Jeff Taylor is confident the worst is behind the Capital Area DQ Gladiators. Good thing.

The Gladiators dropped their first three games of the Maritime Football League season by a combined margin of 111-20.

The good news is their three opponents -- Riverview Mustangs, Halifax Shockers and Saint John Wanderers -- are arguably the league's top three teams and are a combined 8-0 so far.

The fourth-best team might be the Dartmouth Knights, whom the Gladiators take on this afternoon at 4 p.m. at Oromocto High School's MacKenzie Field.

Jeff Taylor, who's been a receiver with the Gladiators since the team was formed in 2001, expected the team would be in for a rough start.

"We knew our first four games were against the perennial top four teams,'' he said. "We've had injuries and we're inexperienced and we were up against very talented teams. We have lots of talented players too but it's a matter of organization.''

The Gladiators will get running back Kyle Roesler back from injury for today's game and defensive lineman Jordan Hallett is close to returning as well.

Taylor is hoping to play today after dislocating his shoulder in the June 9 loss to the Shockers.

"I got hurt making a catch,'' he said. "I got hit by two or three guys at the same time and my arm got tangled up. My shoulder's improved immensely since then. I've got full range of motion now, but it's still quite tender.''

The nine-team league will be divided into two tiers for playoffs.

The top four regular season finishers will compete for the Maritime Bowl, with first vs. fourth and second vs. third in the opening round Aug. 4.

The fifth- through eight-place teams will be put into a lower tier to play for a new championship trophy, the Mariner Bowl.

Taylor says the Gladiators, who were 3-3 last season, are still shooting for fourth.

"Our goal is still top four,'' Taylor said. "It's still achievable. Our schedule is far more advantageous the rest of the way. Beating Dartmouth would be huge because we expect we'll be battling them and the Saint John Longhorns for fourth place.''

After Saturday's game, the Gladiators host the 0-3 Moncton Marshals, play the 0-2 UNBSJ Wolves, host the 2-1 Longhorns and finish up on the road against the 1-1 P.E.I. Privateers.

"The top eight teams used to make the playoffs and the first round, outside of one matchup, was pretty much a foregone conclusion,'' Taylor said. "This new format is going to make things more competitive. You still need those games against the top level teams to improve, but you also need to learn how to play in tight games too.''

The Gladiators quarterback situation is still unsettled. Mount Allison recruit Andrew Hickey played one game but isn't expected back. Marc Belliveau suffered an injury and now unproven Shane Long is taking the snaps. Taylor, in fact, ended up playing the second half of the season opener when Belliveau got hurt.

Long missed the first two games due to work commitments but played in last Saturday's 35-6 loss to the Wanderers.

Taylor, the former FHS standout who's also the team's offensive coordinator, said, "We've got to eliminate some turnovers. We've moved the ball, we just can't punch it in. We've had it right on the goal-line and inside the red zone a bunch of times, but we need to execute better.''

Beating the Knights won't be easy, Taylor said.

"One of their losses was to Riverview, whose one of the top two teams for sure, and they lost last weekend to the Longhorns by one point on a blocked extra point on the last play of the game. They could easily be 2-1.''

Taylor, 31, and defensive back Issac Grobe are the only Gladiators who've played all seven seasons.

"I've gone from winning it all (N.B. championships in 2001 and 2002) to some very lean years, let's put it that way,'' Taylor said. "But as long as I can hold up (physically) and contribute, then I'll keep playing. Last week was the first game I've had to sit out and that was just a fluke thing.''

In Maritime Women's Football League play, the 1-1 Curves Capital Area Lady Gladiators play the 0-2 Saint John Storm at 4 p.m. today at Simonds High.

The Lady Gladiators are looking to rebound from last Saturday's 8-6 loss to the Halifax Xplosion.

The Riverview Mustangs were without star running back Steve Cormier and starting quarterback Paul Guimond only played the first half. It didn't matter.

They destroyed the Moncton Doc Dylan's Marshals 51-0 in Maritime Football League action last night at Rocky Stone Memorial Field. These are two clubs going in opposite directions and this game showed there's a long way to go before there's any sense of competition in this rivalry.

