Maritime Women's Football League
2008 Game Summaries

Week 8: July 19 "Championship"

Storm reign supreme
Saint John captures Maritime Women's Football League title with win over Moncton

Telegraph-Journal

HALIFAX - The third time was the sweetest for Lisa Harlow, who quarterbacked the Saint John Storm to the Maritime SupHer Bowl championship Saturday.

Harlow's team topped the Moncton Vipers 24-14 in Halifax to win the Judy Upward Trophy as Maritime Women's Football League champions. It's the third championship for Harlow, one of just two veterans remaining from the 2004 Simonds Seagals and 2005 Saint John Buccaneers.

"We clicked together on and off the field, they're part of your family and this is definitely the best win I've had out of the five years I've played," said Harlow. "Our (offensive) line dominated, opened holes for our running backs, it was absolutely amazing. Everybody just did their job and it was hard to stop us."

Saint John fell behind in the first quarter, as Moncton's Pam LeClaire capped a long drive with a touchdown run. But Harlow hit Michelle Young-Mather for a 30-yard TD pass in the second quarter and Terri Shannon kicked the two-point convert to make it 8-6 at the break.

Kendra Jones added a 12-yard TD run in the second half, converted by Shannon. After a four-yard touchdown run by LeClaire with seven minutes to go, Saint John held a slim 16-14 lead. But Harlow scored on a sneak and Shannon kicked the convert for the final score.

LeClaire was named player of the game, while Storm linebacker Alanna Waberski was defensive player of the game. Moncton turned the ball over on downs twice on the one-yard line, once in each half. Other Saint John defensive highlights included a fumble caused by Amanda Craine and recovered by Heidi McMillan, and an interception by Young-Mather.

Harlow's father, coach Larry Harlow, said it was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Storm, who had 12 rookies among their 22 players. The team ended up outscoring opponents 192-14 in a 5-0-1 regular season, and 43-21 in two playoff wins.

"They were a group that just wanted to learn everything they could about the game of football," said Larry Harlow. "There's nobody in the league that could really touch us. Moncton played a good first quarter, but the girls just did their jobs"¦ We just wore them down."

One of those rookies, Kendra Jones, was honoured as the league's outstanding running back.

"I'm a little sore, but it was well worth it," said Jones. "At halftime, Larry was talking to us about how, by the end, our gas tanks should be empty. At halftime, I thought I still had about three-quarters of a tank and told myself I needed to get into the game a little bit more. When I came out in the third quarter, I hit pretty hard on quite a few people so I knew I was going to be on empty by the end of the game.

"And I think Moncton knew it too."

Meanwhile, Kara Fillmore, the other veteran left over from 2004, got the nod as the league's top offensive lineman. Fillmore also said the third title was the best.

"We had a very good team, and we gelled more, we all got along, everyone was part of the team and everyone made us win a championship," said Fillmore.

She said she was surprised to receive an individual award for her play on the line.

"We have five (offensive linemen) who are just as good. To pick one is really hard," she said.

Lisa Harlow said the championship feeling is tough to put into words.

"I told the girls Thursday night at practice that I'd been there before, but I couldn't describe the feeling because it's indescribable," she said. "On the way home, some of the girls were saying, 'I have that feeling that you had.' "

Shannon and Young-Mather also won individual honours, with the kicker taking the sportsmanship award, while Young-Mather grabbed outstanding defensive back and unsung hero. Jones, Harlow, Young-Mather and running back Tammy Saunders were offensive all-stars, while Waberski, Craine, Jaclyn Brewer and Lisa Rogers were defensive all-stars.

For Moncton, LeClaire was named outstanding offensive player, Kristen Nicolson was the outstanding defensive lineman and McIntyre was the top receiver.

Meanwhile, the defending champion Capital Area Gladiators won the Friendship Bowl consolation game 22-16 over the Halifax Xplosion.

Fredericton's Alex Black was named the league's most outstanding player, while teammate Julia Coleman was recognized as the top defensive player. Alicia Wilson of Halifax was the rookie of the year, while the Xplosion's Nalani Perry was the top volunteer.

Vipers nudged for SupHer Bowl title
Saint John defeats Moncton 24-14 in Maritime Women’s Football League final

Times-Transcript

HALIFAX - The third time was the sweetest for Lisa Harlow, who quarterbacked the Saint John Storm to the Maritime Women’s Football League SupHer Bowl championship Saturday.

