Week 6: October 8-10

Lions' Daniels dazzles

It's not as if they weren't forewarned.

The Fredericton High School Black Kats lost 17-4 to their cross town rivals, the Leo Hayes St. Mary's Lions, Saturday night before 620 fans at Chapman Field in the ninth annual edition of the North-South bowl.

Lions coach Rick Kelly said Friday that the relatively unknown Jason Daniels would be the focal point of the Lions' offensive plans, saying that the game would serve as Daniels' 'coming out party' and promising that Daniels was ready to 'put on quite a show'.

Daniels didn't disappoint, catching six passes - many of the spectacular variety - scoring a touchdown and running roughshod over a very strong Black Kat defensive backfield for 235 yards in the air.

"I can't take credit for this performance tonight," said Daniels, a grade 12 student who calls basketball his 'first sport'.

"Derek Broad has a serious arm, he made all the throws, and I just had to run my routes, beat the coverage and go out and get the ball.

"Derek put the ball in perfect placement on every throw, and he did that with everyone tonight, not just me. He was fantastic tonight."

Kelly's "Operation Daniels" was put into effect on the second play of the Lions' first possession, four minutes into the game when Broad heaved a 55 yard bullet that Daniels caught in stride and took to the house, staking the Lions an early 7-0 lead.

Daniels would go on to snare passes of 75, 25, 10 and two of 35 yards.

"The Kats focused so much on Peter Reimer tonight that it opened up a lot of room for Jason and our other players," said Kelly. "Derek Broad did a fantastic job and I'm not sure that it was only Jason's 'coming out party'. It was Derek's too, because he really made our offence look like a circus out there tonight with his throws."

Broad finished 11 for 23 for 272 yards passing. He also scored a touchdown on a quarterback sneak, walking in unscathed with 1:30 left in the half.

The Broad touchdown and a Reimer 15 yard field goal came courtesy of the field position provided by great work on the part of the Lions defence, which held the Kats offence to a measly 115 yards on the night. The Kats lost more than 80 yards on offence as a result of sacks, runs and receptions for losses from a punishing Lions' defence. Much of that pressure came from Lions' senior defensive lineman Patrick Price, playing in just his first year of competitive football.

"They have a good O-line, but I was able to get past them a few times in the game and apply pressure in their backfield," said Price. "When I get back there I can be dangerous and I was tonight."

An interception by defensive captain Mike Benson with a minute left in the first quarter led directly to the Reimer field goal and when the Kats Jake DeWolfe fumbled on his own 15, the Lions Broad was able to use it to his advantage for the QB sneak.

The Lions led 17-4 at half. The teams played a scoreless second half.

The Black Kats' scoring came by way of the foot of Peter Esson, who kicked a 55 yard punt through the Lions end zone with 5:51 left in the half for a single point and added a 20 yard field goal with three seconds left in the half after the Kats had mounted their only significant drive, built on successive sweeps behind the running of Jason El Koury.

Sam Furey completed three of eight passes for 37 yards, throwing one interception in three quarters of work. Regular starting QB Jeff Madsen, who had been injured came off the bench for the second quarter. He was 2-for-4 passing for negative one yard. The Lions' Eric McGarry picked off a pass too.

El Koury finished with 46 yards on 17 carries, but lost 31 yards behind the line of scrimmage. His Lions' counterpart Damien Dutrisac carried the ball five times for 24 yards.

Black Kat head coach Mike Casey was proud of his team and the way they battled through adversity.

"We had injuries coming in - Madsen being the big one - and that didn't help, but our defence played great and Peter Esson had a good game, as did Jayden Clark on special teams," said Casey, who noted he lost key players to injury through the game, including Cody Martin and Jake DeWolfe. "I'm not too worried right now, I know we'll come back, we need to focus on the last two games and just worry about getting into the playoffs."

