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Block and tackle (VIKTOR PIVOVAROV/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT) MacNaughton Highlanders running back Scott Crandall grimaces as he's tackled by Leo Hayes Lions Jesse Mercier during first half high school football playoff action last night at Rocky Stone Field. The Highlanders defeated the Lions 16-14 and move on to the semi-finals against an opponent to be determined in today's action.

Highlanders continue winning streak MacNaughton scores 10 in fourth quarter for come from behind victory (VIKTOR PIVOVAROV/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT) Leo Hayes Lions Mike McAllister gets stopped by MacNaughton Highlanders Josh Thibodeau (left) and Jeff Snow during the first half at Rocky Stone field last night. DWAYNE TINGLEY Times & Transcript Staff Nathan Goudreau didnt expect to play last night. The 17-year-old quarterback wanted to give his separated right shoulder another week to heal, but by the end of the night he was looking for an ice pack and he didnt care. Goudreau came off the bench in the fourth quarter and led the MacNaughton Highlanders to a stirring 16-14 win over the Leo Hayes Lions in New Brunswick High School Football League quarter-final playoff action at Rocky Stone Memorial Field. Highlanders, who finished first in the regular season with a 6-0 record, trailed 7-6 after three quarters, then rallied for the victory. "I knew we werent going to lose we couldnt lose after the season we had," said Goudreau, who was injured two weeks ago. "We really had to win this game," he said. "When I got in the game, I knew we had to do whatever it takes to win the game. Im not going to think about an injury now. Ive been working hard in physio just in case I got a chance to play." Trailing 7-6, the Highlanders took the lead at 4:22 of the fourth quarter on a two-yard touchdown plunge by sturdy running back Scott Crandall. The major was set up by a 30-yard pass by Goudreau to Chris Leger. "I was able to air out a pass or two and I think I tweaked the shoulder a little bit," Goudreau said. "I could feel it and it hurt, but I didnt think about that when the game was on. Winning the game comes first. Ill worry about the shoulder later." Leger also caught a two-point convert pass from Goudreau. Crandall scored MacNaughtons other touchdown on a 68-yard run early in the third quarter. Highlanders also recorded a team safety in the fourth quarter. Nolan Gervais and Ritchie Mayambo had majors for the Lions. Mayambo also kicked both converts. Defences dominated the first half. Lions, who were 1-5 during the regular season, kept the game scoreless late in the half with an impressive goal-line stand in the dying seconds of the half. "Leo Hayes has a real good team, but we didnt play with a lot of intensity in the first half," Goudreau said. "We couldnt get our offence going," the Grade 12 student said. "Our defence kept us in the game. Theyve done that a lot this year. "Our defence gave the offence time to get going. When we finally started playing with intensity, we moved the ball a lot better." Goudreau said hell be read to start next weeks semifinal game. Their opponent will be determined today. Meanwhile, three other first-round playoff games in the AAA Division are scheduled for 1 p.m. today. Tantramar Titans (5-1) host the Riverview High Royals (2-4) in Sackville, Moncton High Purple Knights (3-3) visit the Fredericton High Black Kats (5-1) and the Mathieu-Martin Matadors (4-2) entertain the Oromocto High Blues (3-3).

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HOYT

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Grid Kat-fight to FHS

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL (THE DAILY GLEANER/DIANE DOIRON PHOTO) While Kyle Currie (No. 4 in left photo) and the Fredericton High School Black Kats were running roughshod over Leo Hayes High Lions 35-12, the Oromocto High Blues including James Peiffer (No. 11) and Rob Doucette (No. 22) had their hands full in containing the unbeaten Bernice MacNaughton Highlanders of Moncton. Highlanders completed their season at 6-0 by virtue of a 22-14 victory over the 3-3 Blues.

MIKE POWER
The Daily Gleaner

The Fredericton High School Black Kats tuned up for the playoffs and won themselves a bridge at the same time Saturday.

The football Kats easily knocked off the Leo Hayes High School Lions 35-12 at Leo Hayes Field in a game that was probably more one sided than even that score indicates. FHS improves their record to 5-1 on the last day of the regular season while the Lions end up 1-5.

Kats will host Moncton High Purple Knights Saturday at 1 o'clock as the league quarter finals begin.

Meanwhile in Oromocto at MacKenzie Field, the Oromocto High School Blues finished their year with a 3-3 record after a 22-14 loss to the Bernice MacNaughton Highlanders of Moncton.

