SHERBROOKE, Que. – If you asked the Acadia Axemen and Bishop's Gaiters prior to the season, they surely would have wanted different fates as we enter Saturday's AUS football game. Both teams are in search of their first win of the 2018 campaign. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. on Coulter Field.
How We Got Here
The Gaiters have opened the season with a 36-22 loss at Mount Allison and dropped a 42-19 contest to the St. Mary's Huskies last week in Lennoxville.
Last week's game had Bishop's hanging tight with Huskies through the first 25 minutes, however a late first half touchdown and safety allowed St. Mary's to pull away.
Nicholas Cartagenise' (Brampton, Ont./Toronto Jr. Argos (OFC)) pick-six in the second half was featured on the AUS Football Plays of the Week.
The defending Loney Bowl champions, the Acadia Axemen opened the season with a bye. Last week they were in Antigonish, N.S. and dropped a 30-24 heart breaker in overtime to the St.FX X-men. St. FX out-scored Acadia 14-7 in the fourth quarter and put the only points on the board in the extra frame to stun the Axemen.
Coach's Corner
"Acadia has a lot of talent returning," said Gaiters' bench boss
Cherif Nicolas. "Dale Wright and Cordell Hastings are dangerous on the offensive side of the ball and Bailey Feltmate was last year's defensive player of the year. Give Acadia credit, they are the defending champions; we have to control what we can control against them."
Who to Watch
Bishop's
Keith Normandin (Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que./Collège de Valleyfield) leads the Gaiters at running back and returner. He is seventh in the AUS in all-purpose yards through two games with 77 rush yards, 19 receiving yards and 137 return yards.
Nathan Walker (Brampton, Ont./St. Roch C.S.S.), a 2017 AUS all-star is also chipping in. He is Bishop's top pass-catcher with seven receptions for 132 yards and a pair of touchdowns including this highlight reel one against St. Mary's where he stole an interception from the Huskies defensive back in the end zone.
On defense,
Maxx Toutant (Winnipeg, Man./St. Paul's H.S.) leads Bishop's through two games. He is third in the AUS with 11 total tackles including one for a loss.
Acadia
The Axemen return 2017 AUS Outstanding Player, RB Dale Wright. Last week he rushed for 142 yards on 25 carries and scored a major.
Receiver Cordell Hastings provides danger Acadia's aerial attack. Last week he caught six passes for 113 yards.
Reigning defensive player of the year Bailey Feltmate is also back for the Axeman. He had six tackles a week ago including one for a loss.
All-Time
A year ago, the Axemen swept the Gaiters in the two contests they played. Acadia won 27-10 to open the Gaiters campaign in Wolfville, N.S. and beat Bishop's 27-24 in Lennoxville over Thanksgiving.
Prior to Bishop's joining the AUS, the Gaiters and Axemen split the four contests they played, meaning Acadia now holds a 4-2 overall edge.
Tickets
Tickets to Saturday's game are available at
www.gaiters.ca/tickets or gameday at the door.
Watch It Live
You can catch Saturday's game live online at
www.gaiters.ca/webcast or
www.austv.ca
Statistically Speaking
Live stats are available are at
http://www.atlanticuniversitysport.com/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20180908_w5o0.xml
Social Corner
Stay up-to-date anytime with the Bishop's Gaiters at
www.gaiters.ca or on social media using @BishopsGaiters or #GaiterNation.
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