The loss puts the Kats record at 2-3 and fighting for a playoff spot while with the win the Lions find themselves tied for first place in the South Western Conference with the Oromocto Beaver Brokerage Blues who dismantled the Hampton Huskies, 43-0 earlier Saturday.

Nathan Heather and James Mitchell each had a pair of touchdowns qand Josh Blanchard added a major and booted two field goals to account for the Blues' scoring.

The Blues and Lions now find themselves with identical 4-1 records as they prepare to square off in Oromocto next Saturday. The Blues' only loss was at the hands of the Lions, 14-13 in the second week of the season.

Sonics shut down Seabees' offence

SUSSEX - The Sussex Sonics continued their perfect season in New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association South East 10-man football league action and recorded their third shutout with a 39-0 win over Simonds High Saturday.

Sussex struck twice in the opening frame after recovering a Seabees' fumble and sending Mike Brown on a right sweep for a major that was converted by Aaron Tabor and scoring on a 20-yard reverse from Trevor Seymour to Jordan Matthews.

In the second quarter Robert Dunfield added a touchdown off a 10-yard run and Tabor punched through the line for a 1-yard touchdown run that was converted for two points by Brown.

Sussex rounded out scoring in the fourth with a 42-yard touchdown run from Seymour and 15-yard run by Dunfield as the Sonics improved to 5-0-0 while Simonds dropped to 1-4-0.

Kurtis Delaney continued his strong performance on the gridiron by rushing 241 yards on 14 carries to help the St. Stephen Spartans to a 35-25 win over Kennebecasis Valley High in South East 10-man action.

Delaney had a 76-yard touchdown run from a kick-off return while Scott Bell rushed 95 yards on 11 carries while scoring three touchdowns. Gage Ross carried the ball 17 times for 97 yards and a major while Luke Hayre was good on four of five conversions for the Spartans, now 4-1. Running back Alexander Blaine had all four touchdowns for the Crusaders and Nathan Edwards added a convert as the squad dropped to 2-2.

Josh Blanchard scored 17 points as the Oromocto High Blues blanked Hampton High 43-0 in South West 12-man football action Saturday. Blanchard notched one touchdown, two field goals from 30 and 40 yards and five converts as Oromocto improved to 4-1. Nathan Heather added a 93-yard touchdown run and 25-yard touchdown pass and run play from James Mitchell, who also had two majors in the winning effort. The Huskies took a knee in their end zone to give Oromocto a two-point safety as the squad dropped to 2-3.

Highlanders unload offence on Titans
Quarterback Mac Wade runs for TD and passes for another in 29-0 triumph

SACKVILLE - Bernice MacNaughton Highlanders head coach Ed Wasson knows there's a lot of pressure on his team's offensive line. The three-time defending New Brunswick High School Football League champions have a high-powered running game with a backfield that expects the line to open wide lanes on every down. They also have a quarterback who never played the position before this season.

With all of that in mind, Wasson is proud of the way his offensive linemen have responded to all challenges this season.

They did it again Saturday afternoon when they led the Highlanders to a 29-0 win over the Tantramar Titans in Sackville.

"Our offensive line deserves a lot of credit," Wasson said. "They've had some tough assignments this year and they've played very well. We've seen a big improvement in their game every week.

"We're going to have to see more improvement as the year goes on, too. We're in playoff mode right now," the veteran head coach said.

We've got a couple of very tough games coming up and then we are into the real playoffs. We'll be expecting the O-line to keep working hard."

Highlanders improved their record to 3-1 for six points and a share of second place with the idle Riverview High Royals (2-0-2).

Moncton High Purple Knights lead the Eastern Conference with a 3-0-2 record for eight points. Harrison Trimble Trojans hold down the fourth and final playoff spot with a 1-4 slate for two points while Tantramar is in the basement with a 0-4 record.

Purple Knights and Highlanders clash Friday at 4 p.m. at Rocky Stone Memorial Field in a battle for top spot. Royals visit the Titans on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Sackville and the Trojans have a bye this week.