The Highlanders finish as the only undefeated team in the 10 team AAA league at 6-0. They will host the eighth seeded Lions in the first round of the playoffs Friday night at Rocky Stone Park. OHS will play at Mathieu Martin Matadors Saturday in Dieppe in their quarter final matchup.

The Kats' win also gives them their only head to head meeting with their cross river rivals this season and with it supremacy in the so-called Battle of the Bridge between the two Fredericton schools complete with a trophy.

And if you don't think that trophy is treasured, think again.

"We wanted it," said Kats receiver Adam Robar. "Before the game, we were pumped. We weren't happy with the way it went last year and we wanted to establish we are the top team in (the city)."

Last year Leo Hayes won the regular season meeting between the teams by a 13-10 margin and then ended Fredericton's season with a 31-0 playoff win. T

There's no doubt the Lions enjoyed their year as top cats.

"That was my bowl," Lions lineman Josh Gervais said of the Battle of the Bridge trophy. "I didn't want to lose it. I loved having that bowl. This isn't a good feeling."

Still Gervais was pretty clear in what happened admitting his team didn't have the stuff for a win, at least on this day.

"They just wore us down and wore us out," Gervais said. "We started out with a couple of real good series on defence but we weren't getting much rest. The offence did its best but there was too many two and outs. We (the defence) spent a lot of time on the field and just couldn't keep it up."

The Black Kats' offence did it's job with 170 yards rushing and 136 yards through the air but the FHS defence was the unit that kept the Lions' defence on the field so long as they shut down Leo Hayes completely over the first three quarters of play.

The Leos had eight possessions in the first half and failed to achieve a first down. In fact they crossed centrefield only twice-and one of those penetrations was by about a foot and they had to punt on the next down anyway.

It wasn't until they got the ball for the first time in the fourth quarter that the Leos were able to make a first down having had the ball ten times and kicked it away-or lost it-10 times.

By the time they did gain a first down the score was 35-0 and FHS was going deep into their bench to get playing time for everybody a week before playoffs.

Former Lion Justin McCarty did much of the damage to his old team running for 75 yards and a touchdown. Kyle Currie rumbled for a touchdowns and 31 yards. He also may face disciplinary action heading into next week's playoff opener after being ejected from the game for his part in an on field scuffle following his score.

Danny Keith chipped in with 38 yards on the ground and a touchdown.

Black Kat quarterbacks Marc Belliveau and Jeff Lingley both took their share of snaps. Lingley was three of nine passing for 33 yards while Belliveau went three of six for 103 yards. Belliveau passed for two touchdowns, both to Robar, and tossed one interception. Robar totaled 103 yards in his two catches, the only two he made on the day.

The Lions piled up 133 yards rushing, most of it in the fourth quarter in which they scored both of their touchdowns. Zach Kilburn led the Leos with 53 yards rushing, 25 of them coming on one play. Brent McGrath chipped in with 35 yards on the ground.

Andrew Phillips rushed the ball once but it was an eventful trip. He went four yards for the first Leo Hayes touchdown.

The other major score by the home team came on a 12 yard pass from Nolan Gervais to Ritchie Mayambo with two second left in the game. Gervais struggled in the face of the FHS rush with only two completions in 14 attempts getting picked for two interceptions.

HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP
Grid Lions face critical situation

BALL HANDLING: (The Daily Gleaner/Diane Doiron Photo) Lee Hoyt, left, head coach for the Leo Hayes High Lions' football team, discusses a few pointers with Zack Kilburn during a practice Thursday. Lions face a critical game against Mathieu Martin Matadors Saturday afternoon at Leo Hayes Field.

DAVID RITCHIE
Gleaner Sports Editor

Right from the get-go, Lee Hoyt knew it was going to be a rebuilding year for his Leo Hayes High School Lions' football team.

So it's no big surprise to the second year head coach the Lions find themselves winless heading into week four of the provincial high school football league season.

"We're progressing with each week and I'm happy about that. On the other hand, we could have won a couple of the games and it's a little disappointing that we haven't," says Hoyt as he prepares the Lions for a Saturday afternoon matchup against Mathieu Martin Matadors of Dieppe. Game time is 1 o'clock at Leo Hayes Field.

Following an opening week 27-9 loss at home to unbeaten Bernice MacNaughton Highlanders of Moncton, the Lions have dropped two road games, 20-7 to Oromocto High Blues Sept. 20 and 37-21 last weekend to Tantramar High Titans in Sackville.