Harlow’s team topped the Moncton Vipers 24-14 in Halifax to win the Judy Upward Trophy as league champions. It’s the third championship for Harlow, one of just two veterans remaining from the 2004 Simonds Seagals and 2005 Saint John Buccaneers.

The third time wasn’t a charm for the Vipers. They lost in the league championship game for the third time in the last four years. They also fell to the Capital Area Gladiators last season and to the Buccaneers in 2005.

“It’s disappointing that we didn’t win yet because we probably should have won by now, but I’m not disappointed with our effort,” said Moncton head coach Gilles Lavoie.

“The girls played with a lot of heart.

I’m really proud of them.”

The Storm fell behind in the first quarter as Vipers running back Pam Leclaire — the league’s outstanding offensive player of the year — capped a long drive with a touchdown run. But Harlow hit Michelle Young-Mather for a 30-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter and Terri Shannon kicked the two-point convert to make it 8-6 at the break.

Kendra Jones added a 12-yard TD run in the second half, converted by Shannon.

After a four-yard touchdown run by Leclaire with seven minutes to go, Saint John held a slim 16-14 lead. But Harlow scored on a sneak and Shannon kicked the convert for the final score.

Leclaire was named player of the game while Storm linebacker Alanna Waberski was defensive player of the game.

“We clicked together on and off the field, they’re part of your family and this is definitely the best win I’ve had out of the five years I’ve played,” said Harlow.

“Our (offensive) line dominated, opened holes for our running backs, it was absolutely amazing. Everybody just did their job and it was hard to stop us.”

Harlow’s father, coach Larry Harlow, said it was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Storm, who had 12 rookies among their 22 players. The team ended up outscoring opponents 192-14 in a 5-0-1 regular season, and 43-21 in two playoff wins.

“They were a group that just wanted to learn everything they could about the game of football,” said Larry Harlow.

“There’s nobody in the league that could really touch us. Moncton played a good first quarter, but the girls just did their jobs… We just wore them down.”

Moncton turned the ball over on downs twice on the one-yard line, once in each half.

“We had a couple of lapses and they jumped on us big time,” said Lavoie. “I think an impartial person at the game would say we outplayed them, but we just didn’t put the points on the board.”

Heather McIntyre had a convert for the Vipers.

Saint John’s Jones was honoured as the league’s outstanding running back while teammate Kara Fillmore, the other veteran left over from 2004, got the nod as the league’s top offensive lineman.

Shannon and Young-Mather also won individual honours with the kicker taking the sportsmanship award and Young- Mather grabbing outstanding defensive back and unsung hero.

For Moncton, Kristen Nicolson was selected the outstanding defensive lineman of the year and McIntyre was the top receiver.

Defending champion Capital Area won the Friendship Bowl consolation game 22- 16 over the Halifax Xplosion.

Football's intensity grabs Storm rookie running back
Championship Saint John Storm meet Moncton today in Maritime final

By Kevin Barrett
Telegraph-Journal

SAINT JOHN - Kendra Jones did not have to be convinced women's football was a physically demanding sport.

Last year at this time, the 34-year-old owner of Port City Physiotheraphy treated the ailments of many of the Saint John Storm players after their bruising contests in the Maritime Women's Football League.

Yet, the more she treated the various bumps, pulls and aches of these determined athletes, the more Jones became intrigued with the sport; so much so, she decided to take to the field herself.

It was a daring move for someone whose previous football experience consisted of five years in the Saint John women's touch football loop and whatever she could absorb visually from games on television.

So far, so good for Jones, who cracked a prominent role in the team's backfield and along with Tammy Saunders, helped form a dynamic ground game for the Storm, which today, will attempt to win the Maritime championship.

"When I talked with them, I got quite excited about going to try it," Jones said of her conversations a year ago. "I love it."

Jones scored a touchdown in her first official game and joins players such as Michelle Young-Mather, Lisa Harlow, Saunders and Lisa Boyle as keys on a powerful offence.

"I have watched football on TV for years and always was gung-ho for that," Jones said. "I especially loved watching the running back position and I am so glad that is the position (head coach Larry Harlow) gave me because I just love that."

Saint John, 6-0-1 on the season, faces the Moncton Vipers in the SupHer Bowl contest, which will be played today at 4 p.m. in Halifax.