``Steve Cormier is an excellent player and everyone picked it up without him,'' said Riverview running back Justin Savoie, who had 76 yards rushing. ``We're a better team with him in the lineup, but even without him we can still get the job done.

``It's really the (defending Maritime Bowl champion) Saint John Wanderers we're after this season. That's our main goal, but we're just taking it one game at a time and trying to dominate one at a time.''

There are three undefeated teams: Riverview at 4-0, the Halifax Shockers at 3-0 and the Wanderers at 2-0.

The Wanderers host Halifax today at 4 p.m. at the Canada Games Stadium. The Dartmouth Knights visit the Capital Area Gladiators of Fredericton today and the UNBSJ Wolves of Saint John host the Prince Edward Island Privateers tomorrow.

Francis Best led Riverview with 78 yards rushing. A.J. Gallant had 85 yards receiving for the Mustangs and he also played quarterback in the second half, managing two touchdown passes.

There were turnovers on the first four plays of last night's game. Matt Kenny returned a fumble 35 yards to give Riverview a 7-0 lead after 1:30 expired.

Mark Crandall took it into the endzone from the one-yard line in the final minute of the first quarter to make it 14-0. Savoie and Guimond had six- and two-yard touchdown runs in the second quarter and the Mustangs added a two-point safety to make it 30-0 at halftime.

Gallant replaced Guimond at quarterback in the second half and had touchdown passes of 34 yards to Josh Dickinson and 54 yards to Olivier Eddie. Prince Mwenga had a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown just before the final buzzer to make it 51-0.

Riverview has outscored opponents 177-14 in four games and it has posted two consecutive shutouts.

``We've got guys working hard in practice and it shows on the field,'' said Mustangs defensive lineman Dwayne Ells. ``There's always room for improvement. We're looking forward to the next few weeks to play some of the tough teams in the league.

``We practice to win and take that same mentality into each game. We're hungry and we don't take any teams lightly. We've got depth at each position and it showed tonight. I've got confidence we can bring guys in who can do the job everywhere along the board.''

Moncton (0-4), Capital Area (0-3) and UNBSJ (0-2) are at the bottom of the league.

Moncton will visit Capital Area next Saturday. Riverview will host Halifax on July 2 at 4 p.m. at Dobson Field.

``Our offence just can't seem to put things together,'' said Moncton head coach Dan Fougere, whose club has scored just 27 points in four games. ``We have a lot of young players and I realize that.

``Defensively, the second effort doesn't seem to be there sometimes and we have letdowns. We've got to go back to the drawing board and try to figure things out.''

Riverview won 77-0 and 44-6 in 2005 and 42-14 last year in its three previous games against Moncton.

``Not really,'' said Fougere when asked if he expected last night's game to be closer. ``They're a tough team. We have to be patient because we have a lot of young guys still learning the game. It's a different game going from high school to senior football.''

If you crunch the numbers, it looks like a blowout in the making.

The Riverview Mustangs have to be considered the heavy favourite as they prepare to face the Moncton Doc Dylan's Marshals in Maritime Football League action tonight at 7 p.m. at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.

Riverview is 3-0 and it has dominated opponents to the tune of 126-14. Moncton is 0-3 and it's been outscored 109-27.

``From what I hear, Moncton is going to be doing some regrouping,'' said Riverview quarterback Paul Guimond. ``We don't know what to expect from them. Hopefully, this game won't be too close for too long.

``We're definitely not looking past this game. We're going to come out and give them all they can handle for sure. We want to keep the emphasis on being fundamentally sound. I'm going to be as motivated as any other game and I'm sure the rest of the guys on our team feel the same way.

``Moncton wants to be respected in the league so I'm sure they feel they've got something to prove. We know they'll be coming for us so we have to be ready. I love playing Friday night games under the lights. It should be a good atmosphere.''

Riverview and the Halifax Shockers are tied atop the nine-team senior tackle football league at 3-0 and the Saint John Wanderers are next at 2-0.

