Week 7: October 16-17

Blues beat up on Lions

Everyone said it would be a high-scoring, aerial shootout, but no one expected that just one of the shooters would show up.

The Oromocto Beaver Brokerage Blues throttled the Leo Hayes High Lions 50-0 in their showdown for first place in the south west conference Saturday.

The game, in front of 350 fans at MacKenzie Field, really amounted to nothing more than 48 minutes of slow torture for the Lions.

After predicting that their offence was going to 'shock everybody', Blues head coach Robbie Wilson played prophet, as his team reeled off 426 offensive yards against a beleaguered Lions squad. Although Wilson was happy with his offence, it was the defence that he thought carried the day.

"Our defence was spectacular, they took the Lions offence out of the game and scored 14 points," said Wilson, who singled out linebacker Jessie Gauvreau as his defensive player of the game. "I mean, they pitched us a shutout."

The Blues forced seven turnovers, but none as important as Cody Boulanger's blocked punt at the Lions 30 with 2:30 left in the first half, which he recovered in the end zone sending the Blues to a 26-0 halftime lead.

"That blocked punt was a turning point in the game, for sure, but I really felt Josh Blanchard's 66-yard kickoff return to open the second half was key," said Blues offensive coordinator Ronnie Squires, the wizard pulling the strings behind the Blues' offensive curtain this season. "It set us up to start the half with another score and gave us a 33-0 lead . . . and it put a dagger through the Lions' heart."

It didn't hurt either that the Blues were hitting everything that moved on the field - hard.

The result: Peter Reimer and Eric McGarry, the two cornerstones of the Lions' success this season, were helped off the field after collisions with OHS players.

Reimer's day ended following a collision he initiated with Blues running back Mitchell Player. McGarry was hit by a locomotive train that steamrolled a few of the Lions on this day: the Nathan Heather Express.

Heather finished his day with four interceptions, a TD run from the quarterback position, four catches for over 100 yards and what seemed like an endless array of bone-jarring hits at the expense of the Lions from his perch at the safety position.

"I was on my game today, but more importantly, the team was doing what we're supposed to be doing," said Heather. "James Mitchell . . . wow, what a day, Blanchard threw a huge block to set me free for that TD run . . . and what did I say? Mitch McCoy broke out today."

Heather predicted McCoy would be a key in the Blues' game plan and he was. McCoy ended the day with three catches for 58 yards and a TD - a perfectly run post pattern that he caught in stride and galloped 43 yards for paydirt.

Wilson was happy with the output of his receiving group of McCoy, Blanchard and Pat Hailey, all of whom caught a pass, but reserved special praise for the fourth member of the group, Heather.

"Does that performance today answer any question now about whether Nathan Heather is for real?"

Thrilled with his team, Wilson also singled out a Lion defender for praise.

"I felt for Mike Benson out there, but he still played excellent - he always does," Wilson said. "I'd love to have him on my team, he's a great player."

Patrick Price managed three sacks for Leo Hayes, the last one with five minutes left in the game.

"We overcame some adversity this week with a lot of illness on our team and some key injuries and this loss adds to that, but this is motivation," Price said. "Great teams respond well to adversity and we are going to come back from this."

With LHHS head coach Rick Kelly unavailable for comment, Lions offensive coordinator Gary Norcott was gracious in defeat.

"That's the way it goes sometimes," Norcott said. "We had a rough week of practices and it showed. They made the plays and we didn't. Full marks to them for that. In football you have days like this and maybe we needed a game like this to find out what this team is made of."

For the Blues, quarterback James Mitchell went 9-for-16 for 201 yards and three majors, one on a rush.

Player ran for 70 yards on eight carries, while Peter Wilde added a TD on the ground. Josh Blanchard added a touchdown on 37 yards receiving, with a 33-yard yard field goal and five PATs. Brandon Courtney returned an interception 60 yards for the final OHS score.

