SAINT JOHN - The Harbour View High Vikings scored early and kept pouring it on en route to a 41-8 win over the St. Malachy's Saints in Saturday's New Brunswick High School Football League 10-man action.

Mike Curwin ran for a 45-yard touchdown in the first quarter and added another major when he ran into the endzone from 55 yards out in the third quarter.

Jeremy Monahan tallied two touchdowns and three single-point converts and one two-point convert for the winners. Quarterback Jordan Blizzard notched two touchdowns, one a 35-yard run and the other from 105 yards out.

Steve Richard scored the lone major for the Saints and Ron Nolan added the two-point convert.

St. Stephen 19 Simonds 8

The St. Stephen Spartans defeated the Simonds Seabees 19-8 at Simonds Field on Saturday. Matt Sode threw for one touchdown to Kyle McCormick and Joel Wilcox ran in a 20-yard TD late in the first half. The Spartans led 13-0 at half.

The Seabees fought back with a 70-yard run by speedy Stefan Wood and a subsequent convert from Kyle Skerry. Chad Charlton added a single point on a punt through the end zone to make the score 13-8 at the end of three quarters. But St. Stephen struck back with a one-yard sneak by Sode after driving 35 yards to the goal line. McCormick made key receptions to prolong the drives and Brett Hooper led the stingy defence that has only surrendered eight points in two games.

FHS 25, Hampton 7

The FHS Black Kats defeated the Hampton High Huskies by a score of 25-7 on Saturday at the home opener on Hampton's newly constructed field. The first half was all FHS with quarterback Andrew Hickey running one yard for the Kats' first touchdown after setting up the play with a 25-yard pass to Elliot Thompson. Zac Cann kicked the point after to give the Kats a 7-0 lead. On the next FHS possession, Daniel Reid booted a punt into the Hampton end zone to add a single point. On the first play of the second quarter Hickey ran the ball 10 yards to the four-yard line, setting up Iain MacDonald's run into the end zone on the next play for the Kats' second major. Zac Cann converted once again to put the Kats up 15-0. Late in the quarter, Hickey threw two subsequent passes to Dave Carr, the first for 15 yards and the second for 35, for the third FHS touchdown of the half. Cann kicked a third convert to give the Kats a 22-0 lead at the half.

Hampton came out with much more intensity in the second half and midway through the third quarter, scored its first touchdown on a one-yard run by Kevin Morrell. Mike Dykens converted the point-after to make it 22-7. The Kats' put the game out of Hampton's reach late in the fourth quarter with a solid running game from their own 40-yard line which began with a 10-yard punt return by David Kingston, followed by multiple runs by Hickey, Ben Collins, and Iain MacDonald. Zac Cann kicked a 10-yard field goal to give the Kats a commanding 25-7 lead with less than two minutes left in the game. The 2-0 Kats travel across the river next Saturday to take on cross-town rival, Leo Hayes High School, at 1 p.m.

 

The FHS Black Kats defeated the Hampton High Huskies 25-7 Saturday in provincial high school football league action at Hampton's newly constructed field.

The first half was all FHS with quarterback Andrew Hickey running one yard for the Kats' first touchdown after setting up the play with a 25-yard pass to Elliot Thompson. Zac Cann kicked the point after to give the Kats a 7-0 lead. On the next FHS possession, Daniel Reid booted a punt into the Hampton end zone to add a single point to the Kats' total.

On the first play of the second quarter Hickey ran the ball 10 yards to the 4-yard line setting up Iain MacDonald's run into the end zone on the next play for the Kats' second major. Cann converted once again to put the Kats up 15-0.

Late in the quarter, Hickey threw two subsequent passes to Dave Carr, the first for 15 yards and the second for 35, for the third FHS touchdown of the half. Cann kicked a third convert to give the Kats a 22-0 halftime cushion.

Hampton came out with much more intensity in the second half and, midway through the third quarter, scored their first touchdown on a one-yard run by Kevin Morrell. Mike Dykens converted the point after to make it 22-7.

