Maritime Football League
2009 Game Summaries

Week 4: June 19-20

Published in the Times-Transcript on Monday June 22, 2009
Appeared on page B1

The Riverview Mustangs improved their Maritime Football League record to 3-0 with a 42-12 win over the P.E.I. Privateers Saturday at Dobson Field.

Shea Lenehan and Jordan Kenny each scored a pair of touchdowns for the defending league champion Mustangs, who are tied with the Dartmouth Knights, also 3-0, for first place atop the Eastern Conference.

Lenehan found the end zone on a pair of first-half touchdown runs, first on a six-yard rush on Riverview's opening offensive series of the game and later a 62-yard dash. Justin Savoie ran for another major from four yards out in the final minute of the second quarter to give the Mustangs a 21-6 lead at halftime.

Riverview built on its lead in the second half. Quarterback Donovan Boucher hooked up with Jon Forbes on a 47-yard touchdown pass and Kenny scored twice, on a 15-yard run and a 28-yard pass from Boucher as the home team put the game away.

Matt Archibald kicked six converts in the victory. Mustangs defensive lineman Greg Smith, who is believed to be the oldest player in the league at 47 years old, blocked a punt and recovered the ball for Riverview.

Jeremy Snider replied with both touchdowns for the Privateers (1-3), including a 117-yard touchdown return on a missed 45-yard field goal attempt by Archibald.

Also Saturday, the Moncton Marshals were hammered 41-0 by the Halifax Shockers on the road. The Shockers are 3-1 on the season while the Marshals are 0-4.

Moncton and Riverview are both back in action Saturday. Moncton hosts the Saint John Wanderers (0-4) at 2 p.m. at Rocky Stone Memorial Field while Riverview entertains Dartmouth at 4 p.m. at Dobson Field.

Published in the Telegraph-Journal on Monday June 22, 2009
Appeared on page B6

In men's Maritime Football League play, the Capital Area Gladiators moved into sole possession of first place in the Western Conference with a 21-7 victory over the Saint John Longhorns Friday at Chapman Field.

After spotting the Gladiators to a 13-0 lead in the wet, turnover-filled game, quarterback Reece Roche completed a quick hitch pass to Jamie Barefoot for Saint John's lone TD, converted by John Phillips.

Jeff Taylor caught TD passes of 25 and 45 yards from Andrew Hickey, while Josh MacArthur ran for the other Capital Area major. The Gladiators improved to 3-1 while the Longhorns fell to 2-2.

Longhorns coach Eric Sabean was happy his team was able to get past the Capital Area offensive line and pressure Hickey, resulting in four interceptions.

"We're desperate for a rematch with Fredericton - we made it a little too easy for them. We're really hoping we see them again in the playoffs, " Sabean said.

In Saturday MFL games, the Halifax Shockers pounded the Moncton Marshals 41-0 while the Dartmouth Knights shut out the Saint John Wanderers 39-0 and the Riverview Mustangs beat the Prince Edward Island Privateers 42-12.

The Knights and Mustangs both remain undefeated at 3-0, tied for first in the Eastern Conference ahead of Halifax (3-1) and P.E.I. (1-3).

The Marshals and Wanderers are winless at 0-4, last in the Western.

By Robert Touchie

One thing is for certain - Jamie Edwards is a man of his word.

The Capital Area DQ Gladiators' playing coach predicted that Jeff (Death) Taylor would score two touchdowns Friday night, and Taylor made him look like a prophet, hauling in five catches for 85 yards - including TD passes of 25 and 45 yards - leading the Gladiators to a choppy 21-7 victory over the Saint John Longhorns before 130 fans at Chapman field.

The Maritime Football League game was played against a sloppy backdrop of rain and a heavier dose of turnovers - on both sides.

The win propels the Gladiators to a 3-1 record and sole possession of first place in the Western Conference. The Longhorns drop to 2-2.

"It wasn't ideal but we'll take it," stated a bruised and battered Edwards after the game.

"We knew we were in tight tonight with (Andrew Hubbard) Hubby, (Cody) Stewart and (AJ) Durling all out with injuries, but Death (Taylor) promised to step up his game and he delivered tonight, as he usually does. He's been with the program from the start and he is the heart and soul of our team."

In the end though, Taylor's heroics notwithstanding, it was the air-tight defence of the Gladiators and some key offensive and special teams plays from mobile pivot Andrew Hickey that saved the day.

Hickey was intercepted on four occasions, but responded when needed with clutch passes and even bigger rushes out of the pocket, totalling close to 300 total offensive yards (including punt returns) and the two touchdown passes to Taylor.

Running back Josh MacArthur ran for 106 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown, looking impressive throughout, wearing down a beleaguered Longhorn defense.

The game itself was an egregious example of how not to play winning football, however, with each team committing an abysmal five turnovers.

The Gladiators' Nolan Gervais came away with two key special teams fumble recoveries and Edwards forced two on defence.

Bobby McIntyre came up with a huge second quarter interception off Saint John QB Reece Roche, which set the tone for the remainder of the game.

