and even teammates.

Allanach, who played with Purple Knights from 1988-90 as a defensive back and linebacker, said his team's playbook and approach to today's final, on both sides of the football, is simple and basic.

"This game is all about blocking and tackling -- that's what it takes to be successful," Allanach said. "Individual technique always trumps the playbook."

Teed, who played in two finals with the Trojans in 1994 and 1995, but never got his hands on the Ed Skiffington Trophy, said his team has no secrets.

"Our defence kept us in games all year long and we'll look for them to do the same while the offence will look for ways to balance and running and passing attack," Teed said. "As far as Moncton High goes, we're expecting them to come at us hard. That's just the way you want it in a final game."

Trojans and Purple Knights have met 10 times in the provincial final, but this is their first clash for the championship in 26 years. Trimble has won 14 New Brunswick titles, more than another team, while Moncton High is next with 13 championships.

Meanwhile, the New Brunswick 10-man final between the undefeated Sussex Sonics and St. Stephen Spartans, who have lost just one game this season, is scheduled for today at noon at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.

Sonics meet Spartans for 10-man football title
Game time noon tomorrow at Rocky Stone Memorial Field in Moncton

Sussex Sonics coach George Parisella knows his offensive playbook is not a classified top secret document.

"Everyone knows we like to throw the ball and we're not going to change at this point in the season," Parisella said.

"We're going to keep doing the things that we've done all year long. We're more of a throwing team than a running team and that's what we'll do until the end."

Sonics, who posted a 7-0 record during the regular season then beat the Mathieu-Martin Matadors in last weekend's semifinal, face the St. Stephen Spartans in the New Brunswick High School Football League's 10-man division final tomorrow. Game time is noon at Rocky Stone Memorial Field in Moncton.

Spartans, meanwhile, were 6-1 during the regular season and their only loss was a 10-0 setback against the Sonics on opening weekend. Spartans defeated the Harbour View Vikings of Saint John in the other semifinal.

"We're going to be ready for a tough football game," Parisella said. "We like to pass the ball, but overall we have a balanced attack that feeds off our defence.

"Our defence will have to shut down St. Stephen's running game. We know they like to run it, but we have to force them to put the ball in the air."

Sonics outscored opponents 198-21 during the regular season while the Spartans outscored their foes 274-63.

Parisella said his team's depth was its key to success this season. Defensive players shuffled in and out of the lineup in order to stay fresh.

Sussex quarterback Aaron Tabor was selected to the 10-man league's all-star team. Other Sonics on the offensive all-star team were: lineman Sam Murray and receiver Mike Brown.

Sonics on the defensive all-star team were: lineman Stephen Carr, linebackers Sean deWinter and Corey McMillan, defensive back Mark Folkins and special teams player Trevor Seymour.

Carr was named defensive lineman of the year while deWinter earned defensive player of the year honours.

Mathieu-Martin Matadors picked up the coaching staff of the year award. Shane Mosher is head coach of the Matadors.

Matadors on the offensive all-star team were: lineman Dave Gauvin, quarterback Xavier Couture and receivers Marc Boucher and Jean-Francois Allard. Linebacker Justin Cormier was the lone Matador chosen for the defensive all-star team.

Lineman Nathaniel Robichaud of l'Odyssée Olympiens was named to the offensive all-star team. Defensive back Philippe Bolduc was the lone member of the Olympiens picked for the defensive all-star team.

The provincial 12-man league final between Moncton High Purple Knights and Harrison Trimble Trojans is scheduled for tomorrow at 3:30 p.m., also at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.

Cousins Matt Toogood, left, of the Moncton High Purple Knights and John Toogood,  right, of the Harrision Trimble Trojans are ready to go head-to-head.

Bragging rights within the family is important, but it won't be as sweet as clutching the championship trophy.

A pair of cousins will line up on both sides of the ball when the Moncton High Purple Knights and Harrison Trimble Trojans square off for the New Brunswick High School Football League championship Saturday afternoon. Game time is 3:30 p.m. at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.

