Axemen surge late to beat Mount Allison and clinch playoff spot

(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) Acadia scored 14 fourth-quarter points to defeat the Mount Allison Mounties 27–20 in AUS football on Saturday at Raymond Field.

With the win, the Axemen clinch the fourth and final spot in the 2025 postseason. 

Kicker Nick Swain opened the scoring with a 34-yard field goal at 10:44 of the second quarter. Mount Allison answered with a 41-yarder from Graeme Maither, then took a 10–3 lead on a short plunge by Nicolas Chabot with 1:46 left in the half. The Axemen replied before the break: after a Will Downs interception and a pass interference call moved the ball to the 1, quarterback Michael Linder scored on a sneak with 14 seconds left to tie it 10–10.

The Mounties regained the lead midway through the third when Chabot scored from four yards. Acadia trimmed the deficit on a team safety at 4:17 and a Mike Adams rouge with 1:30 left in the quarter, sending the game to the fourth at 17–13.

The Axemen took control in the final frame. Quarterback Tyran Duval hit Madden Ross on a 30-yard touchdown at 6:20 to put Acadia ahead 20–17. After a long Nicholas Welcher punt return set up a short field, Noah Potter finished a four-play drive with a three-yard rushing major at 3:24 for a 27–17 lead. Maither's 27-yard field goal with 25 seconds left closed the gap, but Acadia ran out the clock.

Ross led Acadia receivers with six catches for 81 yards and the go-ahead touchdown. Jase LeBlanc added five receptions for 57 yards. Potter carried 26 times for 94 yards and a touchdown. Linder went 15-for-28 for 146 yards (two interceptions) and added a rushing score; Duval was 4-for-8 for 58 yards and the fourth-quarter TD. Adams averaged 45.3 yards on eight punts, including a 63-yarder and a single.

Defensively, the Axemen intercepted three passes—Riley Comeau, Ryan Duffus and Downs, whose 61-yard return set up the late-first-half equalizer. Brandon Kamenz had a sack, while Josh Dunham and Kailan Harrison combined on another. Acadia finished with 315 total yards to Mount Allison's 302 and held the Mounties to 3.8 yards per rush after halftime.

Scoring summary
Q2: ACA — Nick Swain 34 FG, 10:44; MTA — Graeme Maither 41 FG, 8:34; MTA — Nicolas Chabot 2 run (Maither kick), 1:46; ACA — Michael Linder 1 run (Swain kick), 0:14.
Q3: MTA — Chabot 4 run (Maither kick), 7:23; ACA — Team safety, 4:17; ACA — Mike Adams rouge, 1:30.
Q4: ACA — Madden Ross 30 pass from Tyran Duval (Swain kick), 6:20; ACA — Noah Potter 3 run (Swain kick), 3:24; MTA — Maither 27 FG, 0:25.

Next up: Acadia travels to Bishop's on Saturday, Oct. 25, before a road AUS semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 1 against Saint Mary's or STFX.

Source: Acadia Athletics Communications