Archives - 2018
Complete Maritime Football League archives can be found at www.maritimefootball.com
Halifax Harbour Hawks Announcement March 24, 2018 2:00 PM ADT The Maritime Football League is pleased to announce the addition of the Halifax Harbour Hawks to our league for the 2018 season. Preparations are underway for our season kickoff on May 5th. Players interested in playing for the Hawks can reach out to them via Facebook at facebook.com/halifaxhawks. For additional information, please contact league Commissioner Eric Sabean through via facebook.com/maritimefootball
Halifax Harbour Hawks win their Season Opener May 6, 2018 8:38 AM ADT HALIFAX, NS - The Halifax Harbour Hawks completed their season opener with a 39-9 victory over the Island Mariners! Thank you to our fans & livestream viewers for your support!! Catch their next home game on May 19th 1pm Saint Mary's University Halifax Huskies Field. ⠀ They'll be on the road this upcoming weekend (Sat May 12th) against the Moncton Mustangs! ⠀
Football Mustangs open season with thrilling win May 7, 2018 8:43 PM ADT The Moncton Mustangs opened defence of their Maritime Football League championship with a thrilling victory on Saturday. The Mustangs scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to rally past the visiting rival Saint John Wanderers 34-33 at Rocky Stone Memorial Field. It was the first game of the season for both clubs. It was also a rematch of last year's MFL final that saw Moncton win 43-23 and snap Saint John's run of four straight league championships and a 36-game winning streak. "We were super impressed with how our guys showed up and battled through adversity," said Mustangs head coach Jason Terris. "We knew Saint John would be extremely motivated. On Facebook, they said they were going to start a revenge tour, so they were super motivated to come in and prove that they're still better than us. Our guys were ready for the challenge." Moncton trailed 33-21, before it rallied in the fourth quarter. Receiver Cameron Morley caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dan Comfort to bring the Mustangs within 33-28. Later in the quarter, with just 40 seconds left on the clock, Comfort capped a Moncton drive with a quarterback sneak to pull the home team in front 34-33. After the Mustangs' two-point conversion attempt failed, the Wanderers had one last offensive series, but didn't threaten. "When we got down by two touchdowns, we had some great veteran leadership shown by lot of people and that helped us keep our composure and execute to come back and take the lead," Terris said. Comfort also threw a 29-yard TD strike to Leslie Greene and finished with two rushing scores. "We were missing our offensive coordinator (Jason Agnew), so we put the ball in Dan's hands and gave him a playbook, and I was super impressed with his ability to lead the offence," Terris said. Running back Aubrey Ellis ran for a major for Moncton. Alec Pellerin led the Mustangs defence with 10 tackles, including three for a loss. The Wanderers led 21-14 at halftime and 33-21 after three quarters. Moncton hosts the Halifax Harbour Hawks on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Rocky Stone. Halifax opened the season with a 39-9 win over the Island Mariners on Saturday.
Mustangs use powerful running game to post second straight win May 13, 2018 8:50 PM ADT Two weeks into the Maritime Football League season, the Moncton Mustangs are 2-0 and feeling good about their game. The Mustangs showcased a powerful running attack in a 35-13 win over the visiting Halifax Harbour Hawks on Saturday at Rocky Stone Memorial Field. All four Moncton touchdowns came on the ground as it moved into sole possession of first place in the four-team league. Running back Aubrey Ellis rushed for 283 yards and a score in the victory. "Our offence attacked their defence on the ground and was tenacious. Our offensive line drove their line back and the running backs were able to get a lot of space and a lot of yardage," said Mustangs head coach Jason Terris. "Our running game was just on fire." Quarterback Dan Comfort ran for a pair of touchdowns and Mark Crandall also found the end zone for Moncton. Ben George kicked two field goals for the winners. The Mustangs led 7-0 after the first quarter on a two-yard touchdown run by Ellis, but the Harbour Hawks answered with a major of their own to tie the game 7-7 in the second quarter. Before halftime, Moncton received a 17-yard field goal from George and two-yard TD run by Comfort to take a 17-7 lead into the break. Halifax quarterback Micah Brown suffered an Achilles injury late in the second quarter, and its offence stalled the rest of the game. The Harbour Hawks did return an interception for a score to come within 17-13 in the third quarter - the convert attempt was blocked - but that's as close as the visitors came. The Mustangs scored the final 18 points of the game to roll to the win. New addition Andrew Oake led Moncton's defence with 10 tackles. The Mustangs opened the campaign with a 34-33 victory over the Saint John Wanderers. "We knew coming into the season that we started with two hard games and there was the possibility of us beginning at 0-2," Terris said. "We're ecstatic to be able to win our first two games against Saint John and Halifax, but we're pinpointing a lot of details that we need to refine and we're not running on all cylinders yet." Moncton visits the Island Mariners (0-2) on Saturday in Cornwall, P.E.I. The Island lost 63-12 to Saint John on Saturday.