The 5-1 Blues will host the 3-3 Hampton Huskies at 1 p.m. Saturday.

The Lions, now 4-2, head to Saint John for a key Friday night tilt with the Greyhounds.

The Greyhounds are also 4-2 after beating the FHS Black Kats (2-4) 8-0 Friday. Matt Doucet scored the lone TD on a one-yard run. It was converted by Alex Quinn, who also scored a point on a missed field goal.

Royals victory sets up showdown
RHS and Bernice MacNaughton will clash for first place Friday

SACKVILLE - Riverview High Royals coach Guy Messervier was pleased with the outcome, but he was happier with the way his team beat the Tantramar Titans 78-0 in a New Brunswick High School Football League game here Saturday afternoon.

"We got a lot of our players involved and they were all part of the win," Messervier said.

"A lot of guys got to touch the ball and contribute offensively," he said. "We only passed a few times in the first half and not at all in the second half so we were able to get a lot of players involved in a running game.

"Defensively, our guys also stood up and dominated. The whole team contributed to the win."

The victory sets up a showdown between the Royals and Bernice MacNaughton Highlanders in the final regular season game for both teams on Friday at 4 p.m. at Rocky Stone Memorial Field. The winner will capture first place in the Eastern Conference and the loser will either fall to second or third place.

"They are all going to be big games from now on," Messervier said. "Our guys really want to finish first. It would be a great accomplishment for our team."

Riverview High has a 3-0-2 record for eight points while the three-time defending provincial champion Highlanders are 4-1 for eight points.

Moncton High Purple Knights also have eight points with a 3-1-2 record, but their regular season is over. Second and third-place finishes will be decided by the team that allows the fewest amount of points.

Harrison Trimble Trojans (1-4) will wind up in fourth place and the Titans (0-5) will finish in the basement. Titans and Trojans clash Friday at 7 p.m. at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.

"For most of the season, the defences have dominated the league this year," Messervier said. "I am also the offensive co-ordinator so I know it's been frustrating for the offences this year, but that's a credit to the strong defensive game most teams are playing this year."

Tight end Niko Sokolowski led the Royals with three touchdowns against the Titans.

Matt Jay, Tim Jay and J.P. Bowie each contributed a pair of majors for the Royals, who led 36-0 at halftime.

Cody Sollows and Brett McNeil also had touchdowns while Casey Glenen kicked 11 converts and a single on a 50-yard punt.

Meanwhile, heading into the final week of play, Oromocto High Blues lead the Western Conference with a 5-1 record, followed by Saint John High Greyhounds (4-2), Leo Hayes Lions (4-2), Hampton Huskies (3-3), Fredericton High Black Kats (2-4) and St. Malachy's Saints (0-6).

In the provincial 10-man league, Sussex High Sonics ran their record to 6-0 with a 49-0 win over the Harbour View Vikings Saturday in Sussex.

St. Stephen Spartans are second at 5-1, followed by Harbour View (4-2), Mathieu-Martin Matadors (2-3-1), Rothesay Red Hawks (2-3-1), Kennebecasis Valley Crusaders (2-3), Simonds Seabess (1-5) and l'Odyssée Olympiens (0-5).

Matadors beat the Crusaders 41-9 Saturday afternoon in Dieppe while the Olympiens lost 29-14 to the Red Hawks Friday night.

In their final regular season games, Sussex visits Rothesay, l'Odyssée hosts St. Stephen at Rocky Stone Memorial Field and Mathieu-Martin entertains Simonds in Dieppe. All games are scheduled for 1 p.m.

Sussex remains perfect in 10-man

Published in the Telegraph-Journal on Monday, October 19, 2009
Appeared on page B10

SUSSEX - The Sussex Sonics dropped Harbour View High 49-0 to secure a hold on first place in the New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association South East 10-man football league.

The win brings the Sonics to 6-0 and marked the fourth game of the season in which their defensive end didn't allow a point.