"Our goal is to make the playoffs and I figure we're going to need at least two wins," says Hoyt.

After Mathieu Martin, the Lions play the league's weak sister Simonds High Seabees in Saint John and finish up against powerful Fredericton High School Black Kats at home. "If we can get into the playoffs, then anything can happen. That's our goal. There's no question it's a critical game against Mathieu Martin."Hoyt says having lost more than half his roster from last season - he only had eight of the starting 24 among the returnees - he figured there'd be growing pains.

"I'm quite pleased with the way we've progressed. The kids are upbeat in practice. They can see things starting to happen," he says. "We've been in every game. Last week, it was 21-21 at the half and we were right in the ball game.

"But we're making mental mistakes which are costing us and a lot of that's due to the inexperience. We had the ball inside the five yard line twice last week and couldn't score either time. And they scored twice on special teams. You can't afford to have things like that happen and expect to win. To be inside the five yard line twice and come away with no points is critical."On the plus side, Hoyt says he's happy with the way grade 10 quarterback Nolan Gervais has performed since claiming the starting job away from grade 12 Zack Kilburn, who is now the team's slotback as well as a key member of the defence.

"Zack is a grade 12 kid and won't be back next year. So I figured we'd go with the kid (Gervais) and let him develop. For the most part, he's done a good job for us," says Hoyt.

Defensively, Hoyt says Kilburn has been a leader as has another grade 12er, Chris Maxwell, at defensive end. "And Kyle Kish has made some big plays for us as one of the linebackers. All our linebackers are only in grade 11 so they're going to get even better."The other area clubs are on the road this weekend. FHS takes a 3-0 record into its first place showdown against MacNaughton Saturday in Moncton while OHS takes a 2-1 mark into Moncton tonight to take on the 0-3 Harrison Trimble High Trojans at Rocky Stone Field.

Lions suffer growing pains

HITTING A YELLOW WALL (THE DAILY GLEANER/DIANE DOIRON PHOTO) Running back Brent McGrath, right, of the Leo Hayes High Lions probably thinks so after Mathieu Martin Matadors' David Jones sends him flying backwards during high school football league action Saturday at Leo Hayes Field. Mathieu Martin won 27-9.

MIKE POWER
The Daily Gleaner

The Leo Hayes Lions St. Mary's Lions are everything a young football team is supposed to be: enthusiastic, raw, and more and more lately, frustrated.

The Lions played well, but not nearly well enough to beat Mathieu Martin Matadors of Dieppe Saturday at Leo Hayes Field. Matadors prevailed 27-9, improving to 2-2 and dropping the Lions to 0-4 with two games remaining on the schedule.

In other action Saturday, Bernice MacNaughton Highlanders of Moncton thumped Fredericton High Black Kats 33-6 in a showdown of 3-0 teams while Simonds High Seabees of Saint John won for the first time in four starts, 27-21 over Riverview High Royals.

At Leo Hayes, the Lions are to the point where they're in most games only to make a mistake and have it come back to hurt them in the way of points.

"It's a lack of experience," said Lions' slotback Zach Kilburn. "You hate to say it but what can you do. It's not really anybody's fault and it's not from lack of trying. We just don't have enough experience as a team."

For example, one Matadors' touchdown came after a punt from the 41-yard line of the Lions hit Leo Hayes return man Luke Doigt in the shoulder and bounced into the hands of Matadors' Leo Bertrand. Two plays later Mathieu Martin scored a touchdown.

On the plus side, rookie quarterback Nolan Gervais ran up a gaudy 168 yards passing hitting on nine of 21 attempts alhough he was sacked three times.

All in all, it makes every game a roller coaster ride for the Lions who would like to break on through to the other side and get a win before too much longer.

"One day at a time I guess," Kilburn said. "We're all trying hard. This is a good bunch of guys. Hopefully it all comes together before we run out of season."

It didn't help the Leos cause that they trailed before the game was five minutes old. The Matadors struck quickly on their first drive, capping it with a one yard scoring plunge by halfback Jean-Paul Bertrand and one point convert by John Phelan.

Neither team moved the ball particularly well the rest of the half, at least until the last minute that is. That's when the messed up punt return turned itself into a Matadors touchdown. Quarterback Andre Arsenault fired a 16 yard scoring strike to Carlo DiBonaventura with 46 seconds to go until halftime and the visitors appeared to have things under control when Phelan hit the convert to double the Lion deficit.

