The Bishop's Gaiters return to the AUS Championship, the Loney Bowl presented by Bell, for the third time in four seasons as they look to capture the elusive crown for the first time.
 
Date: Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023
Opponent: St. Francis Xavier X-Men
Location: Alumni Stadium, Antigonish, N.S.
Time: 2 p.m. Atlantic / 1 p.m. Eastern
Video: www.austv.ca
Stats: https://www.atlanticuniversitysport.com/sports/fball/2023-24p/boxscores/20231111_ds4d.xml
 
This Season
Bishop's posted a 6-2 record in 2023, their most victories since 2013.  The Gaiters only two losses came to StFX.
 
The Gaiters advanced to the Loney Bowl after beating the Mount Allison Mounties 34-15 on Saturday, Nov. 4 in an AUS Semifinal presented by Bell.  They turned a 15-7 halftime deficit into the 34-15 victory thanks in part to back-to-back pick-6's, 58 seconds apart in the third quarter.  Read the full semifinal story here.
 
StFX posted a perfect 8-0 record and have won 23 straight AUS regular season contests.  Adding playoffs, they have 27 consecutive victories over their conference opponents. They qualified for their third straight title game after beating St. Mary's 36-20 in the other AUS Semifinal.
 
Team Rankings
While Bishop's was nationally ranked for two weeks, StFX has been