SHERBROOKE, Que. – The No. 8-ranked Bishop's Gaiters football team currently sit at 4-2 on the year and in a tie for second place in the RSEQ University Football League standings. By winning their remaining two games and getting a little bit of help, Coulter Field has a shot at seeing its first post-season action since 1994.  The Gaiters travel to Montreal on Saturday, Oct. 19 to face the Concordia Stingers at 1 p.m. in their penultimate game of the 2013 campaign.
 
The Gaiters have clinched a playoff spot, however can finish anywhere from second to fourth place. Their two remaining games come against teams they have previously beaten in 2013.  This Saturday Bishop's will face a Concordia Stingers team (0-6) they topped 40-18 on homecoming weekend in Lennoxville.  Bishop's led 29-0 at halftime before securing one of their most convincing wins in recent memory. The purple and silver's final tilt of the regular season will come at home against the McGill Redmen (3-3), a team they snuck by 30-29 on Friday, Oct. 4 in Montreal.
 
Bishop's will need help to go along with having to win their final two contests to lock up the second overall spot and a home playoff game.  The No. 6 Montreal Carabins sit at an identical 4-2 mark and hold the tie-breaker over the Gaiters.  The Carabins travel to McGill then will host No. 2 Laval at CEPSUM to close out the 2013 regular season.  Should the Gaiters win both of their final games and the Carabins lose one, Bishop's will finish second and host a semi-final on Saturday, Nov. 2.
 
Bishop's will once again be led by quarterback Jordan Heather (Oromocto, N.B.).  He leads the CIS in passing with 363.8 yards per game (2183 total yards) and has twice been named CIS Offensive Player of the Week and three times RSEQ Offensive Player of the Week. The fifth year history major set the school record for career passing yards earlier this year and is just 326 yards short of the single-season record, one he set in 2011. He is also just 556 yards short of the all-time RSEQ mark for a single-season.
 
Heather's favourite target is receiver Alexander Fox (Montreal) who also has eyes on re-writing the RSEQ record book.  Fox is already the most prolific receiver in terms of receiving yards for a career as a Bishop's Gaiter (2133) to go along with the record for most career receiving touchdowns (19).  The latter has the fourth year sports studies student just three shy of the RSEQ all-time mark.
 
In week four when the Stingers visited the Gaiters, Heather was 16-for-24 for 340 yards and two touchdowns while sitting out the majority of the fourth quarter.  The first play of the game he connected with Fox for a 99-yard catch and run that helped set the tone. Fox caught two passes for 116 yards and a major on the day.  As a team Bishop's out-gained Concordia 513-305 yards, while Matt Burke (Timberlea, N.S.) rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown for the Gaiters.
 
Concordia moved the ball most effectively when back-up quarterback Francois Dessureault (St. Tite, Que.) was calling the plays. He finished the Sept. 21 contest 13-26 for 205 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
 
The Bishop's defense has allowed 506.7 yards per game; only Concordia (512.5) has allowed more in Quebec. Their 'bend-but-don't-break' mentality is evident as they have allowed just 19 touchdowns, only one more than McGill who averages 404.7 yards against them each game.
 
"We can't overlook any team in this league," said Gaiters head coach Kevin Mackey. "Yes we beat Concordia a few weeks back, but this is Quebec and anything can happen.  We have to play discipline football.  This is going to be another physical game; we can't afford any mental mistakes or be looking too far ahead.  We aren't even thinking about the playoffs right now, we have two games left in the season.  We are focused on Concordia and have to be ready to play."
 
Saturday's game from Concordia Stadium can be seen live online at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/cumo.portal#, heard on the radio in French on Estrie 107.7 FM, in English on TSN 690 and followed on Twitter (@BishopsGaiters). Kickoff between the Stingers and the Gaiters is slated for 1 p.m.
 
Stay up-to-date as the Gaiters stride towards the playoffs at www.gaiters.ca.
 
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