The Kats put the game out of Hampton's reach late in the fourth quarter with a solid running game from their own 40-yard line, which began with a 10-yard punt return by David Kingston, followed by multiple runs by Hickey, Ben Collins and MacDonald. Cann kicked a 10-yard field goal to give the Kats a commanding 25-7 lead with less than two minutes left in the game.

Hickey completed 8 of 11 passes overall while MacDonald gained 51 yards on 13 carries.

The 2-0 Kats travel across the river Saturday to take on cross-town rival, Leo Hayes St. Mary's Lions at 1 p.m.

The Oromocto High School Art World Blues must have thought their home field needed to be aired out after a long off-season.

In their first appearance of the year on OHS Field, the Blues certainly aired it out and with it the visiting Kennebecasis Valley Crusaders as they rang up a 35-6 win in front of an estimated 300 fans.

For fans of the home side, it was quite an introduction to the Blues' new aerial attack. Call it, wait for it, Air Jordan.

Oromocto quarterback Jordan Heather looked like anything but a rookie as he fired the ball for 339 yards through the air, going 14 for 23 in attempts and tossing four touchdown passes.

And there's more. Heather's favourite receiver on the day was rookie receiver Jordan Richards, who was good for 198 yards on five catches and a pair of touchdowns.

"It's a lot easier to have a day like that when you have a guy who can put the ball right into your hands," said Richards. "He might have had even a better day if we had managed to squeeze a couple of (passes) he put on the money but we didn't make the catch. Jordan has got that great tight spiral and he puts it right on your fingers."

Chris Hillier also had a great day, and may have been named an honourary Jordan. Hillier caught a pair of touchdowns while making three catches for 97 yards.

And then there was Ground Jordan. While not nearly as colourful, rookie running back Jordan Gardiner was almost as effective in dismissing the visitors. Gardiner chewed up turf with 105 yards rushing on 18 carries and scored the Blues' other major.

"This is good for the confidence," Richards said. "At this point in the year most teams are still wondering if they have a passing game or a running game. We thought all through tryouts that we had both and today they were right there."

Certainly, the Crusaders drove home sorry to have, ahem, crossed Jordan - all three of them.

It was a fun day for the Blues in front of the friendly home crowd and evened Oromocto's record at 1-1. It also went a long way to wiping away any residue left over from a 36-13 beating they took at the hands of the Fredericton High School Black Kats last week.

The Blues came fast out of the gate scoring on their third play of the game after just 62 seconds of play. Heather hooked up with Richards for a 72-yard strike and then went Jordan to Jordan one more time for a two-point conversion.

The Crusaders went three and out on their next series punting to put the Blues on their own 33. On the first play from scrimmage a 67-yard Jordan-to-Jordan pass and run set up a 10-yard scoring play on the next snap when Heather found Hillier in the end zone.

"I was just making the cuts on the slants, on any of the patterns," Richards said. "The hard cuts got me open and Jordan put the ball in my hands. (KV) adjusted after a while but I was still able to find some room."

At the five minute mark of the opening quarter Bryant Capson of the Crusaders found the sideline open and escaped down the line for a 52-yard scoring run. The convert was no good.

That would be as good as it got for the Saint John area team. In the fourth quarter they would get inside the Oromocto five-yard line on first down but left stranded by a goal-line stand on the part of the OHS defence.

"I'm happy with the defence," said OHS coach Rob Wilson. "There's still a lot of things that need to be done, still some things they need to be a lot better on. But at this part of the season that's a given.

"We had a good effort on both sides of the ball and you don't want to sound negative but our goal is to continue to improve every week, so we need to be better than we were today next week."

The Blues had stretched the lead to 29-6 by the halftime break and used their ground game more in the second half to eat the clock away.

Meanwhile, the Saint John Greyhounds cruised to a 42-0 victory over the visiting Leo Hayes St. Mary's Lions. Eric Saulnier scored on a pair of touchdown runs for the 2-0 Greyhounds.

Joel Seale, Evan Doyle and Geoff Green added majors on offence for the winners while Chris Ogden returned an interception 40 yards for another score. Chris Chesworth added six conversions. The defence picked off a pair of passes and recovered four fumbles in the game at Shamrock Field.

