WOLFVILLE, N.S. – Jarett Saumure's four field goals helped the Acadia Axemen football team improve to 3-2 with a convincing 33-14 win over the visiting Mount Allison Mounties. The win evens the score against the Mounties after a season opener in Sackville, N.B. resulted in a lopsided loss to Mount Allison.
The Mounties jumped on the scoreboard early with two touchdowns in the opening quarter. Jared Rawlings pulled in a 10 yard pass from Troy Downton to give the Mounties the first of two first quarter majors.
Saumure answered the Mountie touchdown with a 21 yard field goal, but Mount Allison responded four minutes later with their second and last points scored in the game. Malcom Miller capped off a nine play, 75 yard drive with a 15 yard direct-snap rush for the Mounties second and last touchdown.
Fifty-three seconds into the second quarter, Subway Player of the Game, Eugene McMinns closed the game to 14-10 on a 34 yard touchdown pass from senior pivot Cody Cluett.
Just under four minutes later, third year quarterback Hunter Guenard connected with Cordell Hastings for Acadia's second touchdown in the second frame. Hasting's 39 yard reception gave the Axemen their first lead of the afternoon.
Deep in their own end and a third down situation, Mount Allison elected to try for the first down on a fake punt that backfired, giving Acadia possession of the ball on the Mounties' 8 yard line.
Acadia was quick to capitalize on the blunder, with Dale Wright back-tracking on a hand-off, scoring Acadia's third and last touchdown of the afternoon. Acadia headed into halftime with a 24-14 lead.
Saumure kicked three additional field goals in the second half – two in the third quarter and one in the final frame, to give the Axemen a 33-14 lead and eventual win.
The Axemen posted 243 net yards on the ground that included 129 yards on 17 carries by Dale Wright. Cameron Davidson, who returned from injury, added 55 yards on 10 carries.
Cluett was 11 completions on 22 attempts that amounted to 157 yards of offence in the air. McMinns led the receivers with 67 on three receptions, while teammates Cordell Hastings and Brad Vince each had three catches for 57 and 33 yards respectively.
On the losing side, the Mounties 213 total yards on offence compared to Acadia's 443. Kiel Ambursley was the bright spot for Mount Allison with 65 yards in rushing on 16 carries. Josh Hicks let the receiving core with 53 yards on 5 receptions and Jared Rawlings, who posted one of the Mounties' touchdowns had 45 yards in receiving on four catches.
McMinns noted that the team is not caught up with the wins or losses.
"The culture on the team is very detailed and we are learning new stuff. Our mindset is 'the game is over and on to the next one'. We try not to get caught up in the hype," noted McMinns.
Bailey Feltmate led the Axemen on defense with 5 solo tackles and 4 assisted. Feltmate sits second in the AUS season tackles category with 37 in total, while teammate Jadin White-Frayne added a fifth interception for the season and leads the AUS. Garvis Cius trails White-Frayne with three after today's interception.
Coming off a bye week, the Axemen shook some of the rust off from the 15 day layover and will take to the road for the longest trip of the season to Lennoxville, Que. to take on the Bishop's Gaiters at 3:00 p.m. (AT). The Mounties host StFX next Saturday at 2:00 p.m.