Preview: X-Men and Gaiters face-off in the 2021 Subway AUS Loney Bowl

(ANTIGONISH, N.S.)  The StFX X-Men will face the Bishop’s Gaiters on their home turf on Saturday, as they try to maintain their undefeated record for the final weekend of conference competition—the 2021 Subway AUS Loney Bowl, presented by Bell. 

StFX comes into the match as the top seed, with a 7-0 record including a 27-22 win over the Acadia Axemen in last weekend’s championship semifinal.

With 2021 AUS coach of the year Gary Waterman at the helm, the X-Men outscored their opponents 192-99 in the regular season and topped the conference in points per game (32.2), yards per game (407.8), passing yards (1423), passing touchdowns (10), rushing touchdowns (6), field goals (15-22), sacks (16) and defensive interceptions (13).

StFX’s championship efforts will be led by quarterback and AUS most outstanding player of the year, Silas Fagnan (Bonnyville, AB) and AUS rookie of the year Malcolm Bussey (Hammonds Plains, N.S.), along with eight other X-Men standouts named to the 2021 AUS all-star team.

StFX has won three of the last five AUS championships, most recently taking the trophy in 2018. The X-Men met Bishop’s twice in the 2021 regular season, winning both at home (32-29) and at Bishop’s (48-21).

The Gaiters—who topped the 2021 pre-season poll, voted on by AUS football head coaches— finished their regular season with a 2-4 record and entered the playoffs as a third seed. Last weekend, they downed the second-seed Mount Allison Mounties (5-1, 0-1 playoffs) in Sackville, N.B., with a 23-5 victory.

In the regular season, Bishop’s led the AUS in rushing yards (1128), rushing yards per game (188), yards per rush (6.0) and tackles (314). They’ll look to 2021 AUS all-star linebacker, Keagan Hughes (West Kelowna, B.C.) and offensive all-stars Samuel Ducharme (Saint-Hippolyte, QC), Nykolas Pierre-Masse (Laval, QC) and Louis-Philippe Gregoire (Jonquière, QC) to lead the charge on Saturday afternoon.

The Gaiters have been chasing their first conference championship since joining the AUS in 2017. In 2019, they earned their spot in the Loney Bowl championship but were defeated 31-1 by the host Acadia Axemen.

The 2021 Subway AUS Loney Bowl will take place at StFX Stadium in Antigonish on Saturday, November 20 at 2 p.m. The game will be webcast live at AUStv.ca, or you can buy tickets via goxgo.ca.

The 2021 AUS champion will advance to the national semifinal, the Mitchell Bowl, on Saturday, November 27, where they’ll take on the champion of the OUA conference.

AUS Loney Bowl - Team Records

• Bishop’s
  • 1 appearance (0-1)
  • Last appearance: 2019
  • Home: 0-0, Away: 0-1

• StFX
  • 19 appearances (7-12)
  • Last appearance: 2018
  • Home: 3-1, Away: 3-11, Neutral 1-0 (1983)

AUS Loney Bowl - Game Facts & Notes

• Beginning in 1973, there have been a total of 47 championship games played. (1973-2019)
• The road team has won just 10 times, while the home team has won 36 times (1983 excluded…technically a neutral game at Huskies Stadium)
• The road team has won three of the last seven championship games (2013, 2015 & 2018).
• Only one team has been shutout in the history of the game. (1979 – StFX 0 at Acadia 18)
• The most points scored by a team in a single game was 69. (2005 by Acadia)
• There have been three championship games decided by one point, all with identical scores of 25-24 for the home team:
  • 1991 – Saint Mary's 24 at Mount Allison 25
  • 1999 – Acadia 24 at Saint Mary's 25
  • 2007 – StFX 24 at Saint Mary's 25
• The largest margin of victory was 63 points in 2005. (StFX 6 at Acadia 69)
• The highest-scoring game (both teams combined) was in 2017. (83 points - Saint Mary’s 38 at Acadia 45)
  • The second-highest scoring game (both teams combined) was in 2002. (77 points - StFX 14 at Saint Mary’s 63)
• There have only been two championship games decided in overtime:
  • 1993 (Acadia 28 at Saint Mary’s 48 - OT).
  • 2017 (Saint Mary’s 38 at Acadia 45 – 2OT).