"We like the way we're playing, but it's going to get much harder so we'll have to be ready for another tough, physical battle," Wasson said.

"We're also healthier now so that's helped our team. We're in good shape to play some tough football games down the stretch."

In Sackville, Jordan Haley, Eric Rioux and quarterback Mac Wade each ran for touchdowns. Wade also connected with Morgan McIsaac on a four-yard touchdown pass into the corner of the end zone. Matt Heaton kicked all four converts and J.C. Leblond recorded a safety on a punt attempt by the Titans.

Highlanders scored majors on their first three possessions and led 21-0 at halftime.

"It was a good game because we got to accomplish everything we set out to do," Wasson said. "I think both teams were able to accomplish a few things."

In the 10-man league, the Sussex High Sonics ran their record to 5-0 by beating the Simonds Seabees 39-0 Saturday in Sussex. Sonics host the Harbour View Vikings (4-1) this Saturday at 1 p.m.

L'Odyssée Olympiens (0-4) host the Rothesay Red Hawks (1-2-1) on Friday at 7 p.m. at Rocky Stone Memorial Field while the Mathieu-Martin Matadors (1-3-1) entertain the Kennebecasis Valley Crusaders (2-2) on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Dieppe.

Brett Saunders had three rushing touchdowns in leading the Harbour View Vikings to a 21-19 win over Rothesay High in South East 10-man football action Friday night. Wes Tibbit kicked a one-point conversion while Curtis Hinsdale added a two-point convert for the Vikings, now 4-1. Dylan Sohi scored all three Red Hawks' majors as the squad dropped to 1-4.

You haven't read this for awhile: Moncton High Purple Knights are homecoming football winners.

They're in first place, too.

The Purple Knights squeaked out a 13-12 victory over the Harrison Trimble Trojans in a New Brunswick High School Football League 12-man division game last night, a game that wasn't decided until the final few seconds in front of a huge homecoming crowd at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.

Harrison Trimble has dominated the homecoming game between city rivals over the years; Moncton High last won the game in 2002, the same year it won its last provincial championship.

"This means a whole lot for Moncton High and the community; we've been waiting a long time to win this one," said Grade 12 running back Matt Simon, who carried the bulk of the Purple Knights offence and looked good doing it.

"We thought we should have won this game last year (a 17-9 loss), but we did our job this year and it was a good game all around. It feels great."

The Trojans were looking for revenge after they were blasted 31-0 in a rare non-homecoming game regular season meeting with the Purple Knights three weeks ago. It nearly happened. They led 12-0 at the start of the fourth quarter when Moncton High started a spirited comeback that featured two late touchdowns.

Even in the final minute, Harrison Trimble was pressing to try to regain the lead with halfback option passes, but Moncton High's Jordan Bedard came up with an interception not far from his own goaline to seal the win.

A pair of missed conversion attempts by the Trojans in the first half loomed large in the end.

"It's the only game in the regular season that you can win by one point and feel amazing," said Purple Knights head coach John Allanach, who has guided his team to a turnaround season with a 3-0-2 first-place record in the division's Eastern Conference after making the playoffs last season for the first time since 2003.

"A huge monkey has been taken off the back of our football program, our school and our current players."

After a slow start, Harrison Trimble came alive to score the game's first touchdown late in the second quarter and found the end zone again on their first drive of the second half to build up a 12-0 lead.

The Purple Knights cued the comeback early in the fourth quarter when Simon rumbled in from one yard out for a touchdown to cut the lead to 12-7.

After the Trojans were unable to sustain any offensive drives, Moncton High completed the comeback when quarterback Dylan Rogers rolled out, kept the ball himself, got a huge block from receiver Travis Joyce and scored on a six-yard run with 2:07 remaining to give the Purple Knights a 13-12 lead. A two-point conversion attempt didn't work, but it didn't matter. "We were down against Riverview in our first game of the season and we came back (for a 21-21 tie) and we thought we could do the same thing here," said Simon. "I think we came out tonight and proved we're a good football team and we're going to keep working hard to move forward."