Trimble quarterback John Toogood, in his fourth year with the Trojans, said the topic of football superiority in the family is fun to joke about, but he's serious about his approach for Saturday's matchup.

"It's always intense when these two schools face each other so the family connection is not on my mind as much as winning the game and bringing the championship to Trimble," said the 17-year-old who has been the Trojans starting quarterback for three years and has a penchant for scrambling under pressure then collecting long gains or finding an open receiver downfield.

His cousin, Matt Toogood, is a receiver/safety for the Purple Knights and he's only been playing football for two years, but he was named an all-star this year. He has breakaway speed and is a threat offensively and defensively.

Matt Toogood said a Moncton High win would give him verbal ammunition at family gatherings, including time at the cottage next summer. However, that's not the reason he wants a victory on Saturday afternoon.

"They won the Homecoming Game last year and we got it back this year, but this is a lot bigger than that," said Matt Toogood, also a 17-year-old Grade 12 student.

"We bragged about the Homecoming Games, but this is for the big prize. This is why we play. This is for the team, the school and everyone else."

Purple Knights beat the Trojans 31-0 and 13-12 during their regular season meetings this year. Matt Toogood is expecting another fierce battle, much like the 13-12 encounter.

"Harrison Trimble's offence is awesome and John is such a great passer. Their defence has improved a lot since the start of the year," Matt Toogood said.

"They come at you hard so everyone knows it's going to be a very physical game. Both teams play that way."

Trojans have won the Ed Skiffington Trophy, named in honour of Moncton High's first ever head coach, 14 times, more than any other team in the province. Purple Knights are second with 13 New Brunswick championships.

The rivals have clashed 10 times for title, but this is their first championship meeting in 26 years. Trimble won that game 22-20.

John Toogood said players on both sides are starting to realize the significance of the Trimble-Moncton High matchup.

"In the school, everyone is fired up, but we're also hearing a lot of comments from former players," said John Toogood, who was named an all-star quarterback.

"Outside our locker room, there are messages on the wall from alumni. Everyone is wishing us good luck and hoping we play well on Saturday. It's amazing to see all of the support we are getting from inside and outside the school."

Meanwhile, the New Brunswick 10-man division championship is also scheduled for Saturday. The unbeaten Sussex Sonics will face the St. Stephen Spartans at noon, also at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.

Sonics won their only meeting this season, 10-0 in Sussex on the opening week of the season two months ago.

Leading the way to title game

They are the leaders.

The boys who command respect and in many ways are the coach's best allies on the field.

And while Saturday's provincial 10-man division high school football final is a battle between two eager teams from Sussex and St. Stephen consisting of 25-30 players, it could come down which teams follow their leaders the best.

The seniors of influence are usually not one-sport athletes - they excel in basketball, baseball, track and field, rugby.

They have experience under pressure and Saturday, as the high school football season wraps up, they will be counted on heavily - by their coaches, teammates and supporters.

In St. Stephen, the 2007 10-man division champions, two players leading the way are Scott Bell and Curtis Delaney. There are others on this squad as head coach Neil Grant explains. But Bell and Delaney sit atop the class.

Bell was named the player of the year for his work on both sides of the ball. He is a running back on offence and a linebacker who registered eight tackles and nabbed an interception in the semifinal win over Harbour View.

In May, he was a leader while participating in clinics outlining the basics of the sport and often takes the reins of the team prior to practice. On Halloween, he travelled to Saint John to scout their playoff opponents and provided an accurate report of Harbour View to the coaching staff.

"He's not a rah-rah type captain. "¦"‰He is a leader by example. He plays hard and he is a student of the game," Grant said. "In my 11 years of coaching, he is one of the strongest football players I have ever had the pleasure of coaching."

Delaney played for the Canada Games rugby team and transferred from Fundy High.

He's fast, driven and dedicated, says Grant.

Against Sussex back in September (a 10-0 Sussex win), he played offence for the first time. Since then, he has averaged a touchdown every three times he touches the ball.

He racked up 16 touchdowns and 1,100 yards playing basically half games most of the season.

It doesn't end there.