Roche was limited to five completions by the stingy and timely Gladiator defence, which provided an impenetrable wall on every key Saint John offensive possession. The giveaways were surprising, given that both coaches felt that the game was paramount to deciding Western Conference supremacy - and homefield advantage in the playoffs.

"To me, (tonight) is a must win game," Longhorns coach Eric Sabean had told the Telegraph Journal heading into the game.

With two straight losses now in the books - the Longhorns were trounced by the Dartmouth Knights 40-9 last Saturday - Saint John is certainly left reeling as they hope to put the pieces together before the playoffs begin. The Gladiators are off this week, with a bye, and then hit the road for two road games in Nova Scotia and P.E.I., and Edwards promises a better effort in those matches.

"We'll regroup and work out the kinks this week in practice - and be better next game. The main thing is we got the 'W'," stated a clearly relieved and exhausted Edwards, "and we grow as a team from the setbacks.

"Don't forget, we're missing some key players this week, on both sides of the ball."

They'll have to regroup if they hope to beat the formidable Halifax Shockers at Husky Stadium in Halifax on July 4. The Gladiators are hoping to avoid any fireworks that the Shockers might have in store for them on the American holiday.

By Robert Touchie

Don't send a boy to do a man's job, or so the story goes, right?

The Capital Area DQ Gladiators have just 'the man' for the job - Erik Watson.

A recent graduate of the Bishop's Gaitors vaunted CIS program under former CFL All-Star, Leroy Blugh, Watson's entry to the league had Gladiator faithful salivating and the team counting on him to carry a large load this summer as they try to return to former gridiron glory.

So far, so good.

According to coach Jamie Edwards, another former Gaitor star, Watson has been 'a man among boys' in league play thus far, essentially having his way with defensive linemen to date.

Watson's mettle might well be tested tonight, though, when the physical defence of the Saint John Longhorns comes to stampede into UNB's Chapman Field for an 8 p.m. tilt. Admission is $2.

The Longhorns and Gladiators have identical 2-1 records, but Edwards and his crew believe that Saint John might be better than their record indicates.

"They certainly bring in a physical presence and a swagger that needs to be tamed," Edwards emphatically stated, "and they have enough weapons on offence with (veteran signal caller Reese) Roche, #4 (Justin Cavan) and (Jordan) Blizzard out of the backfield, that we will have all we can handle to contain them."

How do you stop a herd of thundering Longhorns? Easy says Edwards: "smashmouth football, go hard on every play and bring hard-nosed Gladiator football to them."

It's a style of play not lost on Edwards, Watson or any of the Gladiator charges this season, as smashing mouths is exactly what they have been doing through three weeks of league play.

Edwards and fellow coach Mike Casey believe much of that snarl can be attributed to the six-foot-four, 255-pound Watson, the former East-West Bowl starter (a CIS all-star game showcasing CIS talent for the CFL draft).

"It's Erik's quick feet, intensity and overall athleticism which separates him from his peers on the offensive line in our league," says an obviously impressed Casey, "and we are just real fortunate to have him and the line we have."

And what a line it is. So far the Gladiators have given up only six sacks over three games, and one of those (against league power Riverview in the season opener on the road) was 'sans Watson.'

Casey speaks of his stable of offensive 'hoggies' with great affection (a sure sign of his own hoggie genealogy - he of the UNB Red Bomber pedigree, circa the 1970s).He states without hesitation, "when we get Bobby Michaud back and we're working with a full crew, we're arguably as good as any offensive line in the league, and I'd go so far as to say that I'd pit my guys against some defensive lines the AUS.

"When we have Chris Munn, Dylan Sullivan, Erik Watson, Andy Gillingham and Moose (Trevor O'Leary) on the field together, I believe no one can touch our QB (Andrew Hickey) - they blow people up."

They are a confident bunch to be sure, and borderline cocky, but there may be something to what Casey says. These are a different Gladiator group than we have seen in recent years.

Not since Allison Brooks and Dave Edwards were running the asylum have the Gladiators been so deep at so many positions. Their defensive line is as potent as their offensive line, limiting opposing offences to less than 30 passes - total - over three games.

This is unheard of in the pass-happy Canadian game. It's a strong indication that there is some substance to the bravado, and really, without confidence any football team is dead in the water from the get-go. Don't even bother showing up without a little jam on your sandwich. That's football, and it's why this Gladiator team could be onto something this summer.

Depth has always been a concern for teams in this Maritime league and the Gladiator hierarchy believes they are strong - and deep - on both sides of the ball.

"We have 15 guys who should be on the field, as a defence," Edwards said, "and I believe that is what separates us from past Gladiator teams and our opponents in this league. We can weather the storm through injuries and tough games. In the end, I see Dartmouth and Riverview as the teams to beat and we can stick with them, without question, and just play our game."

Maybe so, but in the end, savvy football fans know that the game is won and lost on the field. A lot of great teams 'on paper' have failed to bring home the bacon at season's end.