In Riverview, the Riverview High Royals left feeling a sigh of relief. The MacNaughton Highlanders were left heart broken.

The Royals and Highlanders battled to a 7-7 tie - although it almost didn't end in a deadlock.

On what was to be the final play of the game, Highlanders quarterback Eric Daigle tossed a long pass towards the end zone. Receiver Nick Kaminsky went up for the catch and ended up tipping the ball right into the hands of teammate K.J. MacNeil, who ran into the end zone with the game-winning touchdown.

Or so the Highlanders thought.

The touchdown was called back on an illegal procedure penalty to MacNaughton. It was the second touchdown the Highlanders had negated in the game because of penalties.

"Unfortunately as a coach you don't have the luxury of making that call," MacNaughton head coach Ed Wasson said.

"But I was happy with the boys' spirit. They showed a lot of spirit and a lot of class. We had two touchdowns called back and worked from our own end zone most of the game. Our defence really played big and our offence moved the ball when they had to and I think when we play them again the outcome will be different."

The Royals were the ones celebrating after the game. They trailed 7-0 at halftime and were shut down by the Highlanders' strong defensive play in the opening half, but came alive in the second half led by their own stellar defence.Andrew Lewis got the home team on the board when he punted for a single in the third quarter and Riverview High tied the game 7-7 early in the fourth quarter on Greg Diamond's one-yard quarterback keep.

Riverview High Royals left feeling a sigh of relief. MacNaughton Highlanders were left heart broken.

Royals and Highlanders battled to a 7-7 tie in a New Brunswick High School Football League 12-man division game last night in Riverview.

It almost didn't end in a tie.

On what was to be the final play of the game, Highlanders quarterback Eric Daigle tossed a long pass towards the end zone. Receiver Nick Kaminsky went up for the catch and ended up tipping the ball right into the hands of teammate K.J. MacNeil, who ran into the end zone with the game-winning touchdown.

Or so the Highlanders thought.

The touchdown was called back on an illegal procedure penalty to MacNaughton. It was the second touchdown the Highlanders had negated in the game because of penalties.

"Unfortunately as a coach you don't have the luxury of making that call," MacNaughton head coach Ed Wasson said.

"But I was happy with the boys' spirit. They showed a lot of spirit and a lot of class. We had two touchdowns called back and worked from our own end zone most of the game. Our defence really played big and our offence moved the ball when they had to and I think when we play them again the outcome will be different."

Royals were the ones celebrating after the game.

They trailed 7-0 at halftime and were shut down by the Highlanders' strong defensive play in the opening half, but came alive in the second half led by their own stellar defence.

Andrew Lewis got the home team on the board when he punted for a single in the third quarter and Riverview High tied the game 7-7 early in the fourth quarter on Greg Diamond's one-yard quarterback keep. The convert attempt to take the lead was botched and the game remained tied.

"The first half was a little rough on us, but we came back in the second half and played hard. By the second half I think people in the stands could tell we deserved to win that game," said Royals veteran Mike Miller, who played a strong game on both sides of the ball as a free safety and fullback.

Both teams are now 1-0-1.

Dylan Hollohan scored MacNaughton's touchdown with a 45-yard run in the first quarter. Nathan Cormier kicked the convert.

Cormier, who had a strong game at tailback, did his best to help the Highlanders win. He returned a punt from end zone to end zone in the third quarter, but it was also called back on a MacNaughton penalty.

Tantramar 19 Harrison Trimble 13

Callum Hardie caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Joey Burns with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to lift the Titans to a 19-13 win over the Trojans at Rocky Stone Memorial Field last night.

Burns threw three touchdown passes - two to Hardie and another to Stephen Bohan for Tantramar (2-0).

Harrison Trimble led 13-7 in the third quarter, but Devin Joyce's 60-yard kickoff return to the Trojans' five-yard line set up a Titans touchdown to tie the game 13-13.

Harrison Trimble (0-2) received a pair of touchdowns from Jordan Kenny.

