|
Nov. 18
Maritime PeeWee Championship 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.
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
Published Wednesday November 7th, 2007
Appeared on page B1
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
Published Wednesday November 7th, 2007
Appeared on page B1
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 |