Harrison Trimble received touchdowns from Steve Fox, on a 20-yard pass from quarterback John Toogood, and running back Matt Seely, on a two-yard run.

"I tip my hat to Moncton High, they played a great game. It was one of those games where I'm not sure there is a winner or a loser, but they came out on top and deserve it," said Trojans head coach Mark Teed, whose team fell to 1-4, but not without a valiant effort.

"I'm proud of my guys. They played four quarters and you can't ask for much more than that. A couple yards to the end zone, one more play, one extra point ... it could have been something different."

Bernice MacNaughton Highlanders (2-1) visit the Tantramar Titans (0-3) today at 1 p.m. in Sackville. Riverview High Royals (2-0-2) have a bye week.

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Greyhounds got back into the win column Thursday with a 42-0 victory over arch-rival St. Malachy's in the 12-man division of the New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association's South West Conference.

It was a big win in a number of ways for the Greyhounds, who opened the year with victories over Fredericton and Leo Hayes but fell to 2-2 with consecutive losses to Oromocto and Hampton by a combined seven points.

Thursday, Matt Doucet was a power presence in the game as he rushed for 117 yards and scored four majors for the Greyhounds in the annual homecoming game.

Evan McAulay and Tyler MaKenny scored the other touchdowns while Alex Quinn, who was a force in the kicking game all night, booted six conversions.

With the victory, the Greyhounds improved to 3-2 and into a tie for first with Oromocto and Leo Hayes in the South West Conference. Leo Hayes and Oromocto are 3-1.

St. Malachy's dropped to 0-5.

In action today, Leo Hayes hosts Fredericton (2-2) at 3:30 p.m. while Saturday, Hampton (2-2) hosts Oromocto at 1 p.m.

In the 10-man division, Harbour View (3-1) entertains Rothesay (1-2-1) today at 7 p.m. while Saturday, Kennebecasis Valley (2-1) makes the trip to St. Stephen, for a 1 p.m. date with the 3-1 Spartans and Sussex, 4-0, hosts Simonds, 1-3, also at 1 p.m..

The Mathieu-Martin Matadors have got that winning feeling back

Quarterback Xavier Couture threw two touchdown passes and ran in for two more scores himself as the Matadors defeated the l'Odyssée Olympiens 49-26 in New Brunswick High School Football League 10-man division action last night at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.

The win improved Mathieu-Martin's record to 1-3-1 and was the school's first victory since it beat l'Odyssée 14-0 last season when both teams played in the 12-man division. The Olympiens dropped to 0-4.

Couture connected with Marc Boucher and Pierre-Luc Michaud for touchdown passes. Gilbert Deguire and Samir Farhloul each ran for a major for the Matadors, who led 35-12 at halftime.

Luc Boudreau returned an interception 60 yards for another Mathieu-Martin touchdown. Pierre-Luc Landry kicked all seven converts in the win.

"We finally showed up and played the way we're capable of playing. Our offensive execution was just dynamite in the first half," said Matadors head coach Shane Mosher. "We still have to line up and play next week, but this is a step in the right direction. Our second half was ragged, but we're learning how to be a good team."

L'Odyssée scorers were not available. In 12-man division action tonight, the Moncton High Purple Knights (2-0-2) meet the Harrison Trimble Trojans (1-3) in the annual homecoming game at 7 p.m. at Rocky Stone.

The Bernice MacNaughton Highlanders (2-1) visit the Tantramar Titans (0-3) tomorrow at 1 p.m. in Sackville.

The Riverview High Royals (2-0-2) have a bye week.

It's not quite the bottom of the ninth inning, but the season is definitely heading into crunch time for the Fredericton High School Black Kats and the Leo Hayes St. Mary's Lions in the New Brunswick High School Football League.