Prior to the semifinal, when their manager was ill, he spent most of the pre-game filling the water bottles.

"He's grown every game," Grant said. "He's got a great character. He's improved in leaps and bounds this year."

In Sussex, head coach George Pariselle pointed to three standouts, but like Grant, was reluctant to single out specific players when the team boasts many leaders.

But given Aaron Tabor's all-star efforts on offence and his role as quarterback, Pariselle expressed complete faith in his offensive leader, who has not thrown an interception in 2009.

"He's been big for us this year. He leads our offence and he makes great decisions," Pariselle said. "He is a quiet leader, leading by example but he knows what we want done and what we want to accomplish on offence. He does a heck of job doing it."

Defensively, Sean deWinter, the conference's defensive player of the year, carries Canada Games experience from the basketball court as well as excellence on the gridiron.

"He is an athlete in the school and strong academically as well," says Pariselle of his star, nicknamed 'Fridge'. "He has a lot of experience and he plays basketball as well with the provincial team. He has a lot of experience with pressure."

He is another, the coach says, who commands respect and leads, not in an outward manner but by example, a common trait displayed by many seniors.

Then comes Jeremy Walker, the team's safety, a contender for individual awards as well.

He oversees the vaunted defence from the back line and Pariselle says he excels in communicating the messages and systems, part of his personality that makes it easy to accomplish that task.

"He is very smart," the coach explains. "He picks up things quick and easily passes it along to the other guys. That helps us a lot."

There are others, many others. Mark Folkins for example, with Sussex, is a great example, says the team coach.

Both teams dominated the all-star and major awards banquet during the annual dinner earlier this week. Sussex had two major award winners, five defensive all-stars and three offensive all-stars while St. Stephen also has two major award winners, five defensive all-stars and two offensive all-stars.

Game time for the championship tilt is Saturday at noon at Rocky Stone Field in Moncton. At 3:30 p.m., the Harrison Trimble Trojans will take on the Moncton High Purple Knights in the 12-man final.

Kevin Barrett is a sports reporter with the Telegraph-Journal. His Varsity View column appears each Thursday during the school athletic calendar. He can be reached at barrett.kevin@telegraphjournal.com.

Upstart Trojans ready to tackle Purple Knights
Two Moncton high school squads to clash for N.B. football championship

Harrison Trimble Trojans weren't even guaranteed a playoff spot in the New Brunswick High School Football League until they won their final game of the regular season.

Despite their inconsistent season, the Trojans never gave up. The students at Harrison Trimble didn't quit on the team either and the players are grateful.

"It was a surreal feeling in the school because everyone was talking about football," Trojans left tackle Tyson Gillcash said during a break at practice yesterday.

"It's just craziness. I think we have surprised a lot of people, but the players always knew we had a good team and the school has been behind us all of the way, too," said Gillcash, who was honoured as the Eastern Conference's offensive lineman of the year at an awards banquet last night.

Support has become fervour as the upstart Trojans prepare to face the rival Moncton High Purple Knights for the New Brunswick championship Saturday. Game time is 3:30 p.m. at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.

Trimble has won 14 provincial championships, more than any other team, while Moncton High is second with 13 titles. Trojans haven't won since 2001 and the Purple Knights haven't raised the Ed Skiffington Trophy, named for Moncton High's legendary first coach, since 2002.

The cross-city foes haven't clashed for the New Brunswick championship in 26 years. Trimble won that game 22-20.

"Playing against Moncton High makes the game a huge event," said Gillcash, a Grade 12 student. "It sounds like there's going to a lot of former students and players from both schools at the game. I know it's going to be a battle and we're going to get a lot of support."

Zach Garcia, an all-star defensive lineman with the Trojans, said the week leading up to the final and the game itself are going to times he'll remember his whole life.

"I'm still having a hard time getting over the fact we lost the Homecoming Game to Moncton High this year," Garcia said.

"Some losses are harder to get over than others. You know what? That all goes away if our team can win the championship," the Grade 12 student said. "We've been cheered on every week and we just want to keep everyone cheering. This is a big week for the whole school."

