Thirteen is usually an unlucky number. In this case, however, 13 was a lucky number. Both Moncton High and Fredericton High had won the championship 12 times, so they were both seeking their 13th. Harrison Trimble has won the most (14).
The past ten years, Fredericton High has seen more success, with this being their seventh finals appearance. They won in 2003, 2005, and 2010; while they lost in 2004, 2006, and 2007. Moncton High, on the other hand, was making just their second appearance in the championship since they won in 2002. Their other appearance, 2009, saw them win another championship, defeating Harrison Trimble 43-21. Fredericton High knew as well as anyone that regardless of whether or not you win by 22 points, which Moncton High did when they won the championship three years ago, or if you only win by one point, in both cases, it still goes down as a VICTORY. Two years ago, in the final minute of the championship against MacNaughton, Fredericton High broke a 14-14 tie five yards from the end zone by punting it out. They managed to prevail, 15-14. This was a battle of two near perfect teams. Moncton High was 9-0 heading into the game. Fredericton High, after losing their first game against MacNaughton, had won eight consecutive games of their own. Both teams prepared for this game knowing that a loss would be a failure. Big games can make or break a field goal kickers reputation. Look at Vanderjac, known as a perfect kicker, yet he missed a field goal at the end of the 2000 season where the Colts would have won in overtime. Five years latter, he missed again where the Colts would have forced overtime. Adam Vinatieri didn’t have quite as accurate percentage, yet when it mattered, he delivered, kicking the winning field goals for New England in the Super Bowls in 2002 and 2004. After Vanderjac’s missed field goal to force overtime, the Colts went their seperate ways with him and acquired Vinateri. I predicted that it would be the final straw for the Colts to win the championship, and I was correct.
Quentin Crouse, field goal kicker for Fredericton High, performed like a Vinatieri, kicking four field goals (20, 22, 23, and 37 yards) in Fredericton High’s 19-10 victory! It’s estimated that 3,500 people were in attendance at this championship game at Rocky Stone Memorial Field (Moncton). Crouse also caught his first pass ever! He certainly earned player of the game. A grade 12 student who has been a field goal kicker since grade nine, he certainly showed lots of leadership, giving his teammates a lot of credit for his success. “The whole offence did a great job of moving the ball and getting me into a good position for the kicks.” “Our defence was able to stop them and we got the ball back in good position. From there, our offence took the ball. I don’t think about what I did. THE ONLY THING THAT COUNTS IS THAT WE WON THE GAME.” This is a perfect example why I think playing sports is good for kids. Skills like this are very important that will help them as adults be successful in the workforce. Turnovers were a major reason for Moncton High’s loss. They fumbled and lost the ball on their own 22-yard line with 4:40 left in the first quarter. The next play, Fredericton High quarterback Adam Lyon threw a touchdown to Bryn Davis. Latter on in the first half, Moncton High fumbled on a punt. Ryan Colpitts of Fredericton High recovered his own punt. Moncton High, trailing 13-10 in the fourth, were twice on Fredericton’s half of the field. Both times, they fumbled. Luke Sawyer, a receiver and linebacker for Moncton High, said “We didn’t play our best game, but we played hard. We gave a 100% effort. I’m proud of the effort we gave, but Fredericton played better than us today. I think the teams are pretty even. If we could take a couple of mistakes away, we could have won the game.” Crouse added “Our defence put a lot of pressure on Moncton. We didn’t stop with the pressure on their quarterback, the running back, and their receivers.” Kyle Rogers threw a 50-yard touchdown to Andrew Ryder late in the third quarter, while Jesse LeBlanc was good on the point-after-touchdown. He also had a 20-yard field goal. Sawyer said “We kept it close, but it just wasn’t our night. Fredericton has one of the most physical teams we’ve played against and they are a tough football team. We’ve got a very strong team, but it wasn’t our night. That’s all you can say.” Moncton High is nothing but a failure. Any time the defence can put away a big game like this by forcing turnovers, which Fredericton High did, is the best way to win. Although I took the Colts to win the Super Bowl the year they won, I hated them when they had Manning. Therefore, I was happy three years ago that the touchdown which the Saints put away the game was off a Manning interception.
Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.
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