Also yesterday, the Oromocto High Blues (1-1) beat the Kennebecasis Valley Crusaders (0-2) 35-6.

J.M.A. Armstrong Cougars (0-1) host the Rothesay Redhawks (0-1) today at 1 p.m. in Salisbury in 10-man division play.

Daily Gleaner

The Oromocto High School Blues must have thought their home field needed to be aired out after a long off-season.

In their first appearance of the year on OHS Field the Blues certainly aired it out and with it the visiting Kennebecasis Valley Crusaders as they rang up a 35-6 win in their home opener in front of an estimated 300 fans.

Oromocto quarterback Jordan Heather looked like anything but a rookie as he fired the ball for 339 yards though the air going 14 for 23 in attempts and tossing four touchdown passes.

Meanwhile, the Saint John Greyhounds cruised to a 42-0 victory over Leo Hayes.

Eric Saulnier scored on a pair of touchdown runs for the 2-0 Greyhounds.

Joel Seale, Evan Doyle and Geoff Green added majors on offence for the winners while Chris Ogden returned an interception 40 yards for another score.

Chris Chesworth added six conversions..

The defence picked off a pair of passes and recovered four fumbles in the game at Shamrock Field.

In Oromocto, Heather's favourite receiver on the day was rookie receiver Jordan Richards who was good for 198 yards on five catches and a pair of touchdowns.

"It's a lot easier to have a day like that when you have a guy who can put the ball right into your hands," said Richards. "He might have had even a better day if we had managed to squeeze a couple of (passes) he put on the money but we didn't make the catch. Jordan has got that great tight spiral and he puts it right on your fingers."

Chris Hillier also had a great day snagging a pair of touchdowns while making three catches for 97 yards.

And then there was rookie running back Jordan Gardiner who chewed up turf with 105 yards gained rushing on 18 carries and scored the Blues other major.

"This is good for the confidence," Richards said. "At this point in the year most teams are still wondering if they have a passing game or a running game, we thought all through tryouts that we had both and today they were right there."

Meanwhile, the Riverview High Royals left feeling a sigh of relief while the MacNaughton Highlanders were left heart broken.

Royals and Highlanders battled to a 7-7 tie in a New Brunswick High School Football League 12-man division game Friday in Riverview.

It almost didn't end in a tie.

On what was to be the final play of the game, Highlanders quarterback Eric Daigle tossed a long pass towards the end zone. Receiver Nick Kaminsky went up for the catch and ended up tipping the ball right into the hands of teammate K.J. MacNeil, who ran into the end zone with the game-winning touchdown.

Or so the Highlanders thought.

The touchdown was called back on an illegal procedure penalty to MacNaughton. It was the second touchdown the Highlanders had negated in the game because of penalties.

The Royals trailed 7-0 at halftime and were shut down by the Highlanders' strong defensive play in the opening half, but came alive in the second half led by their own stellar defence.

Andrew Lewis got the home team on the board when he punted for a single in the third quarter and Riverview High tied the game 7-7 early in the fourth quarter on Greg Diamond's one-yard quarterback keep. The convert attempt to take the lead was botched and the game remained tied.

"The first half was a little rough on us, but we came back in the second half and played hard. By the second half I think people in stands could tell we deserved to win that game," said Royals veteran Mike Miller, who played a strong game on both sides of the ball as a free safety and fullback.

"It felt good to get the tie, a win would have felt a little better, but it's good enough."

Both teams are now 1-0-1 in Eastern Conference play.

Dylan Hollohan scored MacNaughton's touchdown with a 45-yard run in the first quarter. Nathan Cormier kicked the convert.

Cormier, who had a strong game at tailback, did his best to help the Highlanders win. He returned a punt from end zone to end zone in the third quarter, but it was also called back on a MacNaughton penalty.

"We didn't quit, right up until the final play, and I really liked that," Wasson said.

Meanwhile, the J.M.A. Armstrong Cougars (0-1) host the Rothesay Redhawks (0-1) today at 1 p.m. in Salisbury in 10-man division play.

