Huskies top Axemen 20-17 in pre-season football

(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) – In pre-season action Saturday afternoon at Raymond Field, the visiting Saint Mary's Huskies edged the host Acadia Axemen with a 20-17 win.

Both teams battled the elements the entire game, including a second half that was marred by high winds and rain.

After a scoreless opening quarter, Huskies kicker Brian Hope (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) recorded a single point on a 57-yard punt, and added two field goals in the final 50 seconds of the half from 37 and 35 yards respectively to give Saint Mary's a 7-0 halftime lead.

The Axemen came out of halftime and wasted no time evening the score. Alex Laurie (Orleans, Ont.) ran for 19 yards on Acadia's first play of the half and then found Eugene McMinns (Nassau, Bahamas) with a 44-yard strike for a major to tie the score at 7-7.

Saint Mary's conceded a safety at the 10:22 mark and Acadia added a single point of their own off of a Jarett Saumure (Timberlea, N.S.) punt to make the score 10-7 for the home team midway through the third quarter.

McMinns struck again on a 41-yard touchdown reception from first-year pivot Mason Brown (Stoney Creek, Ont.). The completion was Brown's first pass attempt of his rookie season.

Just over two minutes into the final quarter, Chika Uzor (Montreal, Que.) pulled down an 8-yard catch for Huskies' first and only major of the day. Uzor was the leading Saint Mary's receiver on the day with three catches for 46 yards.

Two safeties and two rouges by SMU's Trevon Wright (Calgary, Alta.), concluded the scoring in the exhibition game.

Acadia freshman Cole Estabrooks (Moncton, N.B.) was the game's top rusher with 44 yards on three carries. Fourth year running back Cameron Davidson (Kentville, N.S.) added 25 yards on six carries. McMinns had 85 yards on his two TD receptions.

From behind the center, Saint Mary's Kaleb Scott posted 129 passing yards on nine completions, while teammate Cameron Valardo was 4-of-10 for 55 yards and one TD.

For the Axemen, first-year pivot Alex Laurie completed 6-of-13 attempts for 68 yards and one touchdown. Mason Brown was one for three that included a 41-yard touchdown.

On the defensive side of the ball, linebackers Jesse Boudreau and Bailey Feltmate each had 4.5 tackles. Raphael Muntu, of the Huskies, dominated defensively during his playing time with eight solo tackles.

In offensive net yards, the Axemen trailed Saint Mary's 180 yards to 269 yards, yet the time of possession was 30 minutes each.

Saint Mary's hosts the two-time defending champion StFX X-Men in their regular season home opener at Huskies stadium, Friday, August 25th.  Game time is 7 p.m. 

The Axemen travel to Alumni Field in Sackville, N.B. next Saturday to face the Mount Allison Mounties in a rematch of the 2016 AUS semifinal. Game time is 2:00 p.m.

Source: Acadia Communications