It's the third meeting between the clubs this year, as Saint John rolled to a 34-6 victory over Moncton on June 8 before they played to an 8-8 tie in Moncton June 27.

Jones, who played basketball and volleyball in high school, credits coach Harlow and other veterans of the squad, for helping her find her way.

Young-Martin was named the league's most outstanding player in 2007 and is in the running again this year for performances such as a one-touchdown, three-interception effort last week that led Saint John past the Capital Area Gladiators 19-7 in the league semifinal.

And Lisa Harlow is the team's captain and quarterback, the woman in charge of a smooth machine on offence, a unit that produced 192 points in six regular season contests. It would no surprise if she won the top player award either.

"This team has really put their heart and soul into it and turned things around from last year," said Larry Harlow of 2007, when Saint John went 1-5 and lost 46-6 to the Gladiators in the semifinal round.

It's all added to a nice situation for Jones to find her footing as a rookie.

"The coach really started with the basics," said Jones. "We had some returning players and some new players - I am one of the new ones - so it was good to have the basics. And the team really seemed to gel on the field and off the field."

The Storm is out to bring the Maritime title back to Saint John for the first time since 2005, when the Saint John Buccaneers won the championship. Lisa Harlow and Kara Fillmore, both members of that team, are the only two players remaining from the Simonds Seagals which won the New Brunswick crown in 2004, the first year of operation for senior women's football. Now with new players, such as Jones, the sport is taking off.

Jones, no pun intended for a running back, says football produces a rush of excitement.

"I love getting out there and making as many hits as I can," Jones said. "The way football is, you make plays for three or four yards down the field and then you get that touchdown, I don't know what it is but it is wonderful."

In addition to the championship game, the league's awards will also be handed out this weekend.

Moncton advanced to the final with a 22-0 decision over Halifax last weekend.

Vipers take on Storm in final

By Cole Hobson
Times-Transcript

On paper, you might be fooled into thinking the Maritime Women's Football League championship final is a mismatch, but a closer look tells you that couldn't be farther from the truth.

The Moncton Vipers will look to win their first MWFL SupHer Bowl against the powerful Saint John Storm squad tomorrow in Halifax at 4 p.m.

The Storm rolled to a 5-0-1 record this season, massively outscoring opponents 192-14 as they were rarely challenged throughout the regular season.

The only catch? The one blip on their otherwise flawless record came at the hands of the Moncton squad, which tied Saint John 8-8 the last time the two teams met in Week 5.

"I think that boosted our confidence to know we are capable of competing with Saint John, while everyone else in the league has been easily swayed by them," said Vipers quarterback Jenny Miller. "This can go either way as long as we can stay in it."

Saint John easily handled Moncton 34-6 the first time the team's played in week two.

The Vipers will look to turn a corner Saturday and hand the Storm their first loss of the year and earn the franchise's first championship.

"I think we're going to have to make sure we use all our offensive weapons, be it the run or on the pass. Just keep control of the ball and keep their offence off the field as much as possible," said Vipers head coach Gilles Lavoie. "We have gotten better game in and game out as the year has gone on. We have a lot of new rookies who as the year has gone on they've learned the game a little bit and our veterans are strong. We should do fine."

Moncton got off to a sluggish 0-2 start this season before finishing with a 2-3-1 record which was good for a third place finish in the four team league. A 22-0 semifinal victory over the second seed Halifax XPlosion last week earned the team its spot in the league final, their second in as many years.

"We have a sour taste in our mouth because of last year," Miller said of the team's appearance in the 2007 SupHer Bowl, where they came up on the short end of a 15-14 score against the Capital Area Lady Gladiators. "This team this year is the one that is going to take it all. Coming out of third place going into the final, to take the victory it's going to be a sweet, sweet, sweet championship."

Saint John held opponents to zero points in four of their six regular season contests this year and on average only allowed 2.3 points per game, while scoring 32 points of offense per game. Moncton averaged 15 points per game in the regular season and allowed an average of 13.3 points against them.

Numbers alone and it appears there's no contest. In the end however, the game is played between the lines, where of course, anything can happen. Underdog or not, there's certainly no lack of confidence for Moncton.

"Most people will think of it as an upset if we beat Saint John, but from our point of view it's what's going to happen," Miller said. "Definitely they know that we are contenders in this and it's going to be a hard fought battle. The team that shows up to play is going to be the team that will win -- and that will be us."