Wanderers have become hunters on the gridiron May 31, 2018 8:55 PM ADT SAINT JOHN • The Saint John Wanderers spent the last five Maritime Football League seasons as a team with a target on its back. That is, until the Moncton Mustangs stonewalled Saint John’s march to a fifth consecutive MFL championship with a 43-23 victory in last year’s Maritime Bowl XVI, an outcome which also ended the Wanderers’ 36-game winning streak. The Mustangs put a stamp on that win with a 34-33 triumph over Saint John in the MFL’s season opener last month. Since then, Moncton has cruised to a 3-0 record while Saint John (3-1) has rebounded with three consecutive wins to press the argument for top spot as the powerhouses prepare for trench warfare in Saturday’s crucial rematch at Shamrock Park’s Emera NB Field. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. Wanderers’ long-time president, former all-star defensive lineman and assistant coach Scott McNamee acknowledges the two teams have reversed roles in what he calls a “season of redemption” for the Port City gridders. “We have definitely gone from being the hunted to becoming the hunters,” said McNamee.“We are chasing Moncton and looking to get back on top. Our first game was an absolute barnburner. These will be two very, very good teams for years to come. The Mustangs don’t crack under pressure, but we feel confident we’ll get back that top-dog spot this weekend.” One other Saturday game has the Halifax Harbour Hawks (1-2) in Charlottetown to tackle the Island Mariners (0-4) at 4 p.m. With teams playing a six-game, home-and-home schedule, the Wanderers-Mustangs matchup will determine home-field advantage in the MFL playoffs. McNamee said a win will go a long way to securing Saint John’s eighth consecutive regular-season pennant. “We want that – we’re hungry,” he said. “The guys are really going to be up for this one. New head coach J.J. Joudry and his staff are doing a great job moving players around and finding the best possible fits. It’s hard not to like what our team is doing on the field.” It begins with veteran quarterback Jon Golacki, a three-time league MVP and an 11-time all-star who has the offence humming at a 43 points-per-game clip. “Jon is playing better than I’ve ever seen him before and that’s without four-time MVP Jon Haines,” said Mc-Namee in reference to the running back, who retired after last year’s final. “He has never been as focused and on point as he is this year. “Jon (Golacki) works very well with offensive co-ordinator Mike McGarvey and he has some new weapons in running back Tyler Kurnew and receiver Nick Bynkoski, who played collegiately in North Carolina for Fayetteville State Broncos and later for the Acadia Axemen. Nick’s one of the best players I’ve ever seen. After losing Jon Haines, adding Nick is like a godsend. As good as our running game is, the passing attack under Golacki is out of this world – it keeps defences guessing.” The Wanderers’ defence is led by middle linebacker Danny Oliver, defensive end Rob Fox, linebacker Tom Making and defensive backs Joel Seale and Alex McGarvey. “We have a lot of leaders on defence and it’s a very strong group,” said Mc-Namee. “We also have a lot of new guys who are fitting in with the team – a nice combination of youth and experience. We have what it takes to win on both sides of the ball.”