Instead of shuffling to the half, the Lions roared back. Starting on their own 29 Gervais hit a 36-yard pass and run to Doigt. Two plays later he tossed a screen pass to Brent McGrath who broke it for a 28 yard gain.

With time a factor, Gervais calmly passed to Doigt for seven more yards. Then with just a single tick on the timepiece he fired a short scoring strike to Kilburn. The convert didn't work out but the Leos had sent the message that the game wasn't over.

The second half started with Ritchie Mayambo hitting a 21-yard field goal for Leo Hayes to narrow the Matadors' lead to 14-9 five minutes in. But then the mistake bug struck again.

With less then a minute to play in the third quarter Marcel Dupuis blocked a Leo Hayes punt at the LHHS 29. The ball ended up on the Lions' one-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, quarterback Arsenault plunged ahead on a keeper for another major. Phelan made it 21-9 and momentum had swung, pretty much for good.

"Oh, that was the key play," said Lions' coach Lee Hoyt. "For me, that's the game. We're moving the ball and within a touchdown then (MMHS) makes the big play. That's the kind of play that turns games around."

Certainly the Lions managed to get little going offensively in the fourth quarter and their mistakes increased.

Arsenault, who finished with 84 yards though the air on 13 attempts, finished the scoring with a 24-yard pass and run to Terry Mathot with 1:20 to play for what was just icing on the cake.

Wrapped up

STYMIED (THE DAILY GLEANER - DIANE DOIRON PHOTO)

Mathieu Martin Matadors' Yves LeBlanc is stopped in his tracks by Leo Hayes High Lions' defender Jason Christie, left, with Bruce Canning adding assistance during high school football action Saturday at Leo Hayes. Matadors were 27-9 winners over the winless Lions.

Titans top Lions; improve to 3-0

(VIKTOR PIVOVAROV/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT) Leo Hayes Lions Brent McGrath gets tackled by Tantramar Titans Dave MacDonald during the second quarter action of high school football Saturday in Sackville.

Times & Transcript Staff

SACKVILLE - Tantramar Titans offensive coach Chris Porter has seen good teams come and go and he recognizes this years club is a unique one.

Titans improved their record to 3-0 with a 37-21 win over the Leo Hayes Lions of Fredericton in a New Brunswick High School Football League game here Saturday afternoon. Lions are 0-3.

"Were fortunate to have a terrific group of young athletes who are skilled and hard-working," said Porter, who has been with Tantramars football program since 1974.

"Weve had good teams here in the past and weve always liked to run the ball, but this group can do more than just keep in on the ground," he said.

"They can pass the ball, too, and weve got the receivers who can go get it. Its a solid group and we should get better as the year goes on."

Justin Stokes led the Titans with two touchdowns one rushing and another on a kick-off return.

Jeff Schnurr also ran for a major and kicked four converts.

Travis ONeill and Mitch Gallant each caught touchdown passes from Jason Pauley. Tantramars defence also recorded a team safety.

The game was tied 21-21 at halftime.

Lions coach Lee Hoyt said the game was "closer than the final score indicates."

"Weve got a rebuilding team and we had a pretty good game, but Tantramars got a real good team," Hoyt said.

"Theyve got an explosive offence that can run or pass at anytime," Hoyt said. "We kept it pretty close, but their experience made a big difference in the second half."

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Blues tame Lions

GOTCHA! (THE DAILY GLEANER/DIANE DOIRON PHOTO) Oromocto High School Blues' Darren Greeley (82) sacks Leo Hayes St. Mary's Lions quarterback Nolan Gervais during Friday's provincial high school football league game in Oromocto. The Blues posted a 20-7 win.

MIKE POWER
The Daily Gleaner

The Oromocto High School Blues scored 12 unanswered first half points and hung on to beat the Leo Hayes St. Mary's Lions 20-7 for their first win of the young high school football season.

With the win on OHS Field at MacKenzie Grounds the Blues improve to 1-1 on the season while the Lions slip to 0-2.

Dan Mersereau had a hand in two key second half plays that enabled the Blues to hang on. He caught six passes for 80 yards, including a 17-yard scoring strike with 11:25 remaining to grab the momentum back for his team after LHHS had broke through with a touchdown a few plays earlier.