At 3-1, the Lions are sitting pretty, tied in the SouthWestern Conference lead with the Oromocto High School Blues.

The Kats at 2-2 on the other hand, are fighting for their playoff lives and tied with the Hampton Huskies and defending conference champion Saint John High Greyhounds for the final two playoff positions in the division.

The top four teams will make the playoffs and earn the right to cross over and play off with the traditionally strong Eastern Conference, which includes the three-time defending provincial champion Bernice MacNaughton Highlanders, currently sitting in third, and the Moncton Knights and Riverview Royals, who lead the conference with identical 2-0-2 records.

Saturday night at Chapman Field, the Kats and the Lions meet in a game which includes some of the biggest hitters on either side of the ball in the province. It's crunch time in more ways than one.

Kickoff time in the ninth annual edition of the North-South Bowl is 7 p.m.

Enter the Black Kats Kofi Bubar and Jake DeWolfe, and the Lions Mike Benson.

"When Kofi is coming through the line he runs very hard," said Benson, the grade 12 linebacker who checks in at six-foot-three and 220 pounds. "He's tough to play against and harder to take down."

At 5-11 and 225 pounds the fullback Bubar is a load, to be sure. But he's also agile and that is what makes him an intriguing mix in the Black Kats backfield for head coach Mike Casey.

"Kofi is a big force for us, with loads of potential," said Casey. "We only moved him to offence this season after playing defensive line and linebacker for us in the past and he's taken to it really well. He's a tough kid."

Bubar deflects the attention to his teammates and believes the Kats are in tough against Benson and his formidable defensive posse.

"With Moose Brooks and Dave Kennedy on the line and Benson roaming around behind them, they are very tough and I know I'll see a lot of them," said Bubar. "They blitz a ton and they bring five a lot So I'll have to pick that up and provide protection.

"To beat these guys (the Lions) we need to execute: tackle, run good routes and block well. And not just one or two of us, but all of us."

Teammate and grade 11 linebacker/running back Jake DeWolfe says this game -- the ninth annual North-South Bowl -- is pivotal for the Kats.

"It's do or die, we really need to pick up our game, start well and play for a full four quarters," said DeWolfe, a five-foot-11 inch, 200 pounder who represented New Brunswick in rugby at the Canada Games in Prince Edward Island this past summer.

"I know Sam Furey will be ready at quarterback to lead us, he's looked great in practice and I know the first game jitters are behind him."

DeWolfe is speaking of the Kats loss last weekend to the Blues, 16-7, where Furey made his debut, showing signs of being nervous, something that hasn't hindered the Lions grade 11 second year starter, Derek Broad.

"Derek Broad is very underrated and if we give him time, I know he will light it up Saturday night," said Benson, whom Kats coach Casey calls "one of the best players I've ever seen in high school football.

"I've been coaching high school football forever, but I can say that other than maybe Jake Thomas and Josh Sacobie, Mike Benson is easily the best player I've ever seen out of that program," he said.

Benson's own head coach, the Lions' Rick Kelly, agrees.

"I was fortunate enough to coach Brent Johnson in high school (Johnson plays for the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League) and I'll tell you straight out, Mike Benson is better. Not 'might be' better, but 'is' better, than Brent was at the same age, and that is saying a lot."

But Kelly says Benson has help.

"Benson is great, but he also has some great players around him who don't get enough attention, and Saturday night we have some stuff in our playbook where some of those guys are going to be in the limelight, front and center," he said.

"I don't want to give away secrets before the game, but I will say Peter Reimer and Eric McGarry have been phenomenal for us in all three areas of the game. But wait until you see what we do with Jason Daniels, because I'm predicting Saturday night will be his coming out party - he's been knocking at the door the last two weeks and I think he's ready to put on quite a show."

Benson says there are " a lot of guys on this team who haven't gotten the attention they deserve, like Pat Price, who had three sacks his last two games, and Jason Daniels who has been awesome in a few areas, but especially in the defensive backfield."

