Mounties clinch playoff spot with 39-9 win over Huskies

(SACKVILLE, N.B.) - The Mount Allison Mounties are headed back to the AUS football playoffs for the fifth straight season. 

The Mounties, who won AUS championships in 2013 and 2014, defeated Saint Mary's 39-9 on Seniors' Day at Alumni Field. 

The real story of the game came late in the second quarter when the Mounties scored 21 points in less than two minutes to take control of the game. 

Both sides battled to a scoreless first quarter as teams traded punts and vied for field position.

The Mounties held much of the time of possession and eventually were able to set up junior kicker Ryan Lambert for a 37-yard field at 13:19 of the second quarter. 

The score remained 3-0 until there were six minutes remaining in the first half, when the Mounties defence forced a Saint Mary's safety to make it 5-0. 

The Mounties then exploded for 21 points in less than two minutes during the final two and a half minutes of the second quarter. 

Mount Allison drove 73 yards before being stopped on third and goal to turn the ball over on downs. 

On the ensuing possession, after the Mounties defence held Saint Mary's, Mount Allison freshman Dylan Cormier was able to block Brian Hope's punt and the Mounties recovered it in the end zone to take a 12-0 lead. 

On the next Saint Mary's possession, Mounties sophomore Phil Thompson intercepted Brock Berglund and returned it all the way back to the Huskies nine-yard line. 

Two plays later, All-Canadian Chris Reid chugged in from four yards out to give the Mounties a 19-0 lead. 

The Mounties defence again chased Saint Mary's from the field quickly and, with good field position, Mount Allison went back to work. 

Rookie quarterback Jakob Loucks found senior Dakota Brush in the back of the end zone to cap off a 44-yard drive. 

After Lambert's convert, the Mounties entered the half with a 26-0 lead. 

The home side continued the scoring early in the third quarter as Lambert kicked his second field goal of the game after four minutes of play. 

This one came from 32 yards and extended the Mounties lead to 29-0. 

Six minutes later, Mount Allison put together another long drive, this time going 79 yards and finishing with a 62-yard touchdown pass from Loucks to sophomore Josh Hicks. 

Saint Mary's reached the scoreboard for the first time with just over eight minutes remaining in the game. 

After a punt return and a Mount Allison penalty, the Huskies started from the Mounties 15-yard line and took only two plays to score. 

Derek Pisani capped off the short drive with a two-yard run for the major. 

The ensuing convert was blocked by Donovan Glave as he broke through the line. 

The Huskies added a field goal when Brian Hope hit from 37 yards with 5:37 remaining.  

Lambert rounded out the scoring when he connected from 37 yards for his third field goal of the day. 

The Mounties were led offensively by Chris Reid who ran for 164 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries. 

Freshman quarterback Jakob Loucks was also impressive, going 17 of 24 for 244 yards and two touchdowns. 

Josh Hicks had three catches for 103 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown catch. 

In all, the Mounties collected 480 yards on offence on the day. 

Huskies starting quarterback Brock Berglund was four of 10 for 43 yards and two interceptions before Trevor Erdmann took over in the second quarter. Leonardo Mantuila had 134 yards on 18 carries. 

The Mounties will now close out the regular season at StFX on Saturday, Oct. 29 for their chance to clinch second place and hosting rights to the Subway AUS Football Semifinal on Nov. 5.

Saint Mary's will host Acadia in Halifax in a game that will determine the final playoff team.

Source: Mount Allison Athletics Communications