Mersereau also picked off Lions quarterback Nolan Gervais with three minutes remaining on a third and nine play from Oromocto's 25-yard line. Mersereau anticipated Gervais flare to the sideline, coming down with the ball with nobody between him and the LHHS end zone. But as he rumbled down the field his leg cramped and he had to settle for a 48-yard runback.

"(Gervais) made that play before, I knew I had him, I was still pretty surprised when it hit my hands," Mersereau said. "I wish it had been a touchdown but I cramped up pretty bad. I wasn't going to fall down, they were going to have to take me down. Actually a Leo Hayes defender came along side of me and asked if I was all right. I told him I was fine - then somebody popped me from behind."

While he didn't score, Mersereau's interception was the last time the Lions would touch the ball as the Blues ground game ground out the clock.

"They jumped on that," said Leo Hayes coach Lee Hoyt. "We had burned (Mersereau) a couple of times with that play and he was waiting on it. We have a young guy quarterbacking. He probably shouldn't throw that pass but (Mersereau) was looking for it. They jumped it, he made the big play."

That flurry of events came in an entertaining second half after the teams played a tentative opening 24 minutes with Oromocto doing all the scoring.

Receiver Kurtiss Bamburger scored on Oromocto's third play from scrimmage four minutes in with a 15-yard run on a fake that the Lions bit on. The point after attempt by Jeff Squires missed.

The Blues doubled their lead with 7:21 to go in the half on a drive that featured running back Josh McArthur carrying the ball on six of the drive's seven plays, including a one-yard plunge for the touchdown. It was, however, a key third down and 12 play that sustained the drive.

With the ball on the Leo Hayes 28 and the Blues on third down OHS quarterback Rob Doucette fired a strike to Mersereau for an 18-yard gain. Two plays later McArthur scored. The Lions had a beef on the Mersereau catch, however, saying he never had clear possession. As he came down Mersereau lost control of the ball as he hit the ground.

"It wasn't a catch," grumbled Hoyt. "But that's adversity and you have to deal with it. You learn and move on."

Both teams seemed to kick it into gear in the second half, particularly the Lions. After stopping the Blues' initial drive they launched a counter attack marching 74 yards on seven plays to score their only points of the day.

Running back Andrew Cougle had the biggest gain on the ground with a 15-yard gain to drive the ball over midfield and deep into OHS territory, but it was the potent passing of Gervais that did much of the damage.

A 27-yard strike to Bruce Canning put the ball on the Oromocto one-yard line. Two plays later Gervais calmly tossed to Brent McGrath for the score. Ritchie Mayambo kicked the convert to draw LHHS to within five points of the Blues and almost 15 minutes remaining to be played.

The teams exchanged the ball a couple times each before the home team finally got around to answering the Lions score. The Doucette to Mersereau connection launched the march with a 25-yard gain as the Blues took the gloves off their air attack.

A second down pass to Bamburger netted 29 yards to put the ball on the Leo Hayes 17 and a first down toss to Mersereau resulted in the score. Just to prove it wasn't a fluke, OHS then used a similar Doucette to Mersereau play for the two-point convert.

In fact, the Blues seemed to move the ball with ease when they went to the air, so much so the question of why they only passed 10 times had to be asked.

"I think we needed to work on our protection a little more," said OHS coach Mike DeMello. "Rob (Doucette) was still getting some heat back there, you don't want your quarterback getting banged up. We did throw the ball effectively - which is good because it was something we worked on in practice - but you still have to honour the statement that we are still going to run at you."

Nine of Doucette's 10 passes were completed as he aired it out for 112 yards. He was intercepted once.

With eight minutes left to play the Lions launched their final attempt to get back into it with an impressive nine-play drive that started on their own 26. However, the nature of the march ate up a huge chunk of the clock and when Mersereau picked off the pass from Gervais there was less than three minutes remaining.

McArthur and the rest of the Blues' offensive backfield took care of the time that remained grinding out two more first downs and running out the clock.

McArthur ended the day with 84 yards on the ground on 22 carries. Five other backs accounted for the 18 rushing yards on nine carries.

