Mounties top Gaiters 35-13 for third straight win

(SACKVILLE, N.B.) The Mount Allison Mounties have won their third straight AUS football game, this time posting a 35-13 win over the Bishop's Gaiters. With the win the Mounties move into a tie for third place at 3-4 and can clinch a playoff berth with a win next weekend. 

It was the Bishop's Gaiters who started quickly on Saturday, jumping out to a 9-0 first quarter lead on the strength of three field goals by Gaiters kicker Noah Laursen. With the wind to start the game, the Gaiters scored just four minutes into the game when Laursen connected from 26 yards out. The Gaiters threatened for most of the rest of the quarter but were only able to manage two more field goals, first from 19 yards with seven and a half minutes remaining and then from 17 yards with one minute remaining.   

The Mounties, with the wind in the second quarter, posted their biggest quarter of the season so far by picking up 27 points to take a commanding 27-9 by half time. The scoring started when the Gaiters conceded a safety just 30 seconds in the second quarter.   

After the Mounties got the ball back, sophomore quarterback David Patry led a five-minute, 75-yard drive for the game's first touchdown. The scoring play came when freshman running back sensation Jack Estabrooks scored from 14 yards out. 

The Mounties would add 18 more points in the final three minutes of the first half, first on a 36-yard touchdown for Jelani Yorke. For Yorke it was his first AUS touchdown. The Mounties forced a safety on defence to give the Mounties an 18-9 lead. 

The Mounties then struck on the very next play after the kickoff as Patry aired it out for a 70-yard touchdown to senior receiver Josh Hicks. The Mounties would pick up another safety before half time as they headed to the locker room with a 27-9 lead much to the delight of the hometown crowd. 

The Mounties defence forced another Bishop's safety early in the third quarter to extend the lead to 29-9. Bishop's would pick up two safeties of their own in the second second half but the Mounties defence kept them out of the end zone. Bishop's best chance to score when they got the ball on the Mounties four-yard line after a high snap and failed punt, but the Mounties defence answered the call and forced a turnover on downs. 

Mounties kicker James Parker added a pair of late field goals, from 37 and 39 yards as the home side put the finishing touches on a 35-13 win.  The Mounties defence had another afternoon of making plays, this time with four interceptions, one fumble recovery and five sacks on the day.  Freshman Lucas Cormier picked up his league leading fifth interception of the year while fellow freshman Daniel Bell grabbed his third on the season. Graeme Stevens and Matt Watson also had picks for the Mounties, who now lead the country in interceptions with 17. 

Offensively, Patry was 10 of 19 for 187 yards with two touchdowns on the day. Patry also rushed for 45 yards on five carries. Senior Josh Hicks led all receivers in the game with 104 yards on four catches and one touchdown. 

Bishop's quarterback Charles Aubry was 22 of 36 for 170 yards and four interceptions. Louis-Phillippe Gregoire rushed for 56 yards on 16 attempts. 

Saturday's loss is the final regular season game for Bishop's who finish the campaign at 4-4 with their highest win total since entering the AUS in 2017. The Mounties close out the regular season on Saturday, Oct. 26 when they host Acadia at 2 p.m. With a win next week the Mounties would finish second and earn the right to host the AUS semifinal game on Saturday, Nov. 2. 

Source: Mount Allison Sports Information