Mustangs Win 10th Championship with 21–7 Victory Over Buccaneers

Moncton, N.B. – The Moncton Mustangs continued to build on one of the most dominant runs in Maritime Football League history, defeating the Nova Scotia Buccaneers 21–7 on June 20 at Rocky Stone Memorial Field. In front of 420 fans, the Mustangs secured their 10th franchise championship since 2007 and their sixth title in the past eight seasons, extending a streak that has seen them reach every championship game since 2016. The game also marked the third title matchup between the two teams, with three of the last four finals featuring Moncton and Nova Scotia.

The game opened with an early exchange as Moncton struck first on a Nick Swain field goal for a 3–0 lead before Nova Scotia responded with a touchdown to go ahead 7–3. The Mustangs settled in offensively, with quarterback David Patry, who finished 13-for-18 for 224 yards with one touchdown and one interception, controlling the tempo and moving the ball efficiently. A second Swain field goal trimmed the score to 7–6, while the run game—led early by starting back Caleb Fogarty with 75 yards on 10 carries before leaving due to injury—helped stabilize the offense.

Moncton took control midway through the game with a balanced and composed attack. Patry engineered a key drive that ended with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Milot, giving the Mustangs a 13–7 lead. With Fogarty sidelined, Cam Morley stepped in and delivered a strong performance with 111 rushing yards on 18 carries, while Nick Bynkoski added a major spark with a 46-yard quarterback sneak and contributed three receptions for 50 yards. Through the air, Theo Parent led the way with four catches for 83 yards, while Matteo Mbho added four receptions for 61 yards to keep the offense moving.

From there, the Mustangs imposed their will. A conceded safety—resulting in points for Moncton—extended the lead to 15–7, and the defense took over completely. Led by a dominant and hard-hitting defensive line, the Mustangs pressured Buccaneers quarterback Mitch Tufts consistently. Justin Macleod recorded two sacks, two tackles for loss and nine tackles, while CFLer Reece Martin added two sacks, two tackles for loss and seven tackles. Gabriel St. Germain added a sack and two tackles for loss, Ali Seck contributed a sack and four tackles, and Landon Dingee added another sack. In the secondary, Raikwon Johnson delivered a standout performance with two interceptions, helping shut down Nova Scotia’s passing game.

Tufts, a former Acadia Axemen standout, showed his ability early by leading the Buccaneers to their only touchdown, but the constant pressure and tight coverage from Moncton limited his effectiveness as the game progressed.

With the defense controlling the pace, Swain closed out the scoring with two more field goals, extending the lead to 18–7 and then 21–7. Late contributions on the ground from Patry, who added 22 rushing yards, and Brady Morris, who picked up 18 yards including a key first down, helped seal the victory.

Helmetless Mustangs running back Brady Morris secures the win with a late fourth quarter first down

Raikwon Johnson was named Defensive Player of the Game for his impact in the secondary, while Swain earned Offensive Player of the Game honours with 12 points. Patry, a former Mount Allison Mounties quarterback, was named overall Player of the Game for his leadership and efficiency.

The championship celebration also included a special moment as the Mustangs retired jersey number 45 in honour of longtime captain and long snapper Denis Doiron. A cornerstone of the program, Doiron was recognized for his leadership, consistency, and contributions across multiple championship runs.

Following the game, head coach Corey Lirette emphasized the team’s collective effort. “I obviously want to give credit where it’s due,” Lirette said. “Being successful is great, but I’m not the one on the field playing the game. It takes a whole group to be successful.”

“I have an outstanding coaching staff and a fantastic group of players behind me,” he added. “That’s what allows us to stay consistent year after year and continue competing at a high level.”

Lirette also stressed the challenge of sustaining success. “We try not to get complacent as each year goes by,” he said. “If you look at the last decade, we’ve been in the championship game every single year. When you’re the defending champions, it’s actually harder to repeat. Everyone is coming for you.”

Reflecting on the rivalry, Lirette noted its growing importance. “Over the past few seasons, our games against the Buccaneers have definitely added to that rivalry,” he said. “We welcome any challenge and prepare to face every opponent with full effort.”

Looking ahead, Lirette remained confident despite upcoming roster changes. “We don’t view it as rebuilding; we see it as reloading,” he said. “Those players are program pillars, and they’ll definitely be missed.”

He also emphasized the importance of recovery and perspective. “First and foremost, everyone has earned a well-deserved break—players, coaches, staff, from top to bottom,” Lirette said. “For the next couple of months, it’s about rest and recovery.”

Lirette closed by thanking the community for its support throughout the season. “I’ll keep it simple—I’m incredibly grateful for the support we received this year,” he said. “Sponsorships really increased, and without our sponsors and fans, we’re just a group of players in shoulder pads. A big thank-you to our families, supporters, and the city of Moncton for making 2026 possible. We hope we made everyone proud by bringing home the championship.”

With another title secured and a complete team performance on display, the Mustangs once again proved that the road to the championship still runs through Moncton.