Mustangs lock up first place with road win over Wanderers June 4, 2018 8:37 PM ADT The Moncton Mustangs remain perfect in the Maritime Football League. They've also locked up first place. A late fourth-quarter field goal by Ben George lifted the Mustangs to a 21-18 road win over the rival Saint John Wanderers on Saturday. The win improved Moncton's record to 4-0 and clinched first place in the four-team league. Leading 15-10 after three quarters, a 32-yard field goal by George in the fourth quarter pulled the Mustangs ahead by eight. However, Nick Bynkoski ran for a five-yard score and the Wanderers added a two-point conversion to tie the game 18-18. That set the stage for George, whose second field goal of the game, a 19-yarder with about four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, sealed the victory for Moncton. The Mustangs swept both regular-season meetings against the Wanderers. They also defeated Saint John in last year's MFL final. "We were expecting Saint John to be a very motivated team. We were expecting a big game from them and they showed up and played hard," said Moncton head coach Jason Terris. "We knew we had a target on our back and I think our players responded well mentally and physically, and we're really happy to come out with first place." Mustangs quarterback Dan Comfort went 10-for-25 for 118 passing yards. He also had seven carries for 33 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Aubrey Ellis rushed for 122 yards on 28 carries in the win. Bynkoski finished with two rushing touchdowns and Jeff McQuade kicked a field goal for the Wanderers, who led led 10-8 at the break. Andrew Oake led Moncton with 10.5 tackles while Gabe St-Germain added one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries and Alec Pellerin had two sacks. The Mustangs have one scheduled regular-season game remaining. They host the Island Mariners on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Rocky Stone Memorial Field. Moncton's postponed May 26 road game against the Halifax Harbour Hawks will be rescheduled if there are playoff implications.
Island Mariners defeat the Halifax Harbour Hawks for their first Franchise Win June 6, 2018 8:59 PM ADT PEI - Halifax QB Scored on opening drive - Rushing touchdown by Jonah Williams Then Hawks Kicker Brad Lelievre kicked a single point through the kickoff 8-0 Hawks Brennan Davis threw a 15 yard touchdown to Cole Brydges, Brennan Davis converted the Extra Point 8-7 Hawks 2nd QTR QB Jonah Williams threw an interception to Ryan Richardson from a tip from Richard Lush to give the Mariners back the ball. Brennan Davis and running back Rod De Montes took to the field and drove the field with run after run. Brennan Davis then called his own number and ran the ball into the end-zone for the Mariners second Touchdown 14-8 Mariners Halifax answered with a strong drive and a kicked 3 points through with kicker Brad Lelievre 14-11 Mariners The Weather was a huge problem for both teams on the day, and on the Mariners next drive QB Davis threw a ball that floated from the wind and got picked off by DB Trae Colley to set the Hawks at mid field The Mariners Defence then swarmed QB Williams for a 10 yard sack from defenders Donnie Mitchell and Javier Bolanos. The next play Williams threw a 40 yard pass to his Receiver who came down with the catch, putting the hawks in the Redzone against the Mariners. The next play after a botched handoff Cardell Rolle came down with the Fumble Recovery to give the ball back to the Mariners. The Hawks then drove the field to get into field goal range with 10 seconds left in the half. The Mariners sent Cole Brydges out on the Field Goal Defence and he blocked the kick and the Mariners recovered, but an offside flag negated the blocked kick and the Hawks drove the field goal through to tie the game going into Halftime 14 - 14 3rd QTR Rod De Montes capped off the first series with a 15 yard rushing touchdown and Davis converted the single point 21 - 14 Mariners Strong play back and forth between both teams continued to stall each drive from each opposing offence. Fumble Recoveries from Javier Bolanos and the Mariners defence swarmed the Hawks QB for multiple sacks from Jasper Thompson, Hernan Guyton, Revello Williamson, and Mitchell Osomond kept the game at 21 - 14 Mariners 4th QTR A surprise trick play from the Mariners which saw Cole Brydges throw a pass to wide open Dillon Fortune for a TD for a strong Mariners lead in the 4th Qtr 28 - 14 Mariners Brennan Davis kicked the ball through the end zone on the next kickoff play to finalize the end score of 29 - 14 Mariners In an absolute miserable day of football (Weather wise), the Mariners finally took home their Franchises first win and what a day to remember for The Island Mariners and recognition for Terry Allen!