Purple Knights won both of their meetings against the Trojans this season. They won 31-0 and 13-12 and finished the year in second place with a 5-1-2 record. Trojans wound up in fourth place with a 2-4 record.

Moncton High receiver/safety Matt Toogood said students at his school are also getting ready for the championship game.

"The support has been there every game and it's been a lot of fun to play these games," said Toogood, who was named an all-star receiver. "We always have a large group of fans and they cheer louder than everyone else, too.

"We know that Trimble has a great team and we have a lot of respect for them. We'll have to play our best if we want to beat them again."

Purple Knights offensive lineman Shawn Clements said most of the talk in the school hallways has been about football.

"You have to focus on school work, but football is on my mind a lot of the time," said Clements, who was named to the conference all-star team. "We're looking at game videos at lunchtime and we're getting ready for the toughest game of the year.

"We beat them twice this year, but that doesn't mean anything. They've been improving every week and so have we. We're just really happy to be there. It's exciting and we're going to enjoy the experience of playing in a final."

Meanwhile, Riverview High Royals running back J.P. Bowie was named player of the year during last night's awards banquet.

Other award winners were: Collin Miller of Riverview (defensive lineman of the year), Dylan Rogers of Moncton High (offensive player of the year), Blake Stewart of the Bernice MacNaughton Highlanders (defensive player of the year) and Kim MacPherson of MacNaughton (league service award).

Other offensive all-stars were: offensive linemen Jamie Ward of the Tantramar Titans, Corey Lirette of Moncton High and Evan Melanson of MacNaughton; running backs Marc McDougall of Moncton High and Jordan Haley of Trimble; receivers Steve Fox of Trimble, Niko Sokolowski of Riverview and J.C. LeBlond of MacNaughton; quarterbacks Dylan Rogers of Moncton High and John Toogood of Trimble and special teams player Kevin Leger of MacNaughton.

Other defensive all-stars were: linemen Cameron Bessey of Riverview, Collin Miller of Riverview and Kyle Joudrey of MacNaughton; linebackers Chris Cornect of Trimble, J.P. Bowie of Riverview, Nick McEachern of Tantramar, Brett Gray of Moncton High, Jack Dallaire of MacNaughton and Jordan Sellen of Riveriview; defensive backs Kyle Hanson of Trimble, Matt Jay of Riverview. Chris Roy of MacNaughton and Black Stewart of MacNaughton and special teams player Michael Bohan of Tantramar.

SAINT JOHN - It's no surprise the New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association's 10-man division football banquet was dominated by players from Sussex and St. Stephen.

The two teams will meet Saturday in the provincial final and Tuesday at the Thistle-At. Andrews Curling Club, they walked away with the bulk of all-star and major awards.

Scott Bell, a towering senior who plays on both sides of the ball for St. Stephen, was named the player of the year at the annual event highlighting the individual performances for players in the eight-team loop.

Other major award winners on the night were Curtis Delaney of St. Stephen and Brett Saunders of Harbour View, who shared the offensive player of the year award, Sean deWinter of Sussex, the defensive player of the year, Stephen Carr of Sussex, the defensive lineman of the year and Nathaniel Robichaud of Mathieu-Martin, who was the offensive lineman of the year.

The coaches at Mathieu-Martin won the coaching staff of the year award.

Sussex led the way with eight all-stars followed by St. Stephen with seven, Harbour View with six, Mathieu-Martin with five and Kennebecasis Valley with three. Simonds, Rothesay and L'Odyssee each had two all-stars.

Following are the all-stars award winners:

Offence

Linemen - Nathaniel Robichaud, L'Odyssee; Dave Gauvin, Mathieu-Martin; Matt Yeomans, Harbour View; Kirk Arsenault, St. Stephen; Sam Murray, Sussex.

Running backs - Alex Blaine, KVHS; Jordan Anderson, Harbour View; Brett Saunders, Harbour View; Curtis Delaney, St. Stephen; John Rickard, Simonds.

Receivers - Adam Spurrell, KVHS; Marc Boucher, Mathieu-Martin; Jean-Francois Allard, Mathieu-Martin; Mike Brown, Sussex; Ben Hayward, Rothesay.