What a difference a week makes.

Moncton High Purple Knights were coming off a 48-0 loss to the MacNaughton Highlanders a week ago, but looked like a totally different team last night.

Their offence displayed a number of weapons and their defence bent but didn't break in a 21-16 win over the L'Odyssée Olympiens in New Brunswick High School Football League 12-man division action at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.

Moncton High evened its record to 1-1. L'Odyssée dropped to 0-2.

"This is a big lift for us. The spirits of our guys ... they're just so pumped after this," veteran Purple Knights quarterback Ryan Wareham said.

"We competed today and I thought we played great and after this we really proved ourselves. Our first game wasn't anything, but now I think we're going upwards."

Moncton High roared out to a 21-3 third quarter lead. Wareham hooked up with Brody Constantin on a touchdown pass, tailback Justin Lafrance found the end zone on a 16-yard run and Wareham scored himself on a one-yard quarterback keep.

But just when it looked like the Purple Knights would cruise to the win, the Olympiens came alive in the fourth quarter led by standout running back Pierre Mouawad.

L'Odyssée struck for two touchdowns three minutes apart to make a game of it. Mouawad scored on a seven-yard run and Maurice Rousselle broke free to score on a 30-yard run and all of sudden the Moncton High lead was only 21-16.

Olympiens wouldn't quit and Mouawad scored on a long touchdown run which would have given L'Odyssée the lead, but it was negated by a holding penalty. In the final minute, Matt Benson intercepted Olympiens quarterback Caleb Jordan to secure the Purple Knights victory.

"I was worried there, but I'm glad we stuck with it. That last pick just saved us," said Wareham, the Grade 12 pivot who found receivers Constantin and Kevin Monaghan all night.

"We were so pumped tonight. We came out running and blocking and just did everything right."

The loss didn't feel like a loss to the Olympiens. They'll be heard from again.

"This is huge for us. We played as a team and gave 100 per cent all the way through it and we never gave up," said Mouawad, whose team continues to chase its first-ever win.

"We didn't lose. We won from the inside."

Scott LeBlanc kicked a 32-yard field goal in the loss.

Meanwhile, a pair of Eastern Conference games are set for today. Riverview High Royals (1-0) host MacNaughton (1-0) at 4 p.m. in Riverview and the Harrison Trimble Trojans (0-1) take on the Tantramar Titans (1-0) at 7 p.m. at Rocky Stone.

J.M.A. Armstrong Cougars (0-1) host the Rothesay High Redhawks (0-1) tomorrow at 1 p.m. in Salisbury in 10-man division action.

Both the Moncton High Purple Knights and L'Odyssée Olympiens will look to rebound from opening weekend shutout losses when they hook up in a New Brunswick High School Football League 12-man division game tonight.

Game time is 7 p.m. at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.

Moncton High (0-1) opened the season with a 48-0 setback to the MacNaughton Highlanders. L'Odyssée (0-1) fell 29-0 to the Tantramar Titans.

"There's not too much we can do about it now, but get fired up for our next game. It was the first game against a strong team," Purple Knights veteran defensive end Shawn Wallace said this week during a break in practice.

"We want to win and we just have to go out there and get it done. I hope to see our offence step it up and our defence step it up, too. We're hoping for a big game all the way around."

Meanwhile, a pair of Eastern Conference games are scheduled for tomorrow. Riverview High Royals (1-0) host MacNaughton (1-0) at 4 p.m. in Riverview and the Harrison Trimble Trojans (0-1) take on Tantramar (1-0) at 7 p.m. at Rocky Stone.

At Moncton High, head coach John Allanach said he hopes a couple positive plays from his team's first game against MacNaughton carry into tonight's contest against L'Odyssée.

"We had a goal line stand against MacNaughton and we saw some players step up and be physical and make MacNaughton earn a lot of their first downs and yardage and though we made a couple mistakes that put points on the board, I thought our defence did a lot of things well," Allanach said.

"We're hoping to build on those things we did well. The kids are upbeat and we know we played a tough team in MacNaughton and will probably play an even more physical team (tonight) and we've been getting ready for that."

