THIS WEEK: The Bishop's Gaiters (1-5) are home for the final time in the 2017 regular season, as they host the Mount Allison Mounties (2-4) at Coulter Field. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
THE RECORDS: The Gaiters are 1-5 after last week's loss at Saint Mary's. The Mounties are currently 2-4, after defeating the StFX X-Men 32-15 last week in Sackville, ending a four-game losing skid.
GIVING BERTHS: After last week's games, the Saint Mary's Huskies and Acadia Axemen have both clinched playoff berths, with StFX (3-4), Mount A and Bishop's fighting for the third and final spot. The winner of this week's game at Coulter Field remains in playoff contention, while the loser will be eliminated.
BRICKS IN THE WALL: Saturday's game will also see the Gaiters celebrate the 2017 inductees into the RBC Wall of Distinction. This year's class includes former Gaiter head coach Ian Breck, as well as three defensive stalwarts: Francis Bellefroid, Paul Connery and Tommy Europe.
TICKETS, PLEASE: Reserved seats for Saturday's game, and all future games, are available at www.gaiters.ca/tickets for $15 each. Tickets are also available on game day at a cost $15 for reserved seats, $10 for general admission, with reduced prices for high school and Champlain students ($5) and children aged 5-12 ($2).
NOTHING BUT NET: Saturday's game will be webcast at
www.gaiters.ca/webcast, with live stats at
http://atlanticuniversitysport.com/sports/fball/2017-18/boxscores/20171021_rz68.xml. Score updates will also be available on Twitter, by following @BishopsGaiters.
LAST TIME OUT: The Saint Mary's Huskies used defence and special teams to break open a close game and down the Gaiters 55-11 on Oct. 14 in Halifax. The Gaiters led 10-7 in the first quarter, thanks to a five-yard fumble return by
Elijah Williams (Pickering, Ont./Pickering H.S.) that was set up by
Adam Plamondon (Quebec City, Que./Cégep Limoilou)'s strip sack, as well as a field goal by Vincent Dubé. However, SMU quickly took the lead back, on a kickoff return touchdown by Johnny King, the first of his two return touchdowns. The Huskies led 21-11 at halftime, but pulled away, in part thanks to a pair of interception return touchdowns as they cruised in the second half.
WHEN LAST WE MET: The Gaiters picked up their first AUS win in thrilling fashion, scoring a 32-31 (2OT) win over the Mount Allison Mounties in Sackville, N.B. on Sept. 15. The Gaiters trailed 24-10 late in the game, but a touchdown rush by
Louis-Philippe Gregoire - capping a 6-play, 108-yard drive - cut the lead to seven. Bishop's forced overtime on the last play of regulation, as
Trey Millings scored from the 1-yard line. In OT, Millings scored his second TD of the game to put the Gaiters up, but the Mounties responded immediately. In the second OT period, Vincent Dubé's field-goal attempt sailed wide right through the end zone for a single point. The Gaiters defence held, forcing the Mounties to punt for a single to tie, and the kick was short. Millings finished with 19 carries for 138 yards, the most for a Gaiter since 2012, and
Nathan Walker (Brampton, Ont./St. Roch C.S.S.) had 10 catches, also for 138 yards.
THE SERIES: The Gaiters lead the all-time series 4-2. The first meeting came on Sept. 25, 2004 – a 25-13 win for the Gaiters. The last time the teams met at Coulter Field, on Sept. 27, 2014, the Mounties prevailed 26-3.
SPEED-WALKER: Nathan Walker (Brampton, Ont./St. Roch C.S.S.) is second in the AUS with 34 receptions this season, and is fourth in the conference with 75.3 receiving yards per game. He has averaged 180.8 all-purpose yards this year, which is good for second in the league.
SOCIAL CORNER: Stay up to date with everything Gaiters athletics at the new gaiters.ca or follow on social media using @BishopsGaiters and #GaiterNation.
UP NEXT: The Gaiters close out the regular season as they head to Antigonish for the Bigg Bowl on Saturday, Oct. 28. Bishop's will take on the StFX X-Men at Oland Stadium, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. (3 p.m. local).
