New Brunswick AAA High School Football League well under way

Five of the teams are in the Eastern Conference (Harrison Trimble Trojans, MacNaughtan Highlanders. Moncton High Purple Knights, Riverview High Royals, and the Tantramar Titans.)  Harrison Trimble, MacNaughtan, and Moncton High are all located in Moncton.  Riverview High is located in Riverview, just beside Moncton, while Tantramar is located in Sackville, very close to the New Brunswick/Nova Scotia border.

The other seven teams are in the SouthWestern Conference (Fredericton High Black Kats, Kennebecasis Valley Crusaders, Leo Hayes Lions, Ormocto High Blues, St. Malachy’s Memorial Saints, Saint John High Greyhounds, and Simonds Seabees.)  Fredericton High and Leo Hayes are located in Fredericton, while Ormocto High is located in Ormocto, near Fredericton.  St. Malachy’s, Saint John High, and Simonds are all located in Saint John, while Kennebecasis is located in Quispamsis, near Saint John.

Of the six games during the first week (September 7 and 8,) Ormocto High’s 19-12 victory over St. Malachy’s was the only close game.  In the other five games, which included a pair of shutouts, all victories were decided by a minimum 20 point margin.  Moncton High defeated Tantramar 30-0, Leo Hayes defeated Simonds 56-0, Harrison Trimble defeated Riverview High 51-21, Saint John High defeated Kennebecasis 49-27, and in a rematch of five of the past eight championship games, MacNaughtan defeated Fredericton High 29-9.

MacNaughtan, the reigning champion, has won five of the past eight provincial championships.  Of those five championships, four of their victories were against Fredericton High in the championship game.  Of the three years they didn’t win the championship, Fredericton High twice eliminated them, once in the championship game, and another time in the semi-final.  The year that Fredericton High defeated MacNaughton in the championship game (2010), they were five yards from the endzone and punted the ball out in the final minute to take a 15-14 lead.  MacNaughton, on the other hand, has been too talented over the years to have to resort to punting the ball out of the endzone to win a playoff game.  With the victory, Ed Wsson improved his record (regular season and playoffs combined) to 59-12-1 since becoming Head Coach of MacNaughton in 2004.  He spent two years prior to that coaching MacNaughton’s junior varsity team.

The second week, which kicked off September 13, saw Kennebecasis bounce back after losing their first game to defeat Simonds 52-0.  Simonds, now 0-2, has been outscored 108-0.  In order for Simonds to win a game this season, it appears they will have to improve equally, offfensively, and defensively.  Meanwhile, Ormocto High improved to 2-0 as they defeated Leo Hayes 29-26, while Leo Hayes fell to 1-1.  Fredericton High defeated Saint John High 17-14 as Fredericton High improved to 1-1, while Saint John High fell to 1-1.  Riverview High, unimpressed by allowing 51 points in their first game, managed to score 53 this time, while refusing to allow St. Malachy’s a single point.  Riverview High improved to 1-1, while St. Malachy’s is now 0-2.  Harrison Trimble improved to 2-0 as they defeated Tantramar 28-18, while Tantramar fell to 0-2.

Meanwhile, MacNaughton played Moncton High once again, with MacNaughton hoping history would once again repeat itself.  Since Moncton High defeated MacNaughton 39-14 in the 2002 championship game, MacNaughton’s innagural year in the AAA Division, the two teams have met 14 times, with MacNaughton coming away the winner all 14 times.  Not only did they win all 14 games, they outscored Moncton High 417-73, an average win by 24.6 points.  Seven of the 14 victories have been shutouts, including four consecutive shutouts where Moncton High didn’t score a point on MacNaughton between 2004-2008.

Moncton High fumbled the opening kickoff, MacNaughton recovered, running the ball 40 yards for a touchdown nine seconds into the game.  It appeared history was once again repeating itself.  That was definitely not the case, however, as Moncton High got some revenge, defeating MacNaughton 31-8.  Mathew Clements, tailback for Moncton High, said that their early turnover, resulting in a MacNaughton touchdown, didn’t discourage the team, it actually gave them more motivation.  MacNaughton Coach Ed Wasson has a very good philosophy.  He believes that it’s unfair for the current members of the team to be compared to past teams.   You only play varsity football for two years.  Therefore, regardless of the results for last year, 50 percent of the roster this year wasn’t even on last years team.

In conjunction with regular season CFL games that were in Moncton each of the past two years in late September, Future Stars games were created.  Although there’s no CFL game in Moncton this year, partly because of the focus on this 100th Grey Cup this November, Future Stars games will still occur next week, as the past two years have proven to be successful.  These games attract a larger audience, thereby benefiting the teams financially.  Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students.  All the money raised through admission goes to the schools.

When the games start, each school marches to display school colours.  Also, each school will show their school spirit at halftime.  Norval McConnell, who retired in the spring after 30 plus years as a teacher/ principal is on the committee for the Future Stars Festival.  He said ” The (School) Spirit Prize is a great way to show your school colours as well as gain some bragging rights amongst your peers.  Those who have previously participated will agree the whole event is a special experience for all the schools and their students.”

Moncton High (2-0), fresh off their first win in 15 attempts against MacNaughton, will play MacNaughton (1-1) again September 21 (4 p.m.) at Rocky Stone Memorial Field (Moncton) as part of the Future Stars Festival, while Tantramar (0-2) plays Harrison Trimble (2-0) at 7 p.m., also at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.  The festivities will finish on September 28, when Riverview High hosts Moncton High at Riverview High Field September 28 (4p.m.)  In other week three games, the following three take place September 21 at 7 p.m.: Leo Hayes (1-1) hosts Riverview High (2-0) at Scotia North Field Fredericton, Fredericton High (1-1) hosts Ormocto High (2-0) at Scotia South Field, Fredericton, and St. Malachy’s (0-2) hosts Kennebecasis (1-1) at Canada Games Stadium, Saint John.  Meanwhile, on September 22 at 1 p.m., Simonds (0-2) hosts Saint John High (1-1) at Simonds Field, Saint John.

This photo shows Mathew Clements of Moncton High manage to score a touchdown against MacNaughton.  Courtesy of Viktor Pivovarov/ Times & Transcript.