Mounties beat SMU for 2nd straight win

(HALIFAX, N.S.)—The Mount Allison Mounties upended the Saint Mary's Huskies 23-12 on Friday night in Atlantic University Sport men's football action from Huskies Stadium. Jack Estabrooks (Sackville, NB) rushed 35 times for 188 yards and one touchdown for MTA, who improve to 2-4 in AUS conference play.

The Mounties surrendered a safety at the end of the first quarter and trailed the Huskies 2-0. Both teams started the second quarter trading punts, when SMU's second possession saw the end-zone. Liam O'Brien (Parksville, BC) caught two passes on the drive, including a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joshua Shim (Lawrenceville, Georgia). O'Brien crossed the middle from the right and bounced off a tackler and squeezed underneath another for a 9-0 SMU lead. Brian Hope (Port Coquitlan, BC) added the point-after attempt with 10:49 left in the half.

A punt each by both teams saw MTA with the ball on their own 21-yard line. James Parker's (Abbotsford, BC) 26-yard field goal with 3:57 left in the quarter came off an eight-play, 70-yard drive and saw the Mounties trail 9-3.

Saint Mary's punted to MTA and the Mounties used a five-play, 80-yard drive to take the lead 10-9 with 37 seconds left in the half when Hunter Sturgeon (Fredericton, NB) scampered in on a 2-yard run. Mount Alison led 10-9 at halftime.

Both teams were shut-out in the third quarter and MTA held their 10-9 lead heading into the final quarter. Mount Allison opened the fourth quarter and drove five-plays in 39 yards, as Estabrooks added his touchdown on a 7-yard run with 12:45 left in the quarter and Mount Allison lead 17-9. Hope answered for SMU, with a 39-yard field goal, as the Huskies clawed back and trailed 17-12 with 10:04 left in the game.

Parker added two field goals—from 31 and 18 yards out down the stretch—to seal Mount Allison's win 23-12.

David Patry (Moncton, NB) completed 8-17 of his passes for 108 yards and one interception for Mount Allison.

Saint Mary's used two quarterbacks in the loss. Shim had 105 yards passing and one touchdown while Avery Clayton (Ottawa, ON) had 89 yards passing and three interceptions.

O'Brien finished with four catches for 73 yards and teammate Josh Henry (Pickering, ON) caught four passes for 42 yards. Jarek Richards (Chateauguay, QC) finished with 11.5 tackles for Saint Mary's, who drop to 3-2 in AUS conference play.

In upcoming action, both teams meet Bishops.  The Huskies visit Bishop's on October 11^th while the Mounties host Bishop's October 19^th.

Dominic Nolasco, SMU Communications

Photo Mona Ghiz