Third time champions

MFL:  Wanderers prevail to win league championship for third time since 2002.

This past weekend in Saint John, the Maritime Football League (MFL) held it’s annual championship game, the McIntrye Cup.

The Saint John Wanderers hosted the Halifax Shockers in a rematch of last year’s McIntyre Cup.

However, the results were much different this time around as the Wanderers scored 49 points on their way to their third championship title since 2002.

“At the beginning of the season, Mike (Saint John’s assistant coach) and I wanted to put together an offense that would allow us to run the same plays out of different formations,” said Head Coach Phil McGarvey. “The guys had fun with it and I think that made us into an even better offense.”

The Wanderers offense scored 293 points during the course of eight games this season (including playoffs). There offense could not be stopped and the amount of points they scored could have been higher.

Three games this year for the Wanderers resulted in forfeits, leaving the team with a lot of football left to be played.

“We wanted to peak at the championship game,” said McGarvey. “All season we were building to this point, especially offensively.”

“When you have a running back like Jon Haines too, it definitely helps.”

Haines helped lead the Wanderers offense, rushing for well over 300 yards on the day.

The other leader of the offense, quarterback John Golacki had a good day passing and rushing for two touchdowns apiece. Haines contributed three touchdowns on the ground and wide receiver Adam Spurrell was on the receiving end of both Golacki passes.

The Wanderers defense stepped up and stopped a very potent Shockers running game.  The Shockers were forced to go to the air after Saint John took a solid lead. After switching to a two-man front, the Wanderers defense came up big, forcing four turnovers. Tom Making recovered a fumble and Alex McGarvey had three interceptions on the day.

“We were able to get a good pass rush from the two-man front we ran,” said McGarvey. “Our defensive line played exceptionally well, and the pressure up front helped our secondary get the job done.”

The victory ends a long season that saw the Wanderers separate themselves as the best from the rest in the MFL. While other teams basked in the glory of individual awards, the Wanderers won the one that mattered the most.

“Everyone contributed for us this season,” said Phil. “Guys rallied behind Haines and Golacki and did their part.”

“It really took an entire team effort to have the type of success we had this year.”