Moncton and the Capital Area Gladiators of Fredericton, both 0-3, and the UNBSJ Wolves of Saint John, 0-2, are tied at the bottom of the circuit.

Riverview is scoring an average of 42 points per game and while its high-powered offence grabs much of the attention the club's defence has only allowed 14 points in three games.

Moncton, on the flip side, has been outscored 83-9 in the past two contests.

``We've got to play our style of defence and make sure we don't give them anything,'' said Riverview defensive lineman Pete Miller. ``If they even get a first down, that's going to make us upset.

``We've got a lot of young guys who have come in and made major contributions. This is one of the best defences we've ever put on the field. We've got depth at all positions. We're all on the same page.''

Riverview has won all three lifetime games against Moncton in blowout fashion. The scores were 77-0 and 44-6 in 2005 and 42-14 last season.

You look at this history and the standings this season. Is there any fear of the Mustangs taking the Marshals lightly tonight?

``We can't take any team lightly because on any given day anybody can win,'' said Miller. ``It's always fun to play Moncton, that's for sure. It's a big rivalry. Moncton is an improved team over last season.

``They picked up an athletic quarterback (Ryan Johnson) and two receivers (Chad Gautreau and Craig Fougere) who were all-stars in university. Shutting them down is going to be a challenge, but I think we're up for the task defensively. It's going to be a slugfest. If I was a fan, I would want to be at this game for sure.''

The Moncton Doc Dylan's Marshals are doing a reality check.

They're sitting at the bottom of the Maritime Football League and they've been outscored 109-27 while compiling an 0-3 record. This is a club that entered the season with its sights set on finishing in the top half of the nine-team league.

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

``You just re-adjust your goals,'' said Moncton head coach and general manager Dan Fougere. ``Any thought of us finishing in the top four is pretty well done. Our goal now is to finish in the top eight. We don't want to be ninth.

``We would like to finish in fifth or sixth place so that we can host a playoff game (in the group that competes for the consolation championship trophy). That's what we have to put our focus on now.''

Moncton faces the Riverview Mustangs on Friday at 7 p.m. at Rocky Stone Memorial Field. The Marshals practice there tonight at 8 p.m. and newcomers are welcome to show up.

Riverview and the Halifax Shockers, both 3-0, sit atop the league and the Saint John Wanderers are next at 2-0.

The Saint John Longhorns currently hold the fourth and final spot in the top bracket at 2-1.

The Prince Edward Island Privateers, 1-1, and Dartmouth Knights, 1-2, are in fifth and sixth place.

Moncton and the Capital Area Gladiators of Fredericton, both 0-3, and the UNBSJ Wolves of Saint John, 0-2, are at the bottom of the league.

Moncton has lost 26-18 to P.E.I., 42-0 to the Wanderers and 41-9 to Halifax.

``We've played Halifax and the Saint John Wanderers, two of the top teams, in our first three games,'' said Fougere.

"Add in Riverview on Friday and we're playing the top three teams in the league in our first four games.

``We have a lot of new players who have to learn how to work together as units. We moved the ball the last game against Halifax. We had over 200 yards offence, but we had some key plays that hurt us. Once we get more experience, I think we'll see better things from our team.''

The defending Maritime Bowl champion Saint John Wanderers and Riverview were the two best teams in the senior tackle football league the past two seasons.

``Playing against the Wanderers, that's a man's team,'' said Fougere.

``That's a true football team. I mean we were pretty roughed up after playing them. They're the best team we've faced so far.

``I haven't seen Riverview this season. I'll be interested to see them play on Friday and then I'll be able to compare them to the Wanderers.''

Riverview has outscored opponents 126-14 while posting three blowout wins. All signs appear to point toward another lopsided victory for the club against Moncton on Friday.

``There's a rivalry between us being the two local teams,'' said Fougere.

``Riverview is going to be a hard team to play. They're very talented and very well coached, but hopefully if we stick with our game plan and our offence moves the ball we can keep it close.

"There's always pride that you don't want to get blown away.

``Of course, we always go into every game thinking we are going to win. Otherwise there would be no sense in going to the field.''