Quarterbacks - Aaron Tabor, Sussex; Xavier Couture, Mathieu-Martin.

Special teams - Nat Edwards, KVHS.

Defence

Linemen - Stephen Carr, Sussex; Nathan Nearing, Harbour View; Zach Davidson, St. Stephen; Josh Herrington, Rothesay; Jake Rose, Simonds.

Linebackers - Scott Bell, St Stephen; Brad Saunders, Harbour View; Justin Cormier, Mathieu-Martin; Gage Ross, St. Stephen; Sean deWinter, Sussex; Corey McMillan, Sussex.

Defensive backs - Cody Richard, St. Stephen; Phillipe Bolduc, L'Odyssee; John Jean, Harbour View; David Porter, St. Stephen; Mark Folkins, Sussex.

Special teams - Trevor Seymour, Sussex.

MONCTON - Running back Mat Doucet, who led the Saint John Greyhounds to the semifinal round in New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association's 12-man football play, was named the South-West Conference offensive player of the year Monday.

Meanwhile, Keith Messer of the St. Malachy's Saints was named the defensive lineman of the year, sharing the award with Matt Fagan of Oromocto. Other major award winners in the South-West Conference were Nathan Heather of Oromocto (player of the year), Mike Benson of Leo Hayes (defensive player of the year) and Julien Vautour of Fredericton (offensive lineman of the year).

J.P. Bowie of Riverview was named the player of the year in the Eastern Conference. Other major awards went to Blake Stewart of MacNaughton (defensive player of the year), Dylan Rogers of Moncton (offensive player of the year), Tyler Gillcash of Harrison Trimble (offensive lineman of the year), Collin Miller of Riverview (defensive lineman of the year)

The 10-man division will hold its banquet in Saint John tonight.

St. Stephen and Sussex will contend for the 10-man division provincial title Saturday in Moncton, beginning at noon at Rocky Stone Field.

That will be followed by Moncton against Harrison Trimble in the 12-man final at 3:30 p.m.

Following are the all-stars for the South-West and Eastern conferences:

South-West Conference

Offence

Linemen

Julien Vautour, FHS; Jake MacKenzie, OHS; Justin Nason, SJHS; Reuben Turner, HHS; Paul Sibley, LHHS.

Running Backs

Mitchell Player, OHS; Mat Doucet, SJHS; Trevor Seeley, HHS; Rob Gayle, St. Macs.

Receivers

Ryan Murphy, OHS; Nathan Heather, OHS; Josh Blanchard, OHS; Jason Daniels, LHHS.Quarterbacks

Derek Broad, LHHS; Jeff Madsen, FHS.

Special Teams

Alex Quinn, SJHS.

Defence

Linemen

Matt Fagan, OHS; Brandon Courtney, OHS; Keith Messer, St. Macs; Desmond Young-Mather, St. Macs; Brandon Brooks, LHHS.

Linebackers

Jaden Clark, FHS; Jesse Gauvreau, OHS; Warren Hickey, OHS; Mike Benson, LHHS; Sean Craig, SJHS; Curtis MacMillan, SJHS.

Defensive backs

Tyler GIllis, OHS; Nick Basque, HHS; Joey Ley, FHS; Jordan Lawrence, SJHS.

Special Teams

Peter Reimer, LHHS.

Eastern Conference

Offensive line

Tyson Gillcash, Harrison Trimble; Jamie Ward, Tantramar Titans; Shawn Clements, Moncton; Corey Lirette, Moncton; Evan Melanson, Bernice MacNaughton.

Running backs

Mark MacDougall, Moncton; Jordan Haley, Bernice MacNaughton.

Receivers

Steve Fox, Harrison Trimble; Niko Sokolowski, Riverview; Matt Toogood, Moncton; J.C. LeBlond, Bernice MacNaughton.

Quarterbacks

John Toogood, Harrison Trimble; Dylan Rogers, Moncton.

Special teams

Kevin Leger, Bernice MacNaughton.

