(LENNOXVILLE, QUE.) – Bishop's running back David Chaloux (Saint-Charles-Bromee, QC) rushed 19 times for 131 yards and two touchdowns as the Bishop's Gaiters clinched a playoff spot with a 25-17 win over the Saint Mary's Huskies on Saturday.
Saturday's game was worth four points in the standings after the first game was cancelled due to Hurricane Fiona, and brought up a classic 'win and you're in scenario' with the winner moving on to meet the Mount Allison Mounties in next Saturday's AUS semifinal.
The Gaiters opened the scoring after forcing a turnover and returning it into the Huskies 5-yard line before Chaloux punched in his first rushing score of the afternoon.
On the next drive, kicker Noah Laursen (Calgary, AB) missed a 29-yard field goal, but scored the single point rouge to push the Gaiters lead to 8-0, which was the score after the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Huskies linebacker Isaiah Okoli (Saint John, NB) picked off Gaiters quarterback Justin Quirion (Saint-Georges, QC), giving the Huskies quality field position and leading to a 39-yard field goal from kicker Cameron Brown (Hammonds Plains, NS).
Minutes later it was Huskies running back A'Dre Simmonds (North Preston, NS), who first scampered for an impressive 42-yard gain and then finished it off with a 10-yard rushing touchdown, with Brown converting the extra point to put the Huskies in front 10-8.
Laursen added a 30-yard field goal before the half to give the Gaiters an 11-10 lead at the half.
A quiet third quarter left the game in the balance as both defenses stood tall to set up a thrilling finish.
Early in the fourth quarter, Chaloux scored his second rushing touchdown from 17 yards out to give the Gaiters a 18-11 lead.
On the ensuing Huskies drive, quarterback Duncan Patterson (Bedford, NS) was stripped on a sack and Bishop's recovered. When Bishop's got the ball back, it took just two plays before quarterback Justin Quirion connected with Ianis Cherdieu (Asnieres, France) for a 45-yard catch and run for the major, to extend the Gaiters lead to 25-11 with just over six minutes to play.
The Huskies were able to respond with a touchdown as Patterson found receiver Trydell Mintis (Halifax, NS) on a 15-yard reception to cut the lead to 25-11 with 1:33 remaining in regulation. Saint Mary's attempted to get the ball back with an onside kick, but the Gaiters recovered and killed off the clock to win the game and advance to the AUS semifinal.
Chaloux was named Subway Player of the Game way with 19 rushes for 131 yards and two majors. He also caught one reception for 19 yards and returned two kicks for 32 yards.
Gaiters quarterback Justin Quirion completed 13 of 27 passes for 179 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Linebacker Digaan Gomis (Trappes, France) led the defensive charge with 7.5 tackles, including 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for a loss, while Gabriel Royer (Lawrenceville, QC) chipped in seven tackles and one sack.
Huskies linebacker Jacob Morgan (Halifax, NS) was named Player of the Game for Saint Mary's with 9.5 tackles.
Quarterback Duncan Patterson completed 13 of 24 pass attempts for 207 yards but was sacked seven times. Teon Alexander-Amour (Vancouver, BC) rushed 11 times for 79 yards, while A'Dre Simmonds rushed for 52 yards on just two carries and added a touchdown. Liam Stewart (Port Coquitlam, BC) led the Huskies receivers with five catches for 86 yards.
The victory moves Bishop's record to 4-3 and gives them 10 points in the standings, good enough for second in the AUS and a date with the Mount Allison Mounties next Saturday in Lennoxville in the AUS semifinal.
The Huskies loss dropped their record to 3-4 and eliminated them from playoff contention.