Mounties move to 4-0 with 26-3 road win over Bishop’s

(LENNOXVILLE, QUE.) - The Mount Allison Mounties remain the only unbeaten team in the AUS after an impressive 26-3 road victory over the Bishop's Gaiters in Lennoxville, Que. on Saturday night. 

The win came as a result of a strong overall performance by the Mounties who were led by a defence that forced six Bishop's turnovers and gave up only three points on the night. 

The Mounties were also strong on special teams, winning the field position battle. The Mounties offence moved the ball well, led once again by the strong running of freshman running back Chris Reid. 

The visiting Mounties wasted little time getting going as they used a bad snap on a Bishop's punt to give them good field position early. Ryan Lambert was able to connect from 37 yards to give the Mounties an early 3-0 lead.

On the Gaiters' next possession, all-Canadian safety Kwame Adjei intercepted a Shane MacDonald pass and returned it all the way to the Bishop's 26-yard line. Three plays later, running back Chris Reid found the end zone from seven yards out giving the Mounties a 10-0 lead. 

Bishop's responded with a field goal of their own in the first quarter and were threatening with another short field goal attempt but Mounties special teams came up with a field goal block to keep the score at 10-3 at the end of the first quarter. 

Ryan Lambert would add a second field goal half way through the second quarter, this time from 27 yards to make it 13-3 for the Mounties.

After a Lambert missed field goal made the score 14-3 for the Mounties, Mount Allison's specials teams went back to work. This time, fifth-year Mountie Josh Blanchard returned a punt 43 yards to the Bishop's 19-yard line. 

On the next play, Mounties quarterback Brandon Leyh found Rod Joseph in the end zone from 19 yards out to make the score 21-3. 

On Bishop's next possession, second-year Mountie Devante Sampson intercepted MacDonald and returned the ball 46 yards to the Gaiters' five-yard line. From there, the Mounties would eventually settle for another Lambert field goal to stretch their lead to 24-3. 

The Mounties defence also got in on the scoring, forcing a Bishop's team safety to round out the scoring at 26-3.

Leading the way defensively for the Mounties was Sampson with two interceptions and two tackles. Adjei chipped in with an interception while freshman Nate Rostek led the team with 7.5 tackles and freshman Shaun Robinson had 5.0 tackles including a sack.

Offensively, Chris Reid was once again the story, carrying for 175 yards on 30 carries and adding one touchdown. Brandon Leyh was 11-for-24 for 140 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions. 

Josh Blanchard had six catches for 85 yards while Rod Joseph had two catches and one touchdown.

The CIS No. 8-ranked Mounties now sit alone in first place in the AUS with a 4-0 regular season record.

Mount Allison will see action next when they travel to Halifax to take on the Saint Mary's Huskies Saturday, Oct. 4 at 2 p.m.

Source: Mount Allison Sports Information