LENNOXVILLE, Que. – The Montreal Expos were the best team in baseball, OJ Simpson was making headlines and
The Sign by Ace of Base topped the charts. The year was 1994, the last time the Bishop's Gaiters football team played for a championship. That will change this Saturday when the Gaiters travel to Wolfville, N.S. to kick off with the Acadia Axemen in the 2019 AUS Subway Loney Bowl presented by Keep it Social. Game time is set for 2 p.m. local time (1 p.m. Eastern) at Raymond Field.
In 1994, the Gaiters won the Dunsmore Cup, their fourth (1986-1988-1990) by beating McGill 14-7 in Montreal. Current Gaiters' Athletic Director
Matt McBrine was a defensive back on that team and Athletic Manager
Joey Sabo was a graduate assistant coach.
What's at stake?
The 2019 AUS Subway Loney Bowl champions receive the Jewett Trophy. The AUS winner also hosts the U SPORTS National Semifinal, the Uteck Bowl on Saturday, Nov. 16. The RSEQ Champion will visit.
For Acadia, they have an undefeated season on the line.
This Year
Acadia swept the season series and remains the only team that Bishop's and coach
Cherif Nicolas has not beaten since joining the conference in 2017.
The Maple League colleagues opened the season in Wolfville, N.S. with Acadia making a statement in the form of a 53-13 victory. Acadia quarterback Hunter Guenard was 20-31 for 273 yards and three touchdowns. For Bishop's
Liam Kennedy (Nepean, Ont./St. Joseph H.S.) started, but first-year quarterback
Charles Aubry (Laval, Que./College Lionel-Groulx) came in and took the reins of the offence for the rest of the season.
In Lennoxville, the game was closer. Bishop's was simply unable to find the end zone until the last drive of the game and the Axemen spoiled the Gaiters' homecoming celebrations with a 24-12 victory. Guenard went 17-31 for 298 yard while Aubry connected on 21-33 passes for 248 yards.
All-Time
The Gaiters are 2-8 all-time against the Axemen including the RSEQ-AUS crossover, when they were 2-2. Bishop's largest win came in 2007, a 42-17 victory in Wolfville, while Acadia's biggest triumph was this year's season opener.
Top Ten Team
Acadia enters championship weekend and the final U SPORTS top-10 poll of the year ranked No. 4. Bishop's meanwhile is on the cusp of getting in at No. 11.
Last Week
While Acadia enjoyed a bye after posting an 8-0 regular season mark and finishing in first place in the AUS, Bishop's (4-4) took care of business against Mount Allison (3-5) in the AUS semifinal by a final score of 28-18.
Read the complete recap here.
The Gaiters swept AUS Football Players of the Week with that performance. Aubry was named Offensive Player of the Week for the second time, linebacker
Louve Moussenguet (St-Jerome, Que./Cégep de St-Jérôme) was the Defensive Player of the Week for the third time in 2019 and
Nathan Walker (Brampton, Ont./St. Roch C.S.S.) earned his second Special Teams Player of the Week nod.
Playoff History
As has been documented the Gaiters won their first playoff game since 1994 last week. In '94 they won the Dunsmore Cup (OQIFC) before falling to the Western Mustangs in the Churchill Bowl.
Acadia has won 12 Jewett Trophies and appeared in 27 title games. Their most recent triumph came in 2017.
Tickets, Get your Tickets!
Tickets for Saturday's Loney Bowl are available here:
https://boxoffice.acadiau.ca/TheatreManager/1/tmEvent/tmEvent4037.html
Watch it live
Can't make it to Wolfville? Watch live online at
www.austv.ca.
The game will also be broadcasted live on TV1 in the Maritimes.
Follow the Gaiters side of the story with exclusive behind the scenes access on Twitter and Instagram:
www.instagram.com/BishopsGaiters
www.twitter.com/BishopsGaiters
Stay up to date with everything Bishop's Gaiters at
www.gaiters.ca or on social media by using @BishopsGaiters.
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