2007 Capital Area Middle School Champions

Capital Area Minor Football Association
"DQ" Middle School Football League
  2007 Game Summaries

Nov. 18                                  Maritime PeeWee Championship

                                      Halifax North End Argos 58 Hampton Huskies 0
 

The wind and snow were not factors, but the Argo offense certainly was, with a decisive 58-0 victory over the New Brunswick Hampton Huskies in Maritime Football Union play on Sunday at the Burnside Turf field. The Argo offense dominated behind the 4 TD effort from 5th year Argo and offensive MVP, Allan MacLeod. Andreas Robinson was close behind with an electrifying 75 yard punt return to cap off his 2 TD and 3 PAT performance. Veteran QB Derek Brown, anchored the potent attack and ran for 1 TD along with game MVP George Poitras who was dominant on both sides of the ball. Stand out guard and defensive tackle, Bennett Gaskin showed his versatility by adding 3 PATs. The defensive honours went to Brandon Keating with stellar open field tackles. The Hampton Huskies were a hard hitting team however, behind defensive MVP Dustin Arsenault. Trevor Floyd and Peter O'Brien were offensive MVP and game MVP respectively. This game caps the Argos undefeated season and their second Maritime and Provincial Crown in a row.

Nov. 11                              New Brunswick PeeWee Championship

                                      Hampton Huskies 18 Albert Street Eagles 12
 


          The Huskies used a punishing ground attack and two second quarter touchdowns by Cody Greer and Sam Merrithew to open up a 12-0 halftime lead.
           However the Eagles rebounded with a third quarter touchdown pass from Kyle Arsenault to Reid Johnson and then a fourth quarter TD run by Johnson to knot the score. 
           Late in the fourth quarter the Eagles stopped Hampton on a fourth down gamble at midfield. Albert Street marched the ball to the Huskies 20 yard line with less than a minute remaining. However Hampton stopped the Eagles on 4th down as well to take over possession of the ball.
          On the first play from scrimmage Trevor Floyd got loose down the sideline and rambled 75 yards for the winning major.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


EAGLES ON HIGH: Members of the Albert St. Eagles including coach Marty Arsenault in front celebrate following their middle school championship win over George St. Crusaders in the Capital Area Minor Football Association. Eagles are now eyeing a provincial peewee title as they prepare to play the Hampton Huskies Sunday in Hampton. Winner plays the Nova Scotia champion for the Maritime title.
 

Eagles soaring to great heights

By BILL HUNT
hunt.bill@dailygleaner.com

Marty Arsenault has the Albert Street Eagles soaring toward a provincial peewee football championship.

The Eagles carry an 8-0 record into Sunday's 1 p.m. championship game against the Fundy Minor Football Association champion Hampton Huskies in Hampton.

And while Arsenault has no way of knowing what to expect from the Huskies -- "it's like preparing for a team that is a figment of our imagination," he says -- it's not hard to imagine the Eagles winning Sunday and moving on to Halifax to play the Nova Scotia champions Nov. 18 in Dartmouth.

Consider that, after breezing through local opponents all season long -- the closest anybody has come is within 15 points, a 27-12 win over the Nashwaaksis Nordics in Week 1 of the schedule -- the Eagles rolled over the Moncton area champion Moncton Lancers 38-7 last week in the provincial semifinal.

"I hate to say it, but we really haven't been tested," said Arsenault, the former UNB and CFL player in his second year at the helm of the peewee program. Eagles went 1-7 last year and were eliminated with a first round playoff loss in his first year last year, but they're getting ready to run the table this season.

Arsenault says perhaps the biggest single factor is the fact they're winning the battles in the trenches this season. He notes that the starting defence "hasn't allowed a single point this season," and the offence, under the leadership of his quarterback -- and 13-year-old son Kyle -- is "very balanced."

That's a product of hard work in practice, good chemistry among teammates, and a solid coaching staff which includes offensive co-ordinator Jared McGinn -- his son Tommy is one of the offensive anchors -- and defensive coaches Bruce Mather and Eric McGarvie.

