Cousins face off on gridiron
Published Thursday November 12th, 2009
Purple Knights, Trojans to clash for N.B. High School Football League championship
Bragging rights within the family is important, but it won't be as sweet as clutching the championship trophy.
A pair of cousins will line up on both sides of the ball when the Moncton High Purple Knights and Harrison Trimble Trojans square off for the New Brunswick High School Football League championship Saturday afternoon. Game time is 3:30 p.m. at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.
Trimble quarterback John Toogood, in his fourth year with the Trojans, said the topic of football superiority in the family is fun to joke about, but he's serious about his approach for Saturday's matchup.
"It's always intense when these two schools face each other so the family connection is not on my mind as much as winning the game and bringing the championship to Trimble," said the 17-year-old who has been the Trojans starting quarterback for three years and has a penchant for scrambling under pressure then collecting long gains or finding an open receiver downfield.
His cousin, Matt Toogood, is a receiver/safety for the Purple Knights and he's only been playing football for two years, but he was named an all-star this year. He has breakaway speed and is a threat offensively and defensively.
Matt Toogood said a Moncton High win would give him verbal ammunition at family gatherings, including time at the cottage next summer. However, that's not the reason he wants a victory on Saturday afternoon.
"They won the Homecoming Game last year and we got it back this year, but this is a lot bigger than that," said Matt Toogood, also a 17-year-old Grade 12 student.
"We bragged about the Homecoming Games, but this is for the big prize. This is why we play. This is for the team, the school and everyone else."
Purple Knights beat the Trojans 31-0 and 13-12 during their regular season meetings this year. Matt Toogood is expecting another fierce battle, much like the 13-12 encounter.
"Harrison Trimble's offence is awesome and John is such a great passer. Their defence has improved a lot since the start of the year," Matt Toogood said.
"They come at you hard so everyone knows it's going to be a very physical game. Both teams play that way."
Trojans have won the Ed Skiffington Trophy, named in honour of Moncton High's first ever head coach, 14 times, more than any other team in the province. Purple Knights are second with 13 New Brunswick championships.
The rivals have clashed 10 times for title, but this is their first championship meeting in 26 years. Trimble won that game 22-20.
John Toogood said players on both sides are starting to realize the significance of the Trimble-Moncton High matchup.
"In the school, everyone is fired up, but we're also hearing a lot of comments from former players," said John Toogood, who was named an all-star quarterback.
"Outside our locker room, there are messages on the wall from alumni. Everyone is wishing us good luck and hoping we play well on Saturday. It's amazing to see all of the support we are getting from inside and outside the school."
Meanwhile, the New Brunswick 10-man division championship is also scheduled for Saturday. The unbeaten Sussex Sonics will face the St. Stephen Spartans at noon, also at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.
Sonics won their only meeting this season, 10-0 in Sussex on the opening week of the season two months ago.
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