Gervais had a sparkling day passing as he threw it up 15 times for nine completions and 104 yards with just the one interception. Cougle led the ground attack with 51 yards on seven carries. McGrath carried eight times for 39 yards

As published on page C1/C3 on September 16, 2002 Lions tamed HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL (THE DAILY GLEANER/DIANE DOIRON PHOTO) Both city high school football teams began their seasons Saturday with mixed results. In above photo, FHS Black Kats running back Dan Keith is given a celebratory hug by Erik Waston after scoring one of his two TDs in a 69-7 rout of Simonds Seabees. In below photo, running back Bruce Canning of Leo Hayes High Lions tries to gain yardage against Bernice MacNaughton of Moncton. Lions lost 27-9. BILL HUNT The Daily Gleaner The Leo Hayes St. Mary's Lions suffered through some growing pains in their 2002 New Brunswick High School Football League AAA debut Saturday. At times, it was just as painful to watch. The Bernice MacNaughton Highlanders of Moncton, making their debut at the AAA level, posted a relatively easy 27-9 victory over the Lions on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Leo Hayes Field. Running back Scott Crandall scored a pair of touchdowns, including the one that stood as the game-winner on a 55-yard run as the Highlanders earned the victory. It was the Highlanders who were clad in the green uniforms this day, but the Lions were even greener. With 29 players having graduated from last year's club, they had a roster chock full of youngsters playing their first varsity football game. It showed as early as the first series. On the first play from scrimmage, starting quarterback Zack Kilburn tried to pitch the ball back to rookie running back Brent McGrath. Nobody there. Kilburn eventually recovered on his own 33. On the next play rookie QB Nolan Gervais, whom MacNaughton quickly recognized as the passer in the Lions shared system, was picked off, setting the Highlanders up first and 10 on the Hayes 20. The Lions' defence held - that time. On the next series though, MacNaughton cracked over. It took five plays, the key one a 23-yard run from Crandall to get the drive moving, before running back Jeff Snow took it across from the one. Three and out for Hayes before MacNaughton was back again. This time, they had help. MacNaughton was unable to move the sticks on their own. On second and 15 from their own 40, quarterback Nathan Gaudreau went back to pass. It fell incomplete, but Lions defensive lineman Kris Maxwell was called for unnecessary roughness a 15-yard penalty and automatic first down that moved the ball out to center field. On the next play, Crandall broke through and dashed untouched from midfield for the game winner in the second quarter. C1 "I broke a tackle, saw some open light, and ran with it," said Crandall, who rushed for 127 yards on nine carries in all. "Our O-line played great. They made holes and I ran to them." To their credit, the Lions didn't wilt. They marched the ball down from their own 30-yard line on their best drive of the day. It took eight plays. The keys were a 27-yard pass from Gervais to Luke Doigt to move it to the MacNaughton 40, and McGrath's 25-yard outside run to set them up on the 15 on the next play. Three plays later, facing third down and two from the nine, Gervais went in untouched on a quarterback keeper to get the Lions on the board. The half ended with the Lions trailing 13-6. It also ended with the rookie Gervais taking all the snaps at quarterback. And though coach Lee Hoyt says he'll continue to use both quarterbacks as the situation warrants, both Kilburn and Hoyt noticed the Highlanders weren't long figuring out the tendencies of the Lions' two QBs. "They did a really good job. They knew, when I came in, chances are it was more of a running play and they were very well adapted to that. They knew what was going on," said Kilburn. "Obviously, they watch game film on us, because even early in the game, without them knowing what we were doing, they were saying 'Watch number 27 (Gervais),' " said Hoyt. "I don't know where they got game film, but they watched it and they picked up on it." He said he'll continue to rotate his quarterbacks according to the situation. "Depending on those guys and depending on what the coaching staff wants to call," he said. "At any time, either one of those guys can play. Offences take longer to develop than defences. We're learning as we're going." Gervais played the entire second half, but couldn't move the offence. The Lions' only points in the second half came as a result of a bad snap over the head of MacNaughton punter Snow, setting the Lions up first and 10 from the MacNaughton 28. Two plays later, Lions kicker Richie Moyamba boomed a 34-yard field goal through the uprights to close it to 13-9. Momentum looked like it might shift when the Highlanders fumbled on the ensuing kickoff, with Maxwell recovering to set the Lions up first and 10 from the MacNaughton 48. But they couldn't move the chains, and MacNaughton marched up on the next series, with running backs Rob Hayes ironically and Crandall carrying the ball. The drive eventually stalled out on the Lions nine. But on their next possession, they nailed the Lions' coffin shut. Taking the ball over on the Lions 23, after Leo Hayes punted it away and drew a no yards penalty, MacNaughton took six plays before quarterback Goudreau took it in from three yards out. A successful two-point convert made it 21-9. The rest of it was just stats: Crandall scoring the last Highlanders TD from four yards out and, from the Lions' perspective, getting the little Leos' quarterback some varsity experience. In all, he completed four of 15 passes for 79 yards and threw two interceptions. Kilburn completed two passes in three attempts, both swing passes out to the sideline for minimal gains. Along the ground, rookie back Brent McGrath managed 75 yards on seven carries. The Lions are in Oromocto Friday to face the Blues, 42-14 losers to Harrison Trimble in their home opener last Friday.

