Moncton teams reach N.B. High School Football League championship game

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by dwayne tingley
times & transcript staff

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It's a dream matchup of age-old rivals and Moncton High Purple Knights defensive halfback Jordan Bedard couldn't be happier.

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VIKTOR PIVOVAROV/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT

Moncton High School Purple Knights quarterback Dylan Rogers dives for yardage as he is stopped by Fredericton Black Kats Kofi Bubar, left, and Reece Cain during the first quarter at Rocky Stone Memorial Field in Moncton.

Purple Knights advanced to the New Brunswick High School Football League championship game by beating the Fredericton High Black Kats 17-6 last night at Rocky Stone Memorial Field.

Purple Knights will meet Harrison Trimble Trojans, who defeated the Saint John High Greyhounds 20-14 in last night's other semifinal at Millidgeville Field in Saint John, in the league final next Saturday afternoon. Game time is 4 p.m. at Rocky Stone.

Knights and Trojans haven't clashed for the provincial title in 26 years. Trimble downed Moncton High 22-20 in the 1983 final.

"It's amazing," said Bedard, a Grade 12 student who hauled in two key interceptions for the Knights. "It's going to like the Homecoming Game times 10."

Purple Knights won both meetings against the Trojans during the regular season. They won 31-0 and 13-12 and Jordan is expecting the provincial final to be more like the second meeting than the first.

"Both teams are going to be ready and it's going to be intense," Bedard said. "It's always intense when Moncton High and Trimble play, but this time it's in the final so it's going to be an extra special game for both teams."

Last night, Moncton High and Fredericton High defences dominated the opening half.

Bedard returned an interception 35 yards late in the second quarter to set up a 20-yard field goal by Lucas Constantine to give Moncton High a 3-0 lead at halftime.

Both offences moved the ball consistently in the second half and much of Moncton High's attack came from powerful running back Marc McDougall.

The 18-year-old stalwart plowed his way up the middle for some lengthy gains, many which came after resilient second efforts with several Black Kats on his back.

"We played the same kind of game we played all year long," Bedard said. "We all stuck to our positions and did our jobs. That's how we've always done it.

"Marc was incredible again, just like he has been all year. Whenever we needed a first down, he got the ball and came through for us."

McDougall ran for a 13-yard touchdown and quarterback Dylan Rogers followed McDougall's blocking for a 15-yard major. Constantine kicked both converts.

Kafi Bubar had Fredericton High's lone touchdown on a third-down gamble on Moncton High's two-yard line on the opening drive of the second half. The convert attempt was blocked.

From that point, the Knights reeled off a series of big plays, including another interception by Bedard, a interception by Aaron Branch, a 35-yard kickoff return by Matt Toogood and a couple of fierce defensive stands that forced the Kats to turn the ball over on downs.

"It was a great team effort," Bedard said. "We got the big plays when we needed them. Everyone stepped up when they had to. Fredericton High played a great game and a very physical game. They've got a great team, but we found a way to win."

Black Kats receiver Ryan Murphy, who was his team's most dangerous weapon with several outstanding catches in the second half, said his team "played hard all of the way, but it wasn't meant to be.

"We took some bad penalties in the second half and we didn't take advantage of our chances in the red zone."

Meanwhile, Trojans coach Mark Teed said he and his players are looking forward to playing the Purple Knights in next Saturday's final.

"Just playing in the provincial final is exciting, but Trimble and Moncton High bring the excitement to another level," Teed said.

Steve Fox, Matt Seely and John Toogood each had touchdowns for the Trojans, who trailed 7-6 at halftime. Fox added a two-point convert.

Alex Peabody and Matt Doucet had majors for the Greyhounds while Alex Quinn kicked a pair of converts.

"(Trimble has) a great tall receiver and he (Fox) was just sitting in holes behind the linebackers, it was a nicely designed offence like that," Greyhounds coach Dave Grandy said.

Trojans took their first lead of the game in the fourth quarter on a drive that started on their own 35-yard line. Toogood scored the go-ahead major with less than four minutes left in regulation time.

"Saint John's running attack is pretty vicious, so we made some adjustments after halftime to slow it down. Our defence has been the heart and soul of our club all year and they really stepped it up in the second half," said Teed, whose Trojans only managed two wins in the regular season.

Teed said the Trojans defence kept his team in the game until the offence found its stride.

"Our defence stood tall," Teed said. "The wind was a factor and we were able to have the wind on our side in the fourth quarter. We got 11 points in four minutes with the wind and the defence gave us ball in good shape."

The provincial 10-man division semifinals will be played today. Mathieu-Martin Matadors visit the Sussex High Sonics and the St. Stephen Spartans host the Harbour View Vikings. Both games are scheduled for 1 p.m.