50th McCallister Cup

50th McCallister Cup

Roster Moves
IND: S Clarence Sale - Injured Reserve -> Active Roster
IND: S Chase Penrod - Active Roster -> Reserve List

Halifax Mariners VS. Indiana Victors - Richardson Stadium - Boston, MA - October 6, 1968 - 6 PM ET - Weather: Cloudy - 12ºC | 54ºF

Pre-Game
In the week leading up to the big game, an interesting story out of Halifax . Tickets for the 50th McCallister Cup were available at the box offices at Atlantic Stadium and many came paired with a ticket for a ferry to Boston. Boston owner, Benjamin Harris, was the one behind the task, helping his friend and owner of the Mariners, Elliot Hudson, to get his fans into the city of Boston. It certainly made the crowd in Boston quite loud in favour of the Mariners. Indiana fans did make the trip as well, but it was far less than the Mariners. There was even the audible sound of the classic “JAV! JAV! JAV!” chant as WR Jav Kerrigan’s name was called during team introductions.

1st Q
The Indiana Victors elected to kick the ball to the Mariners to start the game in hopes of creating some momentum with their defence and quiet the Mariners’ faithful. The strategy would appear to work with the Mariners’ only picking up 1 yard on their first drive. The Victors would get the ball and Tom Applewhite would take the field. Indiana’s first drive would end with WR Ed Edwards making a stellar catch over his head in the back of the endzone. The Mariners’ offence retook the field and once again were stuffed by the Victors’ defence. While Indiana failed to score on their second drive, they would have another strong drive following yet another defensive stop. Applewhite led the Victors down to the Mariners’ end before hitting WR Ed Edwards on an out route. Edwards turned up field and planted his foot for a cut, however, LB Bear Donnelly’s helmet would ram right into his leg. Edwards’ ankle got twisted during the tackle and he struggled to get off the field following the play. Edwards would be taken out of the game and would not return, a huge blow to the Victors. Luckily, Indiana’s drive didn’t stop there as Applewhite would soon find former Boston WR, Evan Clanton, to take the lead much to the dismay of some Boston fans in attendance. Indy’s strong first quarter would leave them in control heading into the 2nd.
HFX 0-14 IND

2nd Q
The Mariners’ fans were quiet following the rough opening quarter, but they would have a reason to cheer early in the 2nd quarter. QB Tom Applewhite’s strong start would see its first bump in the road, as he would be picked off by DB Joe Robinson. The Mariners’ offence would take advantage of a shorter field and get to the endzone. RB Ronald O’Sullivan would catch the eventual TD pass out of the backfield and make a great spin move around LB Lucas Gladwell. Following Halifax’s score, the game would tighten up with both defences taking control of the game. Indiana would manage a field goal near the end of the quarter, but Halifax would sneak in a field goal as well just before the break.
HFX 10-17 IND

3rd Q
Indy was starting with the football in the second half, and they would be able to get into field goal range to regain their 10-point lead on their first drive. They would continue to hold the lead with their defence continuing to play well, however, more bad news would come their way. After RB Ronald O’Sullivan made a catch out of the backfield for the Mariners, DB Cameron Taylor would fly in to make the tackle. Taylor was just about to grab O’Sullivan when TE Dylan Chowder, going helmet first, ploughed into Taylor’s torso. Taylor would struggle to get up and would eventually be taken out of the game with what is likely some broken ribs. Without Taylor, the Victors struggled to contain QB Lyle Painter. Painter was starting to get comfortable and moved the Mariners’ offence down the field with confidence. Eventually, Painter would connect with WR Shane Steadman for the touchdown to pull Halifax to within 3 points heading into the final quarter.
HFX 17-20 IND

4th Q
The Mariners’ defence was finally holding down the fort as the Victors' offence struggled without WR Ed Edwards. However, Halifax was also struggling to move the ball as their former head coach, Urick Wilkins, now defensive coordinator of the Victors, had made strong adjustments to the defence to manage the loss of Cameron Taylor. However, as the game was nearing its end, the Mariners were threatening to score. QB Lyle Painter had led them into Victors’ territory, but it would be all for nothing after his pass to WR Shane Steadman would be bobbled by the receiver and then caught by S Tom Parrish. The Victors would push the ball out of their end and then punt the ball back to Halifax. The Mariners would end up with the ball at their own 14-yard line. Time was not on their side. The Mariners would pick up a pair of first downs quickly to get out of the shadow of their own goalposts. At about their own 47, they would hit a snag getting forced to a 3rd and 4. Seeing the time winding down, the Mariners’ elected to go for it. On the important snap, Painter would drop back and look for a quick throw. He hoped to get WR Shane Steadman cutting to the sideline, however, as he pulled back to throw, DL Ron Prumple nailed him from behind. The ball squirted loose and DL Fred Webster would pick it up and then hand it over to DB Adam Levesque who would break it into the endzone to put the nail in the coffin. The Mariner fans were chattering like crazy, some shocked, but others noticed the flags on the field. Head referee, Braidy MacBride, signalled the call which was an offside on Ron Prumple, who had jumped a split second too early. The Mariner fans cheered as they were given a new set of downs. Painter and the Mariners were fueled with new life as they continued their march down the field. Painter in particular was playing some of the best football of his career on the drive seemingly finding every target. They would arrive at the Indiana 26, needing to pick up a first down on 2nd and 5. Painter would drop back and look to throw. He would feel the pressure from the Indiana D-line, but he would stand his ground and step up to throw down the field. Painter had seen WR Jav Kerrigan gain a step to the outside against DB Kelly Kirkland. Painter’s pass would go right over Kirkland and into the arms of Kerrigan. Kirkland would attempt to make the tackle, but Kerrigan fought him off and took a couple more steps before getting into the endzone. The Mariners’ fans in attendance shouted “JAV! JAV! JAV!” as Kerrigan scored what would be the game-winning touchdown, giving Halifax their first McCallister Cup in the NAAF. 

HFX - 62 DB Joe Robinson

IND - 89 WR Ed Edwards

Injury Report

DL Chauncy Overstreet HFX - 4 Weeks
WR Ed Edwards IND - 2 Weeks
DB Cameron Taylor IND - 5 Weeks
DB Tim McGovern IND - Day-to-Day
OL TJ Overton IND - 4 Weeks

McCallister Cup MVP

QB Lyle Painter HFX - 3 Passing Touchdowns, 275 Passing Yards

Other interesting facts about this championship:
The Mariners’ run to the final was a trip down memory lane for Lyle Painter, who beat the team that drafted him in Long Island, then beat the Royals, the team he faced in both of his previous 2 McCallister Cup appearances, and then Indiana, the second team he was a member of.
To make it worse for Indiana, remember that Painter won an MVP award in 1965 with Indiana before they selected Applewhite over him for the future, which led to him signing with Halifax.
Mariners’ coach Ben McMillan, who had coached the Independents between 1960 and 1965, returned to Boston and would win the McCallister Cup in front of the city and team that let him go. To make it worse for Boston fans, McMillan is still the last guy to coach Boston in a playoff game.
Halifax also now has the worst record of any championship-winning team in the history of the NAAF after finishing 6-6 this season.
Now if we count Worcester's whole history along with the Mariners this would be the team's overall 7th McCallister Cup as the Athletics had won the cup 6 times prior to the NAAF's first season.

1968 McCallister Cup Champions

1968 NAAF Season Recap