Mounties win third straight with 35-13 win over Bishop's

The Mount Allison Mounties have won their 3^rd straight AUS football game, this time posting a 35-13 win over the Bishop's Gaiters. With the win the Mounties move into a tie for 3^rd place at 3-4 and can clinch a playoff berth with a win next weekend. 

It was the Bishop's Gaiters who started quickly on Saturday, jumping out to a 9-0 first quarter lead on the strength of three field goals by Gaiters kicker Noah Laursen. With the wind to start the game, the Gaiters scored just four minutes into the game when Laursen connected from 26 yards out. The Gaiters threatened for most of the rest of the quarter but were only able to manage two more field goals, first from 19 yards with seven and a half minutes remaining and then from 17 yards with one minute remaining. 

The Mounties, with the wind in the 2^nd quarter, posted their biggest quarter of the season so far by picking up 27 points to take a commanding 27-9 lead by half time. The scoring started when the Gaiters conceded a safety just 30 seconds into the 2^nd quarter. 

After the Mounties got the ball back, sophomore quarterback David Patry led a five minute 75 yard drive for the game's first touchdown. The scoring play came when freshman running back sensation Jack Estabrooks scored from 14 yards out.

The Mounties would add 18 more points in the final 3 minutes of the first half, first on a 36 yard touchdown for Jelani Yorke. For Yorke it was his first AUS touchdown.  The Mounties forced a safety on defense to give the Mounties an 18-9 lead.

The Mounties then struck on the very next play after the kickoff as Patry aired it out for a 70 yard touchdown to senior receiver Josh Hicks. The Mounties would pick up another safety before half time as they headed to the locker room with a 27-9 lead much to the delight of the hometown crowd.

The Mounties defense forced another Bishop's safety early in the 3^rd quarter to extend the lead to 29-9.  Bishop's would pick up two safeties of their own in the 2^nd second half but the Mounties defense kept them out of the end zone.  Bishop's best chance to score came when they got the ball on the Mounties 4 yard line after a high snap and failed punt, but the Mounties defense answered the call and forced a turnover on downs.

Mounties kicker James Parker added a pair of late field goals, from 37 and 39 yards as the home side put the finishing touches on a 35-13 win.  The Mounties defense had another afternoon of making plays, this time with 4 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery and 5 sacks on the day.  Freshman Lucas Cormier picked up his league leading 5^th interception of the year while fellow freshman Daniel Bell grabbed his 3^rd on the season. Graeme Stevens and Matt Watson also had picks for the Mounties, who now lead the country in interceptions with 17.

Offensively, Patry was 10 of 19 for 187 yards with 2 touchdowns on the day. Patry also rushed for 45 yards on 5 carries. Senior Josh Hicks led all receivers in the game with 104 yards on 4 catches and 1 touchdown.

Bishop's quarterback Charles Aubry was 22 of 36 for 170 yards and 4 interceptions. Louis-Phillippe Gregoire rushed for 56 yards on 16 attempts.

Saturday's loss is the final regular season game for Bishop's who finish the campaign at 4-4 with their highest win total since entering the AUS in 2017. The Mounties close out the regular season on Saturday, October 26^th when they host Acadia at 2PM. With a win next week the Mounties would finish 2^nd and earn the right to host the AUS Semi-Final game on Saturday, November 2^nd.