By: Maggie Veitch, Bishop's Sports Information
LENNOXVILLE, Que. - With two games remaining in the 2021 AUS regular season, the Gaiters have found their stride. Points were at a premium in last weekend's game versus the Acadia Axemen in Wolfville, Nova Scotia as a result of the defensive clinics put on by both teams. The Gaiters got the first and last touchdowns of the game and came away with a crucial one-point victory.
With the win, Bishop's secured a playoff spot and will now face another playoff-bound team - the StFX X-Men. The two teams will meet for the second time this season after StFX outlasted the Gaiters earlier in October but, this time, there is a lot more on the line. Both teams will compete for the Bigg Bowl which has called Bishop's home since the Gaiters' Bigg Bowl victory in 2019 so the Gaiters will, no doubt, be looking to defend their title. Although both teams have clinched a playoff spot, the outcome of this game potentially has a major impact on the final standings in the AUS and on the playoff picture.
Kick-off is slated for 2PM at Coulter Field, the final regular season game for the Gaiters at home. Prior to the game, Bishop's will honour its graduating seniors.
The X-Men (3-0) are coming off of a bye while the Gaiters (2-2) are coming off of a monumental 15-14 win at Acadia last weekend, the first victory against the Axemen since joining the AUS in 2017.
Bigg Bowl Hisory:
The Bigg Bowl was donated in 2002 by the family of Reverend H. R. Canon Bigg, and to date, has been awarded after competition between the StFX X-Men and Bishop's Gaiters in U SPORTS football. Since Bishop's joined the AUS conference in 2017, one of the annual match-ups between the two teams is designated as the Bigg Bowl. StFX and Bishop's are small liberal arts universities that share a rich history of athletic excellence as well as community outreach.
Currently, StFX owns a 4-2 lead over the Gaiters when the Bigg Bowl is on the line.
2002 - StFX 22 | BU 7
2004 - StFX 50 | BU 17
2009 - BU 33 | StFX 12
2017 - StFX 27 | BU 14
2018 - StFX 12 | BU 11
2019 - BU 17 | StFX 11
All-Time:
The Gaiters are 2-5 against StFX since joining the AUS in 2017 and were 1-2 against the X-Men prior to that in RSEQ-AUS crossover play. The two teams will face each other for the second time this season.
Current Standings:
|
GP |
W |
L |
Win % |
Streak |
PF |
PA |
PTS |
| x - StFX |
3 |
3 |
0 |
1.000 |
Won 3 |
86 |
71 |
6 |
| x - Mount Allison |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0.750 |
Won 1 |
63 |
51 |
6 |
| x - Bishop's |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0.500 |
Won 2 |
65 |
69 |
4 |
| *Acadia |
4 |
1 |
3 |
0.250 |
Lost 1 |
37 |
33 |
2 |
| Saint Mary's |
5 |
1 |
4 |
0.200 |
Lost 3 |
58 |
85 |
2 |
'x' – Clinched Playoff Berth
*Note: Acadia forfeits one regular season win vs. Saint Mary's due to use of an ineligible player. The Sept. 25 Saint Mary's at Acadia game, originally a 33-10 victory by the Axemen, will be recorded as a 1-0 win for Saint Mary's.
Game Coverage:
Saturday's game can be watched live at
https://aus.yaretv.com/. You can also follow live on social media:
Twitter: @BishopsGaiters
Instagram: @gaitersfb & @bishopsgaiters
ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT
This past week,
Louis-Philippe Gregoire (Jonquière, QC/Cégep de Jonquière) and
Keagan Hughes (West Kelowna, BC/M.B.S.S.), were named Provigo, Robert Lafond Athletes of the Week as well as the AUS Offensive and Defensive Football Players of the Week. Hughes was also selected as the U SPORTS Defensive Football Player of the Week.
Gregoire had an impactful performance in the Gaiters' 15-14 victory over the Acadia Axemen on Saturday afternoon. The fifth-year politics student had 16 carries on the day for 124 yards, including two rushing touchdowns to secure the Gaiters' first win over the Acadia Axemen since joining the AUS in 2017. Gregoire currently leads the AUS in rushing with 66 carries for 440 yards and two touchdowns in four games this season. He averages 110 yards per game and 6.7 yards per carry for the Gaiters.
Hughes led the Gaiters' defense in Saturday's 15-14 win over the Acadia Axemen. The veteran linebacker tallied 13 tackles on the day, including 12 solo tackles. He also added 3 tackles for a loss of 43 total yards. His 13 tackles are tied for the sixth-most in a single game in the AUS record book and rank second in school history. Hughes currently leads the AUS in total tackles for the 2021 season, with 30 to his name. He also leads in tackles per game (7.5) and tackles for loss (6 for 53 yards).
Stay up-to-date anytime with the Bishop's Gaiters at www.gaiters.ca or on social media by using @BishopsGaiters.
