HALIFAX – Bishop's Gaiters quarterback
Stephen Casey (Boucherville, Que./Champlain College St-Lambert) completed 18 of 34 passes for 214 yards and safety
Aarron Franklin (West Covina, Calif./Citrus College) returned an interception 15 yards for a touchdown on a sunny Saturday in Halifax. It was not enough for the upset as the No. 6 St. Mary's Huskies survived a scare from the Gaiters and went on to an 18-9 victory in AUS Football action.
The win improves St. Mary's to 6-0 while the Gaiters fall to 0-6.
Coach Cherif Nicolas:
How it Happened:
The opening 15 minutes was a feeling out process for both teams as neither were able to put points on the board. Bishop's, with Casey taking the majority of snaps at centre, controlled the field position battle.
Momentum can be fickle. After
Sergio Kpade (Ottawa, Ont./Cégep de l'Outaouais) picked off the AUS' leading passer Kaleb Scott, Bishop's took over at midfield and looked to strike first. Unfortunately, for the Gaiters, their attempt to catch the Huskies off guard resulted in a fumble returned 65 yards by Adrian Greene for a touchdown and a St. Mary's 7-0 lead.
Bishop's defence joined the party at the 6:37 mark of the second quarter after punter
Arnaud Dandin (Paris, France/Cégep de Thetford) pinned the Huskies deep. Franklin picked Scott off and scampered 15 yards for the major. It was his second interception of the year.
A conceded safety and two missed field goals by the Gaiters ended the half with Bishop's up 9-7 but not without added drama.
The Gaiters stopped the Huskies on a fake punt attempt with 26 seconds remaining in the half then Casey connected with
Nathan Walker (Brampton, Ont./St. Roch C.S.S.) for 30 yards. A launch to the end zone in search of
Dashaun Smellie (Mississauga, Ont./Champlain-Lennoxville) initially drew a flag that was eventually picked up.
Tyler Gray (Chelsea, Que./Bel-Air Norsemen (NCAFA)) hit the upright on the ensuing 30-yard field goal attempt with six seconds left.
Bishop's first half highlights
St. Mary's took the second half kickoff and marched 7 plays and 44 yards. That drive resulted in a 43-yard field goal and a 10-9 Huskies lead. They tacked on another 20-yard field goal late in the frame for a 13-9 advantage after three quarters.
Bishop's continued to bend but not break as the defense held strong in the fourth quarter.
Elijah Williams (Pickering, Ont./Pickering H.S.) sacked Scott with 1:45 remaining, and pushed St. Mary's out of field goal range. They punted but Bishop's went three-and-out. St. Mary's got the ball back and kicker Brian Hope booted through his third field goal of the game to make the final 18-9 in favour of the Huskies.
Bishop's second half highlights
Next Up
The Gaiters are back in Nova Scotia next week as they travel to Wolfville to face the Acadia Axemen (2-3) on Saturday, Oct. 13. Kickoff is 3 p.m. local time.
Social Corner
Stay up-to-date anytime with Bishop's Athletics at
www.gaiters.ca or on social media by using #GaiterNation and @BishopsGaiters.
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