The Saint John Longhorns needed some last-minute dramatics to post one of the team's biggest wins ever.

Defensive lineman Aaron Drummond blocked a Dartmouth Knights' extra-point attempt with 49 seconds remaining as the Longhorns held on for a 28-27 victory in Maritime Football League action Saturday.

Saint John fell 27-6 to the Knights last year but used a pair of touchdowns from Gary Brown and 100-yard rushing days from Brown and Peter Shea to move to 2-1 on the young season.

Jim Mather caught a 50-yard pass from Longhorns' quarterback Reece Roach, Brown scampered in from seven and 29 yards and Shea connected for a five-yard touchdown catch as the Longhorns led 20-6 at the half and 28-14 entering the final quarter.

The Knights made a game of it on quarterback Dan Williams' third TD pass and a 23-yard scramble for another major but fell just short of tying the contest.

In another game, the Saint John Wanderers stretched their undefeated streak to 20 games with a 35-6 victory over the Capital Area Gladiators in the Peter Murray Memorial Game.

Jon Haines led the offensive attack with three touchdowns on runs of one, 10 and 45 yards.

Mike Thomas added another scoring run of 10 yards while Chika ikejiani caught a 50-yard pass from John Hachey for the other major.

Scott Eatman recorded three sacks while Roger Muise and Tanner McDermott picked off one pass each.

Chris Chesworth kicked three conversions while Hachey hit Thomas for a two-point convert

Andrew Hubbard scored the Gladiators lone touchdown on a one-yard plunge.

In other games, Halifax downed Moncton 41-9 and Riverview hammered Prince Edward Island 46-0.

There were some questions about the Riverview Mustangs defence entering the season.

``We're young,'' said Jeff Reath, the club's defensive secondary coach. ``We've got new players at every spot on the field on defence. We've got a whole new linebacking corps and a whole new defensive back corps. Our defensive line is intact from last year.

``We've got some youth and speed in the linebacking corps that really has done a lot to pressure the quarterbacks. We're missing some big keys from last year's defence such as Anthony Brown, Kalyn Galloway and Johnathan Forbes.''

Riverview and the Halifax Shockers, both 2-0, sit atop the Maritime Football League. The Saint John Wanderers and Prince Edward Island Privateers are next best at 1-0.

Riverview, which has allowed 14 points against in two games, hosts P.E.I. today at 4 p.m. at Dobson Field in senior men's tackle action. Tickets are $4 per individual, $7 for a family and kids age 14 and under are admitted free.

``Our defence was a concern entering this season,'' said Reath. ``In last year's New Brunswick championship game, we were up by 16 points in the first half and we ended up losing (36-33 to the Wanderers). It's hard to be a defensive coach and not take responsibility for that.

``Our offence did the job and our defence let them back into the game. We had good guys last year, but we wanted to bring some youth and aggressiveness to the secondary to shut down the pass which we've done so far this year. To hold Dartmouth and Fredericton to one touchdown each is a huge step forward.''

Riverview defeated the Capital Area Gladiators of Fredericton 49-7 and the Dartmouth Knights 31-7 in the first two weeks. Dartmouth is considered a top four power in the nine-team league.

The Mustangs have controlled the ball and scored 80 points in two games. Their offence has been able to stay on the field because their defence has been so dominant.

``Our defence has set the tone early in both games,'' said Reath. ``They've allowed our offence to get on the field and do the job. Once we get up a couple of touchdowns, it becomes much more of a control aspect as opposed to trying to come from behind with the winning touchdown late in the game.''

In today's other action, the Moncton Marshals visit Halifax, the Saint John Longhorns host Dartmouth and the Saint John Wanderers host Capital Area. Moncton, Capital Area and the UNBSJ Wolves of Saint John are all 0-2 at the bottom of the league.

Upon completion of the eight-game regular season, the top four clubs will compete for the Maritime Bowl and the next four finishers will battle for a consolation trophy.

The league's worst team will be eliminated.

Reath isn't worried about Riverview taking today's opponent lightly.

``P.E.I. is a much improved team over last year,'' he said. ``I say that based on what they did at the pre-season jamboree and the fact they beat Moncton in the first week of the regular season. They're coming off a bye week so they're rested.''

Does it give P.E.I. credibility the fact it defeated Moncton?

``Well, Moncton was saying they were going to have a strong team this season,'' said Riverview running back Steve Cormier.

``They would've been coming out pretty hard in their season opener. P.E.I. was their first test so they must have played well to beat them.''