Arsenault is a good coach mind you -- coach of the year in the Capital Area Minor Football Association in fact -- but he might be even a better salesman.

"I started the season off by explaining to guys that the "non-glory positions' like playing on the line, are the ones that can win or lose you games," he said. "Without that foundation, you can have superstars in the skill positions, but without a good offensive or defensive line, you're not going to be successful."

Kyle is proof. He and McGinn were both part of the 1-7 team last year.

"But with no offensive line we just couldn't put the points up on the board," said Arsenault. "Defensively, we just didn't have those front three or four guys who could stand up to any kind of a rush."

That was then. This is now.

Logan Silliphant and Zack Bourque are rookies on the O-line. Centre Colin Giouard "is a natural," said Arsenault. "I realized he was a natural centre from the first time he bent over the ball." Returnees Patrick Cameron and Mike Mignault, who plays both sides of the ball.

"You're going to be hearing about him in high school and probably on to university," said Arsenault. "He's very intense."

The protection Arsenault gets -- combined with his strong, accurate arm and a corps of receivers including tight end McGinn, rookie running back/receiver Reid Johnson, who has "natural cutting ability" in running routes and reacting; slotback Peter Jensen and fullback Phillippe Long -- give the Eagles lots of offensive tools.

Defensively, Mignault and Long are the anchors in the interior; with McGinn and Johnson as "rushing ends" who are quick enough to pressure opposing quarterbacks or seal off sweeps from the backfield.

The linebacking corps includes Grade 7 youngster Bryn Davies, Wil Gange, Derek Perrin and Jordan Nason, named the team's top defensive player but ruled ineligible to play Sunday because he's overage.

Evan Gray, Jeremy Boutot, Jeremy Lyons and Peter Jensen make up the defensive backfield.

Arsenault says win or lose from here on out, the season has been a success.

"I hate to lose a game on a bad call or due to weather or something like that. But to lose a game legitimately...no matter what happens from this point on, it's been a winning season and a winning team. It's been a positive, winning season for sure."

And it's not over yet.

  

Arsenault went from novice to pro career

By BILL HUNT
hunt.bill@dailygleaner.com

Talk about humble beginnings.

Marty Arsenault remembers getting football gear from his aunt and uncle when he was "seven or eight" years old.

Helmet. Shoulder pads. Pants. Jersey.

"I used to put on that equipment and roll down the stairs at home," he said. "That was my first contact. Growing up in McAdam, we never had a team or anything. I was the only kid in town with any equipment."

Arsenault would go on to greater gridiron success -- making the University of New Brunswick Red Bombers in 1980 and going on to a Canadian Football League career.

"I remember (former coach) Mike Dollimore saying to me at practice: 'Geez, Arsenault, will you hit that linebacker," said Arsenault. "And I said 'What is a linebacker?'"

Arsenault has come a long way since those days. He's the head coach of the Albert Street Eagles of the Capital Area Minor Football Association -- the, ahem, unbeaten Albert Street Eagles, a team on the verge of a provincial, and perhaps even a Maritime peewee football championship.

There are a couple of hurdles yet. Eagles face the Hampton Huskies Sunday at 1 p.m. in Hampton and, should they win there, travel to Dartmouth, N.S. the following week to play the Nova Scotia champions.

But Arsenault has cleared hurdles before. He had no previous competitive football experience when he decided he wanted to play for the Red Bombers. He made it. He went from there to Saint Mary's University to play for the Huskies. He made it. He was a CFL walk on with the Stamps. And made it.

When son Kyle -- who celebrated his 13th birthday recently by leading the Eagles to the CAMFA middle school championship with a 34-0 victory over the rival George Street Crusaders -- showed an interest in playing football, it seemed only natural that Marty should lend his expertise.

"When I was first asked to start coaching football, I was questioning myself: 'Do I know the game well enough?' The fast track that I was on as a player was just for my position."

The proof seems to be in the pudding. The first year he and offensive co-ordinator Jared McGinn took over the mosquito program, the team struggled. They won it all in Year 2. Last year, the Eagles were 1-7. This year, they've yet to lose. Yet to be really challenged in fact.

