Mustangs begin title defence against Valley in MFL semi-final rematch

Mustangs's offensive line works out during Moncton's practice Thursday evening.

MONCTON, N.B. — The Moncton Mustangs will open their post-season Saturday with a familiar opponent and a familiar goal.

Fresh off a dominant regular season, the first-place Mustangs will host the fourth-place Valley Razors in a Maritime Football League semi-final on June 13 at 5 p.m. at Rocky Stone Field, the latest step in Moncton’s pursuit of another championship.

The matchup comes just one week after the clubs met in the regular-season finale, when Moncton cruised to a 61-13 win. But despite the margin in that game, Mustangs head coach Corey Lirette said the focus this week has been on tightening details rather than dwelling on the score.

“It’s really about making sure we clean up the issues we saw last game,” Lirette said.

“Fortunately, they were few and far between, but when you’ve only allowed three points all season and then give up two touchdowns — even in a 61–13 win — you want to make sure you batten down the hatches and take care of everything.”

Moncton enters the playoffs at 4-0, having outscored opponents 199-16 during a regular season that left little doubt about the league’s top team. Valley finished 1-3 and was outscored 150-40, but earned the fourth and final playoff spot and now gets another crack at the defending champions.

The Mustangs are no strangers to this stage. Moncton has won five of the last seven league titles, including the 2025 championship, and once again enters the playoffs as the team to beat.

While Moncton’s depth has been a major reason for its success, much of the spotlight has fallen on quarterback Dave Patry, who has helped power one of the most explosive offenses in recent league memory. The Mustangs averaged 49.5 points per game in the regular season, putting them near historic territory.

“So far, and not that anyone’s keeping track, we’re at about 49.5 points per game,” Lirette said. “The league record is 52 by the 2022 Mustangs — but like I said, no one’s keeping track.

Offensively, that’s just kind of been our identity. We’re fortunate to have a great offensive line that shows up every week, and when you have athletes like Caleb Fogarty, Cam Morley, and Dave Patry running the offense, you’re never in a bad situation.”

Patry has been central to that identity, directing the offense with efficiency and composure while consistently producing big plays. In a game where Moncton will look to establish control early, Patry’s ability to lead the Mustangs attack could again prove decisive.

On the defensive side, the Mustangs have been just as overwhelming, and a major reason has been the play of defensive lineman Reece Martin. The CFL veteran has anchored a front that has dictated games at the line of scrimmage and helped Moncton allow just 16 points all season.

Martin’s presence will be especially important against a Valley offense that showed flashes of big-play ability last week, particularly through standout weapon Ethan Lord.

“Absolutely,” Lirette said when asked about his defence’s response after allowing 13 points in the previous meeting. “We’ve been talking to those guys all week, and we’ve actually seen an increase in defensive turnout at practice. Obviously, the no-touchdown streak has been broken, but allowing only 16 points in the regular season is something we’re proud of. We want to get back to what we’ve been doing all year and, if possible, pitch a shutout.”

Lirette expects Valley to make adjustments in the rematch, especially with little reason to hold anything back in a playoff game.

“Anytime you play a team twice, you’re bound to see some new looks,” he said. “It’s human nature to change things up — you don’t want to show your hand two weeks in a row when you’re expecting adjustments. They might bring something new, or they might stick to their bread and butter. And honestly, launching a deep pass to Ethan Lord isn’t a bad option, as he showed last week. We just need to make sure our guys understand their assignments, both offensively and defensively.”

Lord remains Valley’s most dangerous threat, and Lirette did not hesitate to praise the Razors’ playmaker.

“Valley has some great athletes,” he said. “One of my early MVP nominations is Ethan Lord — he can turn a five-yard pass into an 80-yard touchdown. We have to contain him, manage their other key players, and play complementary football. Hopefully, that leads to a win.”

Even with Moncton’s dominance on the scoreboard, Lirette said there was still one area the Mustangs wanted to address this week: special teams.

“Honestly, as a coaching staff, we felt that last game was one of our less impressive performances on special teams,” he said. “There was a lot of discussion this week about fixing those issues and making sure we understand our mistakes. When games start to get out of hand, guys can get a bit lax, and that’s usually where it shows first. So it was a big focus this week — understanding assignments and taking care of business.”

Now in the full-time head coaching role after serving as interim last season, Lirette has kept Moncton on top while maintaining a player-first approach.

“We have a saying here: players win games, and coaches lose them,” Lirette said. “Any success we’ve had is because the players are doing everything asked of them and performing at a high level. When we fall short, that’s on the coaching staff. We do everything we can to put the team in the best position, but ultimately, the credit belongs to the players.”

The other MFL semi-final will feature the Nova Scotia Buccaneers (3-1) against the Saint John Wanderers (2-2), with the winners advancing to the league final.

For Moncton, however, the immediate task is simple: defend home field, survive the rematch, and move one step closer to another title.

With Dave Patry leading a prolific offense and Reece Martin anchoring a punishing defence, the Mustangs will enter Saturday’s semi-final as favourites. But playoff football rarely follows the regular-season script.

Game Day

Maritime Football League Semi-final

Valley Razors at Moncton Mustangs

Saturday, June 13

5 p.m.

Rocky Stone Field

Moncton fans will have a chance to watch the defending champions begin another playoff run on home turf. With five titles in the last seven seasons and a spot in the final on the line, the Mustangs will be chasing more than just a win — they will be chasing the next chapter in a growing dynasty.