Defence

Linemen

Zack Garcia, Harrison Trimble; Cameron Bessey, Riverview; Collin Miller, Riverview; Kyle Joudry, Bernice MacNaughton.

Linebacker

Chris Cornect, Harrison Trimble; J.P. Bowie, Riverview; Nick McEachern; Brett Gray, Moncton; Jack Dallaire, Bernice MacNaughton; Jordan Sellen, Riverview.

Defensive backs

Kyle Hanson, Harrison Trimble; Matt Jay, Riverview; Chris Roy, Bernice MacNaughton; Blake Stewart, Bernice MacNaughton.

Special teams

Michael Bohan, Tantramar Titans.

Despite losing in the provincial quarterfinal, the Oromocto High School Blues had a big year in 12-man high school football, winning six of seven regular season games.

Their success was reflected in the respective south-west conference awards announced yesterday with wide receiver Nathan Heather of OHS named player of the year in the conference.

His teammate, Matt Fagan, was also named co-defensive lineman of the year, sharing the award with Keith Messer of the St. Malachy's High Saints.

Other major award winners included Mike Benson of Leo Hayes High Lions as defensive player of the year and Julien Vautour of the Fredericton High School Black Kats as offensive lineman of the year.

Mat Doucet of the Saint John Greyhounds was named offensive player of the year in the conference.

J.P. Bowie of Riverview was named the player of the year in the Eastern Conference. Other major awards went to Blake Stewart of MacNaughton as defensive player of the year, Dylan Rogers of Moncton High as offensive player of the year, Tyler Gillcash of Harrison Trimble as offensive lineman of the year and Collin Miller of Riverview as defensive lineman of the year.

The respective all-star teams were also announced yesterday. Earning south-west conference all-star status were linemen Vautour of FHS, Jake MacKenzie of OHS; Justin Nason of Saint John High, Reuben Turner of Hampton High and Paul Sibley of Leo Hayes.

Running backs honoured included Mitchell Player of OHS, Doucet of Saint John, Trevor Seeley of Hampton and Rob Gayle of St. Malachy's.

Named all-star receivers were Heather, Ryan Murphy and Josh Blanchard, all of OHS, and Jason Daniels of Leo Hayes.

All-star quarterbacks were Derek Broad of Leo Hayes and Jeff Madsen of FHS. Named special teams all-star was Alex Quinn of Saint John.

All-stars defensively from the south-west included linemen Fagan and Brandon Courtney of OHS, Messer and Desmond Young-Mather of St. Macs and Brandon Brooks of Leo Hayes.

All-star linebackers were Jaden Clark of FHS, Jesse Gauvreau and Warren Hickey of OHS, Mike Benson of Leo Hayes, Sean Craig and Curtis MacMillan of Saint John High.

Defensive backs named all-stars were Tyler GIllis of OHS, Nick Basque of Hampton, Joey Ley of FHS and Jordan Lawrence of Saint John High. Peter Reimer of Leo Hayes was named special teams all-star.

The league championship game is scheduled for Saturday with Moncton High Purple Knights and Harrison High Trimble Trojans, both of Moncton, meeting at Rocky Stone Field beginning at 3:30.

It'll mark the first time the two schools have played for provincial high school football supremacy since 1983 when Trimble emerged a 22-20 winner.

The Purple Knights eliminated Fredericton High 17-6 in semifinal play last Friday in Moncton while Trimble knocked off favourite Saint John High Greyhounds 20-14 in the other semifinal game played in Milledgeville.

The Kats had eliminated OHS 11-10 in quarter-final play while Saint John got past Leo Hayes High 42-15 in the other south west matchup.

Saturday's tilt is part of championship weekend at Rocky Stone with the provincial high school 10-man championship between St. Stephen High Spartans and Sussex High Regional Sonics slated to begin at noon on Saturday.

On Sunday, the provincial pee wee and bantam championships games are scheduled with Bliss Carman Eagles and Fredericton Junior Black Kats, both from the Capital Area Minor Football Association, both taking part. The Eagles will vie for pee wee bragging rights while the Kats are in bantam.