Casey concurs. But he says the Lions' defence "begins, revolves and ends with Benson, He's all over the field for them and he's almost impossible to stop or even predict"¦.he recovers well and he never gets beat."

And, of course, there's Peter Reimer. The all purpose senior missed the Lions last game against St.Malachy's while on a recruiting visit and leadership camp at the University of Calgary. But he's accumulated close to 1000 all-purpose yards in just three games thus far into the season.

The Kats DeWolfe and Bubar believe they have an answer for Reimer: hit him.

"We have some really quick safeties and they are definitely going to get some wood on Reimer," said DeWolfe.

"Peter is fast - really fast. We have seen a lot of film of the fakes and runs that Reimer has taken this year. I've been playing with him for years and this year he's never really gotten hit, "said Bubar.

"He's always slowed down a step or two after he's been hit. And he's going to get hit Saturday night."

Titans eye football glory
Key games set for tomorrow in Moncton, Saturday in Sackville

SACKVILLE - Tantramar Titans have won five New Brunswick high school football championships and their teams have always been known for playing a tough and punishing style -- win or lose.

That's what makes this season seem surreal. However, head coach Scott O'Neal is confident better days are ahead.

"We're going to get Tantramar football back," the second-year coach said yesterday.

"We're going to be a tough team to play against and we're going to do some hitting," he said. "Even though we've had some tough days, I'm telling the guys to go out and throw some hits. Play some hard-nosed football."

The surly approach will eventually turn the Titans into a contender again, the coach said.

"Through it all, our kids have not quit," O'Neal said. "We're at practice every day and our players are getting better every day.

"We haven't given up on this season, but we also know we're going to be a much better team in the future because of the hard knocks we have taken this year."

Titans have lost all three of their games this season and they've been outscored 162-7.

"We got away from Tantramar football, but we're going to get it back," O'Neal said. "A lot of these guys are learning as they go."

Former head coach Dave Burns, who has been with the team for 20 years and is the offensive co-ordinator this season, has told O'Neal he's never seen so many young, inexperienced players on a Tantramar roster.

The Titans are carrying 33 players and 17 of them are in Grade 10. They even have a couple of Grade 9 players.

"We're coaching every day and they're learning," O'Neal said. "It hasn't been easy, but it's been better than you would expect because these guys want to improve. They want to get better."

Titans host the three-time defending provincial champion Bernice MacNaughton Highlanders Saturday at 1 p.m. in Sackville. Highlanders trounced the Titans 82-0 a couple of weeks ago in Moncton.

"To be honest, we hit rock bottom against MacNaughton, but our guys bounced back and played a pretty solid game against Trimble," the coach said.

"I know we lost again and I hate losing, but I was proud of the way our guys pulled together and had a good game. That shows me that we're getting better."

Highlanders enter the game in third place in the Eastern Conference with a 2-1 record.

Harrison Trimble Trojans (1-3) face the Moncton High Purple Knights (2-0-2) in the annual Homecoming Game tomorrow night. Game time is 7 p.m. at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.

Riverview High Royals (2-0-2), who share first place with the Purple Knights, have a bye this weekend.

O'Neal said Tantramar, with just 475 students, is the smallest school in the conference, but the players are determined to bring the football program back to prominence.

"Most of the coaching staff played for the Titans and everyone here is proud what we've done in the past," he said. "We also believe the team is going in the right direction for the future."

Leo Hayes Lions and Oromocto High Blues share first place in the Western Conference with 3-1 records. Fredericton High Black Kats, Saint John High Greyhounds and Hampton Huskies are all 2-2 and the St. Malachy's Saints are 0-4.

In the provincial 10-man league, the Sussex High Sonics have pulled away from the pack with a 4-0 record.

Rivals l'Odyssee Olympiens (0-3) and Mathieu-Martin Matadors (0-3-1) clash tonight at 7 p.m. at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.