On Friday, September 9th, Fredericton High School’s Varsity Football team started of their season with a bus trip to Kennebecasis Valley High School, though the game was a disappointing start to the season for FHS with a 42-0 loss to KV.
There was a new wave of starting players since seniors from the prior 2021 season had graduated. There were many players who had just joined the team, this being their first football game aside from the exhibition fundraiser match against ESA a week before this.
“I felt that we had to many inexperienced players who hadn’t experienced how fast the game really moves, so we were at a very big disadvantage. But even with all that, we had some great showings from some players and built a great foundation for our team to succeed later in the season.” -Captain Henry O’Reilly.
Afterwards, players started brushing off the rust, figuring out what position best suits them, and learning the nuts and bolts of football. The team got to work, practicing every day after school in preparation for their next game, a week later, against Riverview.
The Riverview royals came out to face Black Kats on their home turf. Black Kats’ fans and students dressed up in black and yellow to cheer on and support the first home game of the season. By the end of the first half, Riverview had scored 3 touchdowns, with Fredericton yet to touch the end zone, leaving the score 20-0 going into the second half. This felt a lot like the game against KV. The Black Kats started off the half by kicking the ball to the Royals and had a hard stop on defence, switching up the momentum of the game and handing the ball back to offence. Our quarter back then called his own number, running it in for the first touchdown of the season. Defence kept holding their own with lots of stops and an interception, but a slip up gave Riverview one more touchdown; ending the game 30-6 for Riverview.
“I’ve never seen a worse football team… honestly they suck… how many touchdowns do they have in the whole season? What, one?” – Comment by an FHS Student in an interview with FHS leadership.
Although another tough loss, this was still progress. Players trecked back to their field and kept practicing.
FHS then lost to Saint John, leaving them with a record of 0-3.
Next game was back at their home turf against Tantramar, Fans and students came out to watch the game, after the first quarter Tantramar had scored, and they began to expect another disappointing performance. But the players had other plans.
A series of great passes, catches, and runs got them to the 10-yard line, where QB Morgan Stiles decided to take it himself and score, followed by a point after kick by Jacob Earle put FHS -for the first time of the season- up 7-6. But with just 2:00 minutes left in the game Tantramar scored a touchdown. It looked like the losing streak for FHS would continue.
Following Tantramars touchdown, QB Stiles turned the game around yet again, taking a dive and getting a touchdown. Then, with 7.5 seconds left, Running Back Nate Pugh scored as well. Defence then swatted Tantramars pass into the ground resulting on a 20-12 win for the Black Kats!
The game with Tantramar caused a big shift in momentum for FHS. Following their first win, they destroyed their rival Leo Hayes in the North vs South Bowl, beating the LHHS Lions 38-6. They then blew out their last two games of the season, with a 33-14 win on Harrison Trimble, and a 31-7 win vs Moncton, ending the season on a high note.
On October 28, the FHS varsity football team went down to Kennebecasis Valley, to put to test all their 11 weeks of hard work, preparing for the playoffs.
The game started off with KV kicking to FHS, with offence pushing all the way to the 5-yard line when KV got a stop and a turnover on downs, but Black Kats defence pressured hard, leading to a safety and making the score 2-0. After this KV tightened their cleats, scoring two touchdowns to end the half.
When the game resumed, the boys were not ready to give up. An interception in our end zone by Eric Osborne got our team up and running again, ready to make a comeback. Energy was high and Nate Pugh had a long run for a touchdown. An interception by Henry O’reilly gave the ball to our offence, who scored again, back in the lead, 15-14 Black Kats. KVHS then scored, but FHS pulled through with yet Another interception by the defence—this time Jace Taylor—shortly followed by Nate Pugh’s dive for the touchdown.
Unfortunately, Kennebecasis Valley scored with little time left in the match, making the final score 28-21 for KV.
The season was over for the Black Kats.
“We've spent the last 11 weeks preparing for this. For Play-Offs. Most importantly, through all this we've become a brotherhood. That makes us winners in my book. We came full circle and showed the league how we've grown and who we are. Proud of the brotherhood.” -Coach Derek (“Mad Dog”)
“So much more than just 'football'. What a game. What a season. So much growth, connection & community.” -Anonymous fan mail
Although they are sad that their football season is over. They can at least say that they left it all on the field, and their improvement since the first couple of games was substantial. Losing 42-0 at the start of the season, then coming back to play the game of their lives and to nearly beatthe team a couple months later, was and is very impressive.
“Well done Black Kats! What an improvement from your first game this season against KV! Very proud of this team. Thanks coaches.” -Anonymous fan mail.
“Honestly, with the season ending, its quite an emotional roller coaster. It is sad that the season ended so spontaneously, especially while knowing it’s your last time ever on the field. Though… I’m glad that I made some good friends through football. I feel most of my friendships will last even with the season ending but I feel a few may not be the same because we’re not with each other every day anymore.” -Senior, Rory Billings.
Though a game to be proud of, there were many teary-eyed players on the sidelines because, for the 18 seniors on the team, this was their last game of high school football, with some of the graduating athletes hanging up their cleats for good.
“After high school I plan on playing football at the university level. I have not yet decided where I want to go for university, but if an opportunity arrives where I can pursue the game I’ve always loved, I would absolutely take it.” -Captain Jace Taylor.
For the 11 weeks they played together, football played a huge part in each of their lives, , bleeding, sweating, and working together at least 2 hours almost every day. These players made a strong bond with each other, and with football.
One they will not soon forget.
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