Arsenault doesn't dismiss the idea of following his son up to the bantam (junior varsity) level at FHS next season, perhaps as an assistant to Mark Dee.

"I've been asked by the head coach to move up and I think the Association is expecting me to move up," he said. "It's really hard to just walk away from it. I'm strongly considering it. One of my reasons for pulling away might be that I'd like to see Kyle benefit from playing for somebody else. But he's told people he likes me coaching him."

Kyle comes by his athletic gifts honestly. Marty turned his raw tools into a professional football carer and then as a body builder. His half-sister Jessica was a two-sport athlete at UNB, competing as a swimmer and a basketball player.

Arsenault uses his own story to encourage kids who have never played the game to try it out.

"I often think to myself: What if somebody 25 years old came up to me and said 'Yeah, I think I want to play football, and I plan on playing pro within a year or two.' I'd go "Are you nuts?' And that's the same response I got."

"They have this story in their heads that I was some sort of CFL star," said Arsenault. "When I sense that, I tell them what happened. I try to tell them that anything is possible if you want it bad enough and want to work at it hard enough."

Kyle is a chip off the old block physically.

"He's a lot smarter than I am when it comes to football, I can tell you that," chuckled Marty. Kyle calls all his own plays in the huddle and has called audibles at the line of scrimmage.

"I hate to say it, but he gets it from X-Box 360," said Marty. "It's like a flight simulator for him. He plays it at the highest level.

He's able to come up on the line and read plays and I still cannot do that."

Marty has a soft spot for UNB football. He'd love to see the program resurrected. And he would love to see his son call the signals some day.

"Maybe kids want to go away anyway, but it would be nice to have that option," said Arsenault.

"I still have a year of eligility left," said Marty. "It could be Rocky 17."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nov. 4                              New Brunswick PeeWee Semi-Final

                             Albert Street Eagles 38  Moncton Lancers 7
 


          Reid Johnson rushed for two touchdowns. Tommy McGinn added another major on the ground. Eagles pivot Kyle Arsenault threw touchdown passes to McGinn and Peter Jensen. Will Gange returned a kickoff for a six pointer. McGinn ran for one convert. Arsenault passed to Ryan Colpitts for another convert.

Oct. 28 
                                  Capital Area Championship

                             Albert Street Eagles 34  George Street Crusaders 0
 


          Reid Johnson's three touchdown performance paced the Eagles to their championship win. Tommy McGinn added another major and Albert Street quarterback Kyle Arsenault connected with Peter Jensen on a touchdown pass. Jeremy Boutot kicked two converts.
 
Oct. 21 
                                              Semi-Finals

                                  Albert Street Eagles 34  Oromocto Panthers 6
 


          Eagles pivot Kyle Arsenault threw to Tommy McGinn for one touchdown and scored another himself on a one yard plunge. Reid Johnson rushed for a pair of Albert Street majors. McGinn also returned a kickoff for six points. Jeremy Boutot kicked two converts.
           Charlie Jones had the lone Panthers TD. 

                              George Street Crusaders 8 Nashwaaksis Nordics 6
 


           Alex Dee's 50 yard touchdown run and Noah Zilbert's convert put the Crusaders up 8-0. Tom MacLean returned the ensuing kickoff 105 yards for a Nordics major. However the convert was blocked providing George Street with the margin of victory.      

Oct. 17 
                                              Quarter-Final

                                  Oromocto Panthers 27 Devon Wildcats 16
 


           Charlie Jones rushed for a pair of TDs to lift the Panthers to a hard fought win over a game Wildcats squad. Austin Dalton and Michael Steele each added a six pointer. Steele also kicked a two point convert and ran for a one point conversion.
            Brett Hatheway and Paul Breen replied for the Wildcats. Breen and Jonathan Gahan rushed for one point converts. The Devon defence also recorded a safety.           

Oct. 16 
                                              Quarter-Final

                              George Street Crusaders 31 Oromocto Tigers 0
 


           Wes Durling passed to Noah Zilbert for one touchdown and ran himself for another as the Crusaders advanced to the semi-finals. Alex Dee rushed for a six pointer and Derrick Nickerson returned an interception 60 yards to pay dirt. Zilbert booted three converts and James Connors had a single on a kick off.           

