Mounties clinch playoff berth with 39-9 win over Saint Mary's

The Mount Allison Mounties are headed back to the AUS Football playoffs for the 5^th straight season.  The Mounties, who won AUS championships in 2013 and 2014, defeated Saint Mary's 39-9 on Seniors Day at Alumni Field. The real story of the game came late in the 2^nd quarter when the Mounties scored 21 points in less than two minutes to take control of the game.

Both sides battled to a scoreless 1^st quarter as teams traded punts and vied for field position. The Mounties held much of the time of possession and eventually were able to set up junior kicker Ryan Lambert for a 37-yard field at 13:19 of the 2^nd quarter.  The score remained 3-0 until 6 minutes remaining in the first half when the Mounties defense forced a Saint Mary's safety to make it 5-0.

The Mounties then exploded for 21 points in less than 2 minutes during the final two and a half minutes of the 2^nd quarter.  The Mounties drove 73 yards before being stopped on 3^rd and goal to turn the ball over on downs.  But on the ensuing possession after the Mounties defense held Saint Mary's Mounties freshman Dylan Cormier was able to block Brian Hope's punt and the Mounties recovered it in the end zone to take a 12-0 lead.

On the next Saint Mary's possession Mounties sophomore Phil Thompson intercepted Brock Berglund and returned it all the way back to the Huskies 9 yard line.  Two plays later All-Canadian Chris Reid chugged in from 4 yards out to give the Mounties a 19-0 lead.

The Mounties defense again chased Saint Mary's from the field quickly and with good field position the Mounties went back to work.  Rookie quarterback Jakob Loucks found Senior Dakota Brush in the back of the end zone to cap off a 44-yard drive.  After Lambert's convert the Mounties entered the half with a 26-0 lead.

The home side continued the scoring early in the 3^rd quarter as Lambert kicked his 2^nd field goal of the game after 4 minutes of play.  This one came from 32 yards and extended the Mounties lead to 29-0.  Six minutes later the Mounties once again put a long drive together, this time going 79 yards and finishing with a 62-yard touchdown pass from Loucks to sophomore Josh Hicks.

Saint Mary's reached the scoreboard for the first time with just over 8 minutes remaining.  After a punt return and penalty by the Mounties the Huskies started from the Mounties 15 yard line and took only two plays to score.  Derek Pisani capped off the short drive with a 2 yard run for the major.  The ensuing convert was blocked by Donovan Glave as he broke through the line.  The Huskies added a field goal when Brian Hope hit from 37 yards with 5:37 remaining.  Lambert rounded out the scoring when he connected from 37 yards for his 3^rd field goal of the day.

The Mounties were led offensively by Chris Reid who ran for 164 yards and 1 touchdown on 32 carries.  Freshman QB Jakob Loucks was also impressive, going 17 of 24 for 244 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Josh Hicks had 3 catches for 103 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown catch.  In all the Mounties collected 480 yards on offense on the day.

Huskies starting QB Brock Berglund was 4 of 10 for 43 yards and two interceptions before Trevor Erdmann took over in the 2^nd quarter. Leonardo Mantuila had 134 yards on 18 carries.

The Mounties will now close out the regular at StFX on Saturday, October 29^th with a chance to clinch 2^nd place and a home game for the AUS Semi-Final on November 5^th.  Saint Mary's hosts Acadia in a game that will determine the final playoff team.