Sussex scored on its first possession with a 32-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Aaron Tabor to Mike Brown, which Tabor also converted. The club gained an 8-0 lead when Tabor's kickoff was not returned out of the Viking's end zone.

The quarterback connected with Robert Dunfield for a 48-yard pass and run major and Sussex closed the first quarter on a one-yard quarterback sneak by Colin Urquhart. Both touchdowns were converted by Tabor.

Trevor Seymour notched two majors on a two-yard sweep and 10-yard pass from Urquhart, one of which was converted. Brown impressed the hometown crowd with a touchdown on a 52-yard reverse and Mark Folkins finished the slew of scoring with a 42-yard run.

In addition to their fourth shutout, the Sonics' defense recovered four Viking fumbles as Harbour View dropped to 4-2-0.

The St. Stephen Spartans inched closer to the top squad with a 55-8 win over Simonds High for a record of 5-1-0.

Kurtis Delaney continued his stellar season with nine carries for 262 yards and four touchdowns, all in the first half.

Scott Bell added two rushing majors while Scott Bell and Ryan Callaghan contributed with one touchdown each. Luke Hayre was good on seven of eight conversions. Safety Cody Richard led the defensive line with two interceptions and five tackles.

In other 10-man action, the Kennebecasis Valley Crusaders lost 41-9 to Ecole Mathieu-Martin. The loss drops the Crusaders to 2-3 and improved the Matadors to 2-3-1. Quarterback Devon Toole notched the lone Crusaders major while Nathan Edwards had a field goal.

Head coach Eugene Belliveau said his squad was its own worst enemy in the loss, losing four fumbles and allowing three interceptions.

"Every time we touched the ball on offense we sustained our march and got within scoring range but then we'd lose possession," Belliveau said.

Blues, Lions to settle gridiron gridlock
Showdown | OHS plays LHHS today at 1 p.m. for top spot in the south west

To say that there is much riding on the outcome of today's New Brunswick High School Football League game between the Leo Hayes High Lions and the Oromocto Beaver Brokerage Blues would be an understatement.

With the playoffs two weeks away, both teams enter with 4-1 records in the South West Conference.

There is home-field advantage through the post-season at stake, but there is more to the equation than just travel schedules. There are bragging rights and pride on the line as well.

"Oromocto lost to us early in the schedule and they probably feel like they have something to prove because we're the only team that has beaten them," said Lions head coach Rick Kelly.

"I'm sure they feel we were just lucky because of the margin of victory and the impact weather played (14-13 and it was rainy, cold and very windy which hindered the potent OHS pass attack), but we're very motivated and focused on this game to prove them wrong. This, very clearly, is a huge game for both teams."

The first game was played at Leo Hayes and the Blues now get to play host within the comfy confines of MacKenzie Field at 1 p.m.

With the weather calling for sun, both teams are preparing for an aerial circus.

Oromocto's tight-lipped coach, Rob Wilson, surprisingly agrees and has his own take on the game.

"Normally I'd say it is just another game but with this one I can't do that because there is so much riding on it," said Wilson.

"The outcome might be the difference between two home dates in the playoffs and in high school football that makes a difference. It helped Leo Hayes in our first game and we hope it helps us in this one."

Wilson thinks the weather will play a large role in this one, as well.

"The weather will be a factor and hopefully everyone will get a chance to see what we can do with good weather," he said. "I really think we are going to start to shock everybody with our offence."

No mention of the OHS offence can be made without talking about star wide receiver/safety, Nathan Heather.

"Nathan Heather is the real deal. I don't think in my 12 years coaching that I have ever seen a better high school receiver - ever," Wilson said. "As a safety, as a receiver, as a quarterback or linebacker, whatever we need, he is the real deal."

Heather believes the key to the game lies in two players: linebacker Mike Benson for the Lions and Mitch McCoy for the Blues.

"Benson is a monster, an octopus who wraps everything up that comes his way - he's really a one-man wrecking crew," Heather said.

