LENNOXVILLE, Que. – First-year quarterback
Charles Aubry (Laval, Que./College Lionel-Groulx) led an 11-play, 109-yard drive for a touchdown to put the Bishop's Gaiters up 28-16 with 5:05 left in Saturday's Subway AUS Football Semifinal presented by Keep it Social. The score put the exclamation point on a dominant performance for the Gaiters who sent Coulter Field into a frenzy as they beat the Mount Allison Mounties by a final of 28-18. The victory was Bishop's first in the post-season since 1994 and they move on to face the Acadia Axemen in the Loney Bowl next Saturday.
After a slow first quarter, Bishop's led 2-0 on a conceded safety.
The Gaiters who were playing their first playoff game since 2013 and just their second at home since 1994 gave their fans something to cheer about. Aubry connected with veteran receiver
Zach Graveson (Sherbrooke, Que./Champlain-Lennoxville) from 25 yards out for the game's first major halfway through the second stanza.
Noah Laursen (Calgary, Alta./Bishop Carroll H.S.) tacked on a field goal to extend the Gaiters' advantage 5:20 later. Bishop's running back
Louis-Philippe Gregoire (Jonquière, Que./Cégep de Jonquière) scored on a one-yard plunge as the first half expired to pace the hosts to a 19-0 advantage at the break.
Bishop's and Mount Allison exchanged safeties early on in the third quarter before the Mounties scored their first major of the game 10:59 into the frame thanks in-part to a pair of Bishop's unnecessary roughness penalties.
Momentum stayed with the Mounties early in the fourth as they threatened to make a comeback. Aubry fumbled and Mount Allison's Jake Spence rumbled 10 yards for the scoop and score to cut the hosts' advantage to 21-16.
The ensuing kickoff pinned the Gaiters on their own 1-yard line after another penalty. That's when Aubry marched the Gaiters for 11 plays and 109 yards to pay dirt. Prior to the touchdown Aubry appeared to connect with
Nathan Lupien (Saint-Jerome, Que./Cegep Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu) for a nine-yard score, only to have it negated by a penalty. The pair hooked up on the ensuing play for the major and a 28-16 Bishop's lead.
The Gaiters conceded one more safety but the defense held tight and secured the 28-18 win.
Bishop's ran 63 plays for 348 yards while Mt.A only mustered 53 plays and 196 yards. Aubry finished the day 21-28 with two touchdowns and an interception.
With the win, Bishop's heads to the AUS Championship, the Loney Bowl, and have a date with the undefeated Acadia Axemen in Wolfville, N.S. on Sat. Nov. 9.
Stay up-to-date anytime with the Bishop's Gaiters at
www.gaiters.ca or on social media by using @BishopsGaiters.
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