PEI Privateers defeat Halifax for MFL playoff win

HALIFAX – The P.E.I. Privateers won their Maritime Football League quarter-final playoff over the Halifax Shockers 22-15 in a see-saw battle Saturday in the Nova Scotia capital. The win puts the Privateers in the league semifinals next weekend against Moncton.

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The Saint John Wanderers trounced Fredericton Gladiators 54-6 in the other quarter-final.

P.E.I. held an 8-0 lead at the half as Chris “Tex” Mutch connected with Jeff Hillier for the first major of the game. The Privateers gained two points on defence as they swarmed the Shockers in their own end zone early in the second quarter.

In the second half, Halifax opened with two touchdowns to go up 15-8 as former pro quarterback Danny Williams connected on passes to Luke Williams and Herbie Berrigan. It was then time for Mutch to get the Privateer offence back on track, hitting Hillier for his second touchdown of the day on a 40-yard pass and run play. The winning touchdown came with less than two minutes remaining on a 12-yard run by Dave Clark, set up on an interception by defensive back Ryan Richardson.

The game was a defensive battle as Privateers captain Keighan Scott made 23 tackles from his middle linebacker position and rookie Sebastian Ayangma recorded four quarterback sacks and an interception. Adam MacDonald recovered a fumble.

The win was a reversal of the 38-36 defeat the Privateers suffered at the hands of Halifax in the regular season.

Privateer coach Jan Wicherek saw the win as part of the overall progression of the team.

“We lost games in the regular season we had the potential to win. Today it all came together,” said Wicherek.

The Privateers move on to play the undefeated Moncton Mustangs next Saturday at 4 p.m. in Moncton. Saint John will travel to Dartmouth in the other semifinal. The league final is set for Aug. 8.