FOOTBALL PREVIEW Lions must rebuild RUSHING QUARTERBACK (THE DAILY GLEANER - STEPHEN MACGILLIVRAY PHOTO) That's Leo Hayes High School Lions quarterback Zack Kilburn (19) rushing to escape the clutches of Fredericton High School Black Kats Evan Peck during exhibition football action last Saturday. Kilburn takes the controls of a Lions team which must rebuild after losing 29 players to graduation after last season. BILL HUNT The Daily Gleaner The Leo Hayes High School Lions gave out some big hits in the New Brunswick High School Football League last season. Over the past offseason, they took a few. The upstarts from Fredericton's northside high school finished their second season of competition at the varsity level with a 5-1 record under head coach Lee Hoyt last season, losing a barnburner of a semifinal to the eventual provincial champion Harrison Trimble Trojans of Moncton last fall. But among the first graduating class at Leo Hayes last June were 29 football players. That means the Lions, who have been building their program since the school opened four years ago, are getting their first exposure to what is a fact of life for other programs in the province: rebuilding. Gone are the likes of rifle-armed quarterback Josh Sacobie, who helped the Lions ring up 142 points, the third highest total in the Conference last season, along with prime receiver Alex Paul. Defensively, feared middle linebacker Evan Sacobie was among the prime losses. Their replacements must grow into their jobs. And that will take time. "Last year, I had a lot of Grade 12 kids...I could tell them something and they knew it," Hoyt said. "These guys are Grade 10 and 11. For the most part I have to show it to them. I have to illustrate, sit down with them, go over it on the chalk board. It's a learning process. But, this is the fun part of coaching. "Working with them and watching them improve...I really enjoy that part of it. In a couple of years, I'll be able to say 'Oh my goodness, I never thought I'd be able to turn him into a football player.'" The projects on defence include Chris Maxwell, who will anchor the defensive line for the Lions, nose tackle John Guptill and Shawn Ricker. The linebacking crew includes Mitch Bye, Kyle Kish in the middle and Matt Thompson and Mike Spinney in a 3-4 defensive scheme. In the defensive backfield, Nigel Eatmon, Ben Cornford and Roger Cloutier show promise, although Hoyt says things are in a state of flux as the Lions prepare to kick off the regular season slate against the A.B. McNaughton Highlanders Saturday at 2:30 p.m at Leo Hayes Field. Succeeding Sacobie at quarterback won't be easy. In fact, it will take two people: Grade 12 student Zack Kilburn and Grade 10 youngster Nolan Gervais, both of whom bring different dimensions to the position. "Each of them bring their own type of game," said Hoyt. "I'm not going to say one's a passer and one's a runner." In the backfield, Andrew Cougle is the fullback, blocking for Grade 11 back Brent McGrath. "He's very, very quick, but a lot of these players are young," said Hoyt. The receiving corps includes Josh Dickinson, a speedy wide receiver with great hands, along with Richie Mayambo, "a good football player," said Hoyt simply. Hoyt's staff includes offensive co-ordinator O J Burnett, receivers coach Jeff Taylor, offensive line coach Dominic Leach, Josh Thomas on the defensive line, linebackers coach Mike Edwards. Hoyt works with the defensive backs. They have gone back to basics with the new crop of Lions. "We're doing a lot, a lot, a lot of instruction," he said. "That's where the players are right now," Hoyt saw them in game conditions for the first time last Saturday, when they suffered a 35-8 loss to the crosstown rival Fredericton High School Black Kats. Lions are a work in progress and probably will be all season long, said Hoyt. "Right now, I'm shooting for .500," he said. "We'll go from there." Graduation is now a fact of life at Leo Hayes along with every other high school in the province. "It's good and it's bad," said Hoyt. "Now I'm able to build my own program. I won't lose 20 guys every year. This year, I had to, but that's the nature of it all." The Lions are just one of the three local teams kicking off their home schedule this week. Friday, the Oromocto High School Blues host the Tantramar Titans of Sackville in a 4:30 p.m. kickoff at OHS Field.