U SPORTS No. 8 ranked Mounties edge Axemen in a 12-9 defensive battle

(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) – The U SPORTS No. 8 Mount Allison Mounties remain undefeated after edging the host Acadia Axemen 12-9 in week three of the AUS regular season.

In a game that was marred by 27 penalties for 255 yards, Mountie Brandt Burzuk (Scarborough, Ont.) posted a game-high 115 yards on 21 carries to be named the AUS Subway Player of the Game.

Burzuk scored the only major of the game in the opening quarter on a 2-yard dive that capped off a three-play drive that started on Acadia's 25-yard line following a fumble by the Axemen.

The Mounties pushed the lead to 9-0 in the first quarter after a team safety.

Acadia's Player of the Game, Ben George (Moncton, N.B.), added a 39-yard and 41-yard field goals in the second quarter to cut the Mounties' lead to 9-6.

A Graeme Maither (Hinchinbrooke, Que.) field goal of 29 yards in the closing seconds of the opening half gave the visiting Mounties a 12-6 lead at the half.

Penalties and miscues kept both teams off the scoreboard until a Ben George rouge narrowed the lead the 12-7. An Acadia team safety brought the Axemen to within three points at the 4:44 mark of the third frame, but neither team would score in the final quarter.

"We knew it was going to be a defensive battle and I have to give out a shout to the defense. We played really well and we played the way we wanted to. We didn't get lucky with the outcome of the game, but there are a lot of positives. We have got a lot better than the other games and that's all we can really ask for," said George. George averaged 44.4 yards on 8 punts including the longest of 56 yards.

Mount Allison accumulated 251 yards of offense but could not score another major after the opening touchdown. A stingy Acadia defense allowed 114 net yards in the air and 146 yards on the ground.

The Axemen's offense posted 182 yards, including 90 net yards passing and 102 yards rushing.  Jayden Simmonds (New Minas, N.S.) led the Axemen with 64 yards rushing, while teammate Ethan Phinney (Porter's Lake, N.S.) pulled in two catches for a team-high 35 yards receiving.

First-year receiver Nolan Cheeseman (New Maryland, N.B.) led the Mounties with four catches for 42 yards.

On defense, Acadia's Spencer Richard (Wolfville, N.S.) posted 6 solo tackles and one quarterback sack for a loss of three yards. Mounties Reece Martin (Moncton, N.B.) and Denis Rossler (Oakville, N.B.) each had six solo tackles.

Mount Allison will improve to 3-0 and host the undefeated STFX X-Men next Saturday, while the 0-3 Acadia Axemen will return to play on Saturday, Oct. 1 at home against the Saint Mary's Huskies after their bye weekend this week.