"In that Fredericton game he took out Jake DeWolfe, one of the best and toughest players in our league, with a hit that I didn't see but I heard. When I turned my head to see what happened, Jake couldn't get up and he didn't get up for about three minutes - that's Mike Benson."

So is Heather saying he will try to avoid him on the field?

"I'd like to yeah," Heather says with a chuckle. "But it's hard to do because he's everywhere. I'll just be looking for positive openings on the field and hope for great blocks like I got from Mitch last game."

McCoy, another of the Blues talented wideouts, threw two key blocks on the same play for Heather in the first quarter in their last game giving Heather the room he needed to go 93 yards for a TD on a run he broke while playing quarterback.

"Mitch McCoy is a great receiver and he's ready to emerge from the shadows in this game," said Heather, who has nine TDs this season on 37 catches over five games.

"He had two TDs and over 100 yards receiving called back on penalties and a bad luck fumble against the Black Kats. He's the guy I think will make the difference against the Lions."

For Kelly, his money's on his QB, Derek Broad.

"I'm glad we have Derek Broad at the helm," Kelly said. "He's gone from a boy to a man over the course of this season and I have no trouble saying - loudly - that he is the best high school quarterback in this province."

Broad threw for 272 yards against the Kats, but knows his Lions are in for a battle.

"They like to throw, everyone knows that," Broad said. "But our DB's are outstanding and will be a big factor in the outcome of this game; they are going to have to be because my feeling is that this is going to be a shootout.

"Whoever wants to take the cake as top dog in the league has to step up and take it and it should be a great game."

Highlanders overcome Knights
MacNaughton High grabs share of first place with 14-10 win

With less than three minutes to play and 66 yards to go, the Bernice MacNaughton Highlanders got down to business.

Grade 12 running back Jordan Haley capped an impressive offensive march with a one-yard touchdown plunge to give the Highlanders a 14-10 win over the Moncton High Purple Knights in a thrilling New Brunswick High School Football League game yesterday at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.

"We were kind of worried, but the guys got together and found a way to win," Haley said, still trying to catch his breath from the emotional finish.

"The coaches told us what to do and we all knew what we had to do," the 17-year-old running back said. "The offensive line came up big and gave us some good holes to run through and the whole offensive unit made some big plays."

The win gives the three-time defending provincial champion Highlanders a 4-1 record for eight points and a share of first place in the Eastern Conference.

Purple Knights, who have finished their regular season schedule, also have eight points with a record of 3-1-2. Riverview High Royals, who are third with a 2-0-2 mark for six points, visit the winless Tantramar Titans today at 1 p.m. in Sackville.

Highlanders and Royals wrap up their regular season schedules with a head-to-head matchup Friday at 4 p.m. at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.

Highlanders head coach Ed Wasson said his team was frustrated by the Purple Knights for much of yesterday's intense struggle.

"Moncton High's got a very good team and they played well, but it came to a point where we had to put our mistakes behind us and move forward," Wasson said.

"In the last drive, we stopped making errors. There were some bad exchanges earlier in the quarter, but the guys put everything together in the final minute and they were able to get a big touchdown to win it."

Purple Knights took a 10-7 lead with 3:10 left in the fourth quarter when quarterback Dylan Rogers connected with receiver Matt Toogood on a four-yard touchdown pass. Rogers rolled to his right then found Toogood open in the end zone on the other side of the field. Rogers then ran in a two-point covert to give the Knights their three-point lead.

However, the Knights were penalized twice after booting a pair of ensuing kick-offs out of bounds to give the Highlanders the ball on their own 44-yard line.

"It didn't look good for us, but we didn't panic," said Haley, who was also a member of last year's championship team.

"Our experience was a factor," he said. "The coaches know what it takes to win and so do the players. Our experience as a winning team made a big difference. That was a fun game to play because it was so close and both teams really wanted to win."