Oct. 14 
                    Albert Street Eagles 28 Devon Wildcats 0 

           Tommy McGinn rushed for two touchdowns and caught a pass from Kyle Arsenault for another to pace the Eagles attack. Arsenault also scored a TD on a one yard plunge. Jeremy Boutot kicked two converts.           

                          Nashwaaksis Nordics 20 George Street Crusaders 14 
       
            Nordics pivot Jason Hearn threw touchdown passes to Anthony Crouse and Nick O'Dell. Ryan Cain scored the other Nasis major. Hearn added a convert.
          Crusaders QB Alex Dee ran for one TD and hooked up with Will McGivney for another. Andrew Petrie booted a convert.    

                                                
Commander's Cup II

                     
             Oromocto Panthers 22 Oromocto Tigers 0 

        
   Austin Dalton had two Panther majors. Michael Steele added a third and kicked a pair of converts.   
           

Oct. 8 
                    Albert Street Eagles 33 Oromocto Panthers 14 

           Reid Johnson had two touchdowns for the Eagles. Tommy McGinn and Derrick Perrin added one major each. Jeremy Boutot kicked three converts and a field goal.
           Austin Dalton had both Panther majors. Michael Steele added a convert.           

                                  George Street Crusaders 34 Oromocto Tigers 0 
       
            The Crusaders got two touchdowns from Noah Zilbert and one each from Wes Durling, Alex Dee, and Will McGivney. Zilbert added a pair of converts.                                       

                     
             Nashwaaksis Nordics 22 Devon Wildcats 13 

        
   The Nordics got touchdowns from Riley Hughson, Ryan Cain and Anthony Crouse. Crouse and Brett Gorman recorded one point converts. The Nordics defence recorded a safety.
           Brett Hatheway had both Devon TDs. Jonathan Gahan ran for a one point convert.


Oct. 2 
                    Albert Street Eagles 36 George Street Crusaders 6 

           Eagles QB Kyle Arsenault scored two touchdowns on one yard plunges. He also threw a touchdown pass to Reid Johnson. Johnson also rushed for a TD. Tommy McGinn had the other Albert Street touchdown on an interception. Philippe Long kicked a three converts.
           Crusaders pivot Weston Durling hooked up with Noah Zilbert for George Street's only score.           

Sept. 30
                    Albert Street Eagles 34 Oromocto Panthers 18 

           Eagles QB Ryan Colpitts threw touchdown passes to Peter Jensen and Patrick Cameron. Kyle Arsenault hooked up with Reid Johnson for another six pointer. Johnson also rushed for a TD. Tommy McGinn had the other Albert Street touchdown. Philippe Long kicked a pair of converts.
           Austin Dalton had two Panther majors with Charlie Jones added another.           

                                  George Street Crusaders 36 Oromocto Tigers 6 
       
            The Crusaders got two touchdowns from Wes Durling and one each from Alex Dee, Blake Murphy, Will McGivney and Alex White.
           
Darian Mirosnikov replied for the Tigers.

                                                           
Northside Bowl III

                     
             Nashwaaksis Nordics 47 Devon Wildcats 0 

        
   The Nordics got one touchdown apiece from Riley Hughson, Tom MacLean, Kyle Ashfield, Ryan Cain, Matt Dacres, Tanner Banks and Anthony Crouse. MacLean kicked one two point convert while Hughson, Jason Hearn and Brett Gorman recorded one point converts. 

Sept. 25
                           Devon Wildcats 13 Oromocto Tigers 7 

           Brett Hatheway rushed for a pair of Wildcat touchdowns. Paul Breen ran for a one point convert. 
           Kaleb Paget scored the Tigers TD. David Camp punted for a single.           

Sept. 23
                           Devon Wildcats 31 Oromocto Panthers 27 

           Paul Breen and Brett Hatheway each rushed for a pair of Wildcat touchdowns. Hatheway also passed to Breen for another six points as well as running for a one point convert. 
           Austin Dalton had a pair of Panther majors. Charlie Jones and Tyler Merritt added one six pointer apiece. Michael Steele ran for two converts. Merritt ran for one extra point.           