Maritime Bowl XVII - Wanderers at Mustangs June 19, 2018 11:31 PM ADT Make your way down to Rocky Stone Memorial Field and see the two winningest franchises in MFL history go head to head. You won't want to miss this match up between two hard hitting teams. For the third year in a row, Mustangs vs Wanderers for the McIntyre Cup! When: Sat June 23rd Time: 4:30pm Where: Rocky Stone Memorial Field (Moncton, NB)
2018 MFL Player Awards - LIVE Thurs June 21st 7pm June 20, 2018 8:16 PM ADT First Down Sports Podcast are very excited to announce on Thursday Night (June 21st) at 7PM, they will be going LIVE to announce the Maritime Football League Player Awards and All Star Teams for the 2018 Season, leading up to the Maritime Bowl on Saturday June 23rd at Rocky Stone Field at 4:30PM!!! In preparation for the LIVE event, please go to Facebook and Like or Follow and you will be notified when they go LIVE: https://www.facebook.com/FirstDownSports/
Congrats to the 2018 MFL Player Award Recipients June 21, 2018 9:47 PM ADT Congratulations to the 2018 MFL Player Award Recipients. Check them out by clicking on the Awards link on the menu at the top of the website.
Wanderers Reclaim MFL Title June 25, 2018 8:00 AM ADT The Saint John Wanderers are Maritime Bowl champions once again. The Wanderers’ first victory over the rival Moncton Mustangs this season couldn’t have come at a better time on Saturday. Quarterback Jon Golacki threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more in Saint John’s 42-23 win over the Mustangs in the Maritime Bowl league final at Moncton’s Rocky Stone Memorial Field. The victory avenged the Wanderers’ 43-23 loss to the Mustangs in last year’s championship game, as well as losses in a pair of regular-season meetings this spring. Saint John had won four consecutive league titles (2013-16) before having the streak snapped by Moncton in last year’s final. The Wanderers led almost the entire game on Saturday. Moncton trailed 21-10 at halftime, but came to within four points of the lead when quarterback Dan Comfort tossed a three-yard touchdown pass to Trenton Bannister in the third quarter. But Saint John had an answer. Tyler Curnew ran for a pair of scores - one from one yard out and another from 15 yards - before the end of the third quarter to extend the Wanderers’ lead to 35-17. Then in the fourth quarter, Golacki hooked up with Nick Bynkoski for a 21-yard touchdown pass to push the visitors in front 42-17. By the time Chris Brown caught a 19-yard TD pass from Comfort later in the fourth, it was too little, too late for the Mustangs. Saint John led 7-3 after the first quarter, with Ben George kicking a 31-yard field goal for the Mustangs and Golacki connecting with Brayden McNamee on a 13-yard touchdown pass for the Wanderers. Golacki ran for a two-yard score early in the second quarter to give Saint John a 14-3 lead, only to see Moncton counter with Comfort’s 18-yard TD pass to Leslie Greene to cut the deficit to 14-10. The Wanderers took a 21-10 lead into the break on a four-yard touchdown run by Golacki. The loss is the only blemish on the Mustangs’ season. They finished in first place in the regular season at 5-0 while the Wanderers were second at 4-2. Golacki - selected the league’s most outstanding player earlier in the week - was chosen the game’s most valuable player. Curnew was the offensive MVP while Wanderers linebacker Danny Oliver earned defensive MVP honours.