Earlier in the game, MacNaughton quarterback Mac Wade ran five-yards for a major. Matt Heaton kicked both converts for the Highlanders. MacNaughton also conceded a safety in the third quarter.

Both defences had outstanding games with several high-pressured attacks on the quarterbacks and swarming tackles on the running backs. Neither team was able to sustain many prolonged offensive drives.

"Those are two very good teams and we could see each other again before the year is over," Wasson said.

In the provincial 10-man league, Mathieu-Martin Matadors host the Kennebecasis Valley Crusaders today at 1 p.m. in Dieppe. The undefeated Sussex High Sonics entertain the Harbour View Vikings at 1 p.m.

FREDERICTON - Matt Doucet landed the lone major as the Saint John Greyhounds downed Fredericton High 8-0 in South-West 12-man football action Friday night. Doucet scored the touchdown on a one-yard run. It was converted by Alex Quinn, who also scored one point on a missed field goal as Saint John improved to 4-2. Fredericton dropped to 2-4. In other 12-man action, the Hampton Huskies blanked St. Malachy's High 17-0 Friday. Quarterback Ben Shepherd had a 50-yard touchdown run while Corey O'Toole added a major off a 20-yard run. Adam Kane kicked both conversions and also notched a 20-yard field goal as the Huskies improved to 3-3. The Saints dropped to 0-6. Meanwhile, Andrew Brooks scored two running touchdowns and a conversion for Rothesay High as the Red Hawks downed Ecole L'Odyssee 29-14 in South East 10-man action. Ben Hayward scored a major on a pass from Stuart Buckley, who added a two-point conversion for Rothesay. Devon Kelly also scored a touchdown for the victors while Josh Herrington notched a two-point safety as Rothesay improved to 2-3-1. L'Odyssee dropped to 0-6.

Moncton High Purple Knights quarterback Dylan Rogers is his harshest critic.

"I don't think I know how to throw a football properly," the Grade 12 student and 17-year-old quarterback said bluntly before practice yesterday afternoon.

"It's a shame, really, because we've got a lot of good receivers on this team. The truth is, I can help our team a lot more with my arm more than my legs."

He must be doing something right.

Purple Knights are undefeated heading into their final regular season game tomorrow night against the three-time defending New Brunswick High School Football League champion Bernice MacNaughton Highlanders. Game time is 7 p.m. at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.

Purple Knights have a 3-0-2 record for eight points. Highlanders (3-1) and Riverview High Royals (2-0-2) share second place with six points each. Royals visit the last-place Tantramar Titans (0-4) Saturday at 1 p.m. in Sackville. The fourth-place Harrison Trimble Trojans (1-4) have a bye this week.

"We'd love to finish in first place," Rogers said. "If we can finish first, we'll get home-field for the playoffs and we'd get to play the lower seeded teams.

"We've been working hard and we've set a goal of finishing first. If we lose (tomorrow), we could finish as low as third and we don't want to be in that position. It would mean a lot to our team to finish first."

If the Highlanders win, they still have a shot at first. However, even if the Knights win they could still slip into second place because the Royals could overtake them.

If the Royals win Saturday then defeat the Highlanders in their final game next weekend, they could end up tied with the Purple Knights with 10 points each.

The first tie-breaker is head-to-head games and the Knights and Royals have tied in both of their meetings this season. The next tie-breaker is points-against and the Knights have allowed 47 through five games and the Royals have given up 35 through four.

"We just want to keep the momentum going," Rogers said. "We've got a good thing going this year and we're going to stay positive... The defence has been doing a great job every week and the offence has been pretty good, for the most part."

In the provincial 10-man league, l'Odyssee Olympiens (0-4) host the Rothesay Red Hawks (1-3-1) tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Rocky Stone Memorial Field. Mathieu-Martin Matadors (1-3-1) entertain the Kennebecasis Valley Crusaders (2-2) on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Dieppe.

Sussex High Sonics (5-0) host the Harbour View Vikings (4-1) in a battle for first-place Saturday at 1 p.m.