The Mathieu-Martin Matadors have not played in a championship game since 2001. The last time the Matadors had the opportunity was when they played for the Ed Skiffington trophy and fell short to the Harrison Trimble Trojans, they are looking to change that fact this weekend. The Matadors will travel to St. Stephen on Saturday for a semi final matchup with the 2nd seeded Spartans. The Matadors and Spartans both finished the season with 6-1 records. The Spartans were awarded 2nd place having fewer points against.
After a 2 year absence from high school football in 2005 and 2006 , they came back in 2007 and had a winless season. In 2008, the Matadors posted a 1-7 record in the 12 man division. In 2009 , they joined the 10 man circuit and finished the season 3-3-1 and lost in the first round of the playoffs. Last season , the Matadors finished the season with a 6-1 record and failed to reach the championships with a 34-24 semi final loss to the Rothesay Red Hawks.
Led by its powerful running back Phil Long, the matadors have had the 2nd best offence in the 10 man circuit , they have also been very good on the other side of the ball , allowing only 114 points in the regular season , good enough for 3rd best. Its defence will be under some pressure on Saturday , it has yet to face St Stephen’s dynamic wing offence. The offence is known to leave defences confused and create lots of running room. The Spartans have been very succesful as usual with their system having reached the semi finals the last 3 years.
Game time is set for 1 pm in St Stephen and the winner will meet the winner of the Kennebecasis-St. Malachy’s game on Friday night in the Nick Desilets Memorial Trophy game.
(Photo courtesy of Normand A Leger / le moniteur acadien)
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