                                     Nashwaaksis Nordics 53  Oromocto Tigers 0 
       
            Ryan Cain had three touchdowns. Riley Hughson and Brett Gorman each had two six pointers. Kyle Ashfield added one TD. Tom MacLean kicked a convert. Gorman, Ashfield and Cain ran for converts.

Sept. 21                                           Southside Bowl V
I

                     
            Albert Street Eagles 23 George Street Crusaders 6 

        
   In a game played at College Field in front of the students from both schools; close to 1,400 spectators; the Eagles won their fifth Southside Bowl in six years.
            Albert Street pivot Kyle Arsenault threw touchdown passes to Ryan Colpitts, Peter Jensen and Reid Johnson. Phillipe Long and Jermie Boutot kicked two point conversions. Tommy McGinn ran for a one point convert.
            Wes Durling had the lone Crusaders six pointer.


Sept.   18
                           Oromocto Panthers 25 Devon Wildcats 13 

           Charlie Jones ran for three Panthers TDs, including one on an 80 yard kickoff return. Tyler Merritt scored the other Oromocto touchdown as well as running for a one point convert.
           Paul Breen had both Wildcats touchdowns. Brett Hatheway passed to Jordan Hanley for a one point convert. 

                                  Albert Street Eagles 29 Nashwaaksis Nordics 6  
       
            Tommy McGinn rushed for one touchdown and caught a pass from QB Kyle Arsenault  for another six points. Phillipe Long and Reid Johnson each rushed for one TD. Long kicked two converts. Arsenault passed to Adam Marion for a convert.
            Nordics QB Jason Hearn hooked up with Riley Hughson for the lone Nasis score. 

Sept.   16
          
              George Street Crusaders 32 Devon Wildcats 12

           Wes Durling rushed for a pair of Crusader touchdowns. James Connors and Nolan Zilbert added one six pointer apiece. Zilbert converted all four scores.
           Brett Hatheway and Tony Kelly answered for the Wildcats.

                                          Albert Street Eagles 36 Oromocto Tigers 6 
       
            Reid Johnson had three six pointers for the Eagles. Peter Jensen added another and Bryn Davies returned an interception for another. Phillipe Long booted three converts.
            Jordan Fletcher had the lone Tigers score. 

                                          Nashwaaksis Nordics 37 Oromocto Panthers 0

             Riley Hughson, Anthony Crouse, Ryan Cain, Tom MacLean, Nick O'Dell and Tanner Bank each had a touchdown. Cain rushed for one convert..

Sept.  11
          
         Nashwaaksis Nordics 24 George Street Crusaders 6 

           Tom MacLean ran for two Nordics majors, including one on an 80 yard kickoff return. Jason Hearn scored the other Nordics TD as well as kicking three converts.
           Noah Zilbert replied for the Crusaders.

                                      Oromocto Panthers 38 Oromocto Tigers 6  
       
            Kaleb Paget had the lone Tigers score.
The Panthers scorers were not reported.

Sept.   9
          
              George Street Crusaders 30 Oromocto Panthers 6

           Derek Nickerson ran for two Crusaders touchdowns. Will McGivney added another. QB Alex Dee connected with Wes Durling for 6 more points. Noah Zilbert booted three converts.
           Austin Dalton had the Panthers touchdown.

                                      Albert Street Eagles 27 Nashwaaksis Nordics 12 
       
            Eagles pivot Kyle Arsenault threw two touchdown passes to Tommy McGinn and one to Phillipe Long. Long also rushed for six points and kicked a convert. Arsenault ran for a convert.
            Nordics QB Jason Hearn connected with Anthony Crouse for one Nordics major. Ryan Cain rushed for the other Nasis six pointer. 

                                          Devon Wildcats 20 Oromocto Tigers 0 

             Brett Hatheway ran for one touchdown and passed to Dylan Cole for another in the Wildcats win. Paul Breen rushed for the other Devon TD. Hatheway passed to Matt Wright for a convert and Tanner Price punted for a single.