While it's very early in the season, Allanach knows the game could have playoff ramifications. Both teams have set goals to earn one of the four playoff berths in the Eastern Conference.

"We're chasing a playoff spot and we think we're in competition with them," the coach said.

"Anytime we can beat a team that is on par with us it puts us one step closer of reaching our goal to make the playoffs."

At L'Odyssée, the Olympiens continue to chase their first-ever win. The team went 0-6 in its inaugural season last fall.

First-year head coach Mike Gaudet said the 29-0 score in the loss to Tantramar wasn't reflective of how his team played, but knows there is plenty of room for improvement.

"Basically, we have to gel together more as a team and come out hitting hard," said Gaudet, who has replaced former bench boss Terry Kennedy.

"I know a little bit of Moncton High, but we just have to go out and play our game and see what comes of it."

This week the Oromocto High School Art World Blues just get to go out and play to win their New Brunswick High School Football League game.

There are no pregame warnings and no lowered expectations.

Last week the OHS footballers opened their season against the defending provincial champion Fredericton High School Black Kats. It was, they admitted before the game, going to be a mismatch. For the most part it was as FHS took a 36-13 win. The Black Kats scored 28 second quarter points and were dominant for most of the 48 minutes. The Blues, however, had their moments.

"We knew that it was going to be tough," said rookie running back Jordan Gardiner of the Blues. "The coaches told us what to expect, because it was the first game of the year, and pretty much that's how it played out. But we also did some good things and I think we came away satisfied with the effort."

Oromocto coach Rob Wilson said that his approach was realistic because he had only four players back from the team which lost to the Black Kats in the championship game last November.

"And we appreciated that," Gardiner said. "It took the pressure off and he was right, you could see our inexperience as the game went along. But I think we also showed we had a team that could get a lot better before this season goes along too far."

So in a sense the OHS football season starts again Friday when they host the Kennecasis Valley High School Crusaders in a 4 p.m. kickoff at OHS Field.

"Now we feel like we can get on with the season," Gardiner said. "We know (KV) is a good team. I have a friend that went there, he said they are tough. But we can go out this time expecting to win if we play well and earn it."

The Crusaders, who moved up to the 12-man game this season after winning the provincial championship in the 10-man-game last season, lost their season opener last week as well, falling 38-18 to Saint John High School.

The Blues didn't dwell on their effort against FHS.

"When we came out to practice at the start of the week nobody said much about it," Gardiner said. "We pretty much knew what we had to work on. I'd say the attitude was pretty upbeat. We've been working hard all week and having fun."

Gardiner said the team has tackled a problem that needed to be addressed after the Week 1 loss.

"It was our tackling," he said. "We were all watching the same game and it was pretty clear a lot of our guys weren't getting down low on the tackle, and at this level of football that is a killer."

Last week was Gardiiner's first game at the varsity level after six years of preparation in the Capital Area Minor Football Association.

He found it quite a step up.

"I really noticed the intensity," he said. "It was fun and it was different from what I've been used to. We have a lot of new guys this season and I think we have to all get ready for every game to be like that."

Gardiner ran for one of the Blues two touchdowns last week, a 65 yard sprint through the black and gold forest. He believes things will come together quickly for the Blues because the rookies were teammates at the bantam and junior varsity levels over the past couple of seasons.

"It helps that we have that knowledge of the game and of each other," he said. "We came up through a successful program and were taught a lot on the way up. We are new to the high school team but we know how to play the game. We just have to adjust to the level of play and learn what the coaches want from us at the high school level."

The other two local entries are on the road this week. The Leo Hayes St. Mary's Lions, 24-0 losers to Hampton Huskies in their home opener last week, and having lost starting quarterback MacKenzie Washburn for four weeks after he broke two bones in his non-throwing hand when he was sacked in the third quarter a week ago, face the Saint John High Greyhounds in the Port City Friday at 7 p.m.

Saturday at 1 p.m., the Black Kats are in Hampton to face the Huskies in a battle of two unbeaten Western Conference teams.