Running back Nick Lignos and quarterback Jared Laming (8) are among a large group of young players suiting up for the Southern NB Ducks of the Maritime Football League. Photo: Courtesy of Tracey Barker

SAINT JOHN • Every game is a big one for an expansion team.

That cliché holds true for the Southern NB Ducks as they prepare for their third Maritime Football League game when the Nova Scotia Buccaneers visit Usher Miller Field in Quispamsis on Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff.

In a six-team league that calls for a six-game regular season and limits the playoffs to four berths, the Ducks-Bucs matchup is a big deal for the MFL’s newest teams: not only are post-season aspirations in jeopardy, but these 0-2 teams have the opportunity to get into the win column for the first time.

“It is a big game – it’s important, in that you don’t want to go winless,” said Ducks’ president Darcy Barker. “And, it’s a must-win if you want to make the playoffs. I’m excited for the game and our young players are excited for the game.”

In other Saturday fixtures, an early-season battle for first place will occur in Charlottetown when the Saint John Wanderers (2-0) visit the Island Mariners (2-0) in a 4 p.m. kickoff while the Halifax Harbour Hawks (1-1) visit Moncton’s Rocky Stone Field to face the Mustangs (1-1) at 3 p.m.

The youth-laden Ducks have experienced a baptism by fire in the opening two weeks, falling 43-13 to the Mariners and 55-7 to Moncton. The boys have plenty of fight in them, said Barker, but the physicality of the MFL game needs to be experienced as the players go through growing pains.

“We are where we thought we’d be – 80 per cent of our players are 25 or younger,” he said. “When you step up to this level and play against men, there’s a physical component that many of our players haven’t experienced before. The guys are coming around though – they are competing every down and I’ve told them a thousand times, ‘you’re going to get better every play’. There have been times in our two games that we’ve really held our own. It’s a physical game and it will take time, but we’ll be fine.”

Case in point: in last week’s loss to Moncton, running back Nick Lignos gobbled up chunks of yardage against one of the MFL’s elite defences.

“Nick made a heckuva difference - our offensive line was opening holes and he was running well,” said Barker. “He’s only 23 but he’s played rugby for the Saint John Trojans – he’s used to playing against men and you could see it in his style where he was running through tackles.”

As Barker continues to watch the development of players such as Lignos, quarterback Jared Laming, slot receiver Kirklin Burchill and defenders Keanan Ganong, Jordan Betteridge and Pudge Miller, he believes the presence of veteran offensive lineman Kurtis Nicholson has been a blessing.

“He’s leading the team in the locker room and he’s leading the team on the field,” said Barker, noting the centre is a three-time MFL offensive lineman of the year during his days with the Wanderers. “He calms the guys down in the huddle – it’s great having an all-star like him around.”

Barker isn’t certain if the Buccaneers will travel with a full roster, especially on the Victoria Day long weekend, but said the game will provide a measuring stick of where the Ducks are at the mid-point of their inaugural campaign.

“They call themselves an expansion team, but a lot of their players have MFL experience,” said Barker. “They’re going to be athletic and from what I understand, they’re going to play hard-nosed football – they run the ball and bring it right to you. We want the boys to have fun, but we want them to battle – we want other teams to respect us. Most of all, we want to build for the future.”