The Gladiators have to go out and take the mantle if they want to be top dog in the Maritime circuit - and that means backing up their bark with weekly bite "¦ specifically on the line - offensive and defensive.

In Maritime Women's Football League action Saturday, the 1-1 Capital Area Curves Lady Gladiators will take on the 1-1 Saint John Storm at 5 p.m. at Leo Hayes.

By Neil Hodge

Riverview Mustangs head coach Rob Weir is all smiles -- and for good reason.

His club is enjoying a 2-0 start to the Maritime Football League season following 28-14 victories over the Capital Area Gladiators of Fredericton and the Halifax Shockers.

"We're very happy with our start,'' said Weir. "We believe we've played two of the top teams in the league. We've played very well. We're developing offence. We're very young this year on offence.

"We'll be a continuously improving offence throughout the season with a lot of young guys and new guys, but defensively we are a solid club. Our defence is just an absolute beast.''

Riverview will host the Prince Edward Island Privateers tomorrow at 4 p.m. at Dobson Field. P.E.I., which won the league's pre-season jamboree tournament, is coming off a 41-0 win over the Moncton Marshals last weekend.

P.E.I. lost its first two games of the season, falling 15-6 to the Saint John Longhorns and 16-9 to Halifax.

"P.E.I. is a much improved team this season,'' said Weir. "They have a very dynamic passing attack, a good quarterback with good receivers and good offensive line. Their defence has been able to hold opponents to minimal scores.

"They lost to Halifax, one of the top teams in the league, in the dying seconds of the game. We're absolutely not going to take them lightly. They can put points on the board and they've been good defensively so we're taking them very seriously. We expect a good game from them.''

Riverview, 2-0, the Dartmouth Knights, 2-0, and Halifax, 2-1, are tied for first place in the Eastern Conference. P.E.I. is in the basement at 1-2.

Capital Area and the Saint John Longhorns, both 2-1, are deadlocked atop the Western Conference. Moncton and the Saint John Wanderers are both 0-3.

Capital Area hosts the Longhorns tonight. Moncton visits Halifax and the Wanderers are on the road to face Dartmouth in a pair of games tomorrow.

Riverview boasts a 33-5 lifetime record in the regular season and playoffs combined since the club was founded in 2005. The Mustangs captured the Maritime Bowl the past two seasons.

Consider this: The Wanderers are the only team that's ever beaten the Mustangs.

"We still have Dartmouth as a test and we can't take P.E.I. lightly because they've been playing very well,'' said Weir. "P.E.I. is a team that's been getting better and better every year.

"I'm very impressed the way the league has developed into being much more competitive this year. The competition is much closer than it has been in many years.''

By Nathan White

It's only the halfway point of the Maritime Football League regular season, but this weekend could end up deciding the Western Conference champion.

The Saint John Longhorns visit the Capital Area Gladiators at 8 p.m. tonight at Chapman Field in a matchup of 2-1 teams. The winner will emerge with the clear division lead, and will hold the tie-breaker should they end up even at the end of the seven-game schedule. This year the league is split into two four-team conferences, with the top seed getting a first-round playoff date with the cellar dweller.

"To me, (tonight) is a must-win game," said Longhorns coach Eric Sabean, whose team lost 40-9 to the Dartmouth Knights last Saturday.

Sabean said the Longhorns need to get to Gladiators quarterback Andrew Hickey, who threw for two touchdowns in a 22-0 win over the Saint John Wanderers Sunday.

"He's one of the best football players in the league and he's going to be a threat whether he's running the ball or throwing the ball," Sabean said.

The Longhorns faced a star quarterback last week in Dartmouth's Vince Williams, so Sabean expects his team to be ready.

"We think (the Knights) are the best team in the league, so even to lose as bad as we did, it was nice to face a team who passes the ball so well because Fredericton will do the same thing to us," he said.

Meanwhile, the Wanderers (0-3) are looking for their first win of the season on the road against the Knights (2-0), a 5 p.m. start at Range Park.

"It's not getting any easier," said Wanderers coach Dave Grandy, who's working 15 rookies into his lineup, including quarterback Trevor Harrison, who stepped in when Jeremy McAulay suffered a season-ending broken finger two weeks ago.

Grandy said he's resisting the temptation to go back to veteran Jon Hachey because Hachey will be leaving the area at the end of the month and the coach wants consistency.

"We're going through some growing pains but we want to focus on building for the playoffs," Grandy said.

In other MFL action Saturday, the Riverview Mustangs (2-0) host the Prince Edward Island Privateers (1-2) at Dobson Field at 4 p.m., while the Moncton Marshals (0-3) visit the Halifax Shockers (2-1) at Range Park at 1 p.m.

Meanwhile, in the Maritime Women's Football League, the Capital Area Gladiators (1-1) host the Saint John Storm (1-1) at Leo Hayes High School at 5 p.m. while the Moncton Vipers (2-0) welcome the Halifax Xplosion (0-2) to Rocky Stone Memorial Field at 6:30 p.m.