SHERBROOKE, Que. – Receiver Nathan Heather and running back Ronlee King-Fileen both scored touchdowns for the Bishop's Gaiters in their final RSEQ University Football game on Saturday, November 1^st.   Their majors were not enough as cross-town rival Sherbrooke re-claimed the Mayor's Cup 35-14 on Coulter Field.
 
For Sherbrooke it was their seventh Mayor's Cup victory in the game's nine-year existence.  They earn it for the second time on Coulter Field after losing the cup to the Gaiters on their home field a year ago.
 
The Vert et Or scored the game's first points on a 31-yard field goal off the foot of Mathieu Hebert (Sherbrooke, Que.). They tacked on a touchdown to grab a 10-0 lead after the first frame.  The host Gaiters refused to relinquish the cup without a fight.  King-Fileen (Toronto) scampered 28-yards just shy of the halfway mark of the second quarter to cut the visitors lead to 10-7.  Sherbrooke responded with a single and a late touchdown to re-grab momentum and an 18-7 lead heading into halftime.
 
Another Hebert rouge opened the third quarter scoring after a missed field goal at the 4:40 mark.  On the ensuing drive the two-headed quarterback attack of Gaiters led by Travis Eman (Brampton, Ont.) and Alexandre Bouffard (Sherbrooke) marched Bishop's down the field.  Eman connected with Heather (Oromocto, N.B.) on a 31-yard strike to cut the lead to 19-14.
 
Bishop's had the momentum as the teams' entered the final frame. On the first play of the fourth quarter the Gaiters faked a punt that had King-Fileen rush 14 yards on 3-11.  Unfortunately for the hosts that momentum was short lived as the drive came to an abrupt halt three plays later when the Gaiters coughed up the ball.  The Vert et Or in turn orchestrated an eight-play, 92-yard drive for a deflating major and a 26-14 advantage.  Sherbrooke put the game out of reach as they scored on their very next drive after Bishop's had conceded a safety.  The final on the brisk Lennoxville afternoon was 35-14 in favour of the visitors.
 
"Sherbrooke is a good football team," said Gaiters head coach Kevin Mackey.  "We are a young team and made too many mistakes.  It's disappointing that our season is over but we are going to practice next week and get the guys used to playing at this time of year.  I'm looking forward to our future."
 
Eman finished as the games leading rusher with 112 yards on 12 rushes. He was 7-12 for 97 yards with a major and an interception through the air. Bouffard also primarily used his legs, rushing for 83 yards on 11 carries and completing one pass in four attempts.  Heather caught two passes for 46 yards, while fellow graduating receiver Yaata Nyantakyi (Brampton, Ont.) received four passes for 41 yards. King-Fileen carried the ball eight times for 64 yards. The Gaiters ran 59 plays tallying 367 yards.  Jeremi Roch (Montreal) led Sherbrooke to 538 total yards of offense.  He was 29-for-40 for 397 yards and two touchdowns.  
 
Bishop's 2014 campaign comes to a close at 1-7 while Sherbrooke finishes at 5-3 and earns a date with the Montreal Carabins (7-1) in the RSEQ semi-final.  The other semi-final will see the Laval Rouge et Or (7-1) hosting the Concordia Stingers (5-3).
 
Stay informed with everything Gaiter athletics at www.gaiters.ca
 
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