(SACKVILLE, N.B.) The Acadia Axemen are officially undefeated in the 2019 regular season. With a 33-31 win over the Mount Allison Mounties Saturday in Sackville, N.B., the Axemen finish with an 8-0 record and will play host to the Subway AUS Loney Bowl Saturday, Nov. 9 in Wolfville, N.S.
Although they came just shy of the win, the Mounties are headed back to the AUS playoffs for the first time since 2016 after finishing third in the AUS standings.
They will head to Lennoxville, Que. to face the Bishop's Gaiters in the Subway AUS Football Semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 2.
The scoring came early and often on a wild afternoon in Sackville. Much to the delight of the large Senior Day crowd it was the Mounties who struck first, when kicker James Parker connected from 32 yards out just five minutes into the game.
Acadia responded by picking up a safety two minutes later to run the score to 3-2. Less than a minute later Acadia picked up the game's first touchdown when former AUS MVP Dale Wright scored from five yards out to give the visitors a 9-3 lead.
The Mounties then drove 46 yards on six plays to put themselves back in scoring positing for Parker's second field goal of the day. This time he was good from 14 yards to make the score 9-6. Acadia picked up a single when Ben George's punt rolled through the back of the end zone shortly after. As the first quarter ended, Acadia found themselves with a 10-6 lead.
Two minutes into the second quarter Acadia was threatening on the Mounties side of the field when Matt Watson picked off a Hunter Guenard pass and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown. The Mounties took a 13-10 lead.
Just two minutes later the Mounties defence went back to work as Graeme Stevens picked Guenard's pass attempt and stormed 44 yards to the Acadia end zone. With Parker's converted point the Mounties lead grew to 20-10. Parker then sailed the ensuing kickoff through Acadia's end zone to run the lead to 21-10.
The score would stay that way for eight minutes until Parker kicked his third field goal of the day, this time from 27 yards to give the Mounties a 24-10 lead. Acadia would answer back before the half, using a 75-yard drive to score with only 12 seconds remaining in the first half.
The second half started much more slowly than the first half did as neither team was able to add to the score until Acadia's Ben George kicked a 30-yard field goal to draw within four points of the lead at 24-20 late in the third quarter. Acadia would retake the lead on the final play of the third quarter when Christopher Cameron-Kogler ran back a 65-yard interception for a touchdown. The Mounties were able to block the extra point attempt, leaving the score at 26-24.
Acadia took their biggest lead of the day when Guenard hit Matthew Gledhill for a 40-yard score with nine minutes left in the game.
The Mounties would make it close with a late touchdown pass to Josh Hicks. They would then get the ball back and drive far enough to give James Parker a 55-yard field goal attempt for the win. Parker's kick landed just one yard short as the game ended 33-31 for Acadia.
David Patry had the biggest numbers of his young AUS career, going 24-for-36 for 365 yards and one touchdown (along with two interceptions). Mounties senior Josh Hicks had a monster day, pulling in an AUS record 16 receptions for 300 yards and a touchdown. The 300 yards also tied the AUS record for receiving yards in a single game.
Hunter Guenard was 22-of-31 for 289 yards and two touchdowns along with two interceptions.
Mount Allison will now travel to Bishop's for the Subway AUS Football Semifinal presented by Keep It Social on Saturday, Nov. 2. Acadia will host the winner of the semifinal game at the Subway AUS Loney Bowl on Saturday, Nov. 9.
Source: Mount Allison Athletics Sports Information