Spartans quarterback, Michael Emberley, threw for two TD passes on Saturday afternoon as the 9 man football squad opened their season. The football Spartans also got a running touchdown from Jack Huys and Hunter Farr ran back a punt return from 70 yards out to round out the Spartan scoring. Jack Huys and Gaven England were on the end on the receiving touchdowns. The Spartans fell 47-26 to the Harbourview Vikings at Emera Field in Saint John.
Harbourview quarterback, Mason Garnier, threw for two long bomb and called his own number three times to register a hat trick of running touchdowns. Enzo Keutcheu and Ben McDade were on the receiving end of Garnier’s toss. Maxx Leblanc also punched in two running touchdowns for the Vikings in the season opener for both teams.
The first quarter ended with the St. Stephen High School ahead 14-13. Early in the second quarter, Spartan defender Davin Williams, made a tremendous solo tackle that helped halt a Vikings drive. On the pursuing punt, Hunter Farr corralled the ball at his own 45 and reeled off an entertaining 70 yard punt return run that delighted the Spartan fans that had made the trip to Saint John to support their team.
After the Spartans put a 20-13 lead on the board, Harbourview changed tactics and started to call Maxx Leblanc’s number for the running game. Leblanc, with his punishing , bruising running style, was too much for the Spartans’ defenders to handle. The Vikings used the running game to tally two touchdowns at the end of the second quarter to go ahead 27-20.
The second half started with a couple broken drives by both team. Spartan defender Olaoluwa Fagbenro, snagged a nice interception and it looked like a possible Spartan rally was in the works. However, the Harbourview defense, shut down the Spartans’ offense in the third quarter and the rally was never to be.
Harbourview continued to highlight their running game throughout the second half and the Spartans could not find an answer to stop it. In addition, the Spartans’ offense just couldn’t find any momentum to sustain a drive in the half. Finally, at the end of the fourth quarter, Emberley was able to hit Gaven England on a 24 yard pass to put the Spartans on the scoreboard in the second half. The game ended 47-26.
The Spartans have their home opener next weekend when they host École Louis-J.-Robichaud Patriotes from Shediac at the St. Stephen High School field at 1 pm on Saturday, Sept. 13th.
A full round up of the other 9-man football league games can be found on the GridironNB website. New Gridiron NB. In addition, the website is the definitive source for the 9 man football standings.
For the Record:
St. Stephen Spartans Game Day Roster v. Harbourview High School – Sept 6, 2025.
| No | Name |
| 2 | Carter Chambers |
| 5 | Grayden Walker |
| 6 | Thomas Frye-Spears |
| 9 | Michael Emberley |
| 11 | Carter Lee |
| 12 | Austyn Brace |
| 13 | Lucas Densmore |
| 16 | Jack Huys |
| 20 | Keegan Neilson |
| 21 | Olaoluwa Fagbenro |
| 22 | Cody Stintson |
| 25 | Graham Dow |
| 30 | Cruz Rodas-Casey |
| 33 | Davin Williams |
| 37 | Desi Rodas-Casey |
| 44 | Efe Bariseon |
| 45 | Parker Wiper |
| 55 | Jeremiah McMorran |
| 60 | Ryan Ewart |
| 64 | Riley Neilson |
| 65 | Kohen Carson |
| 66 | Griffen McShane |
| 69 | Preston Sharpe |
| 75 | Erick Cabot |
| 77 | Keyan Grant |
| 80 | Gaven England |
| 81 | Hunter Farr |
| 82 | Kale Landers-Riddell |
| 88 | Graeme Voutt |
| 90 | Jaxon Woodside |
| 92 | Philipp Boegner |
| 97 | Miguel Gonzalez |
| 99 | Charlie Coats |
2025 Coaching Staff
| Head Coach |
| Neil Grant |
| Assistant Coaches |
| Mark Huys |
| Josh McFarlane |
| Jamie Kinney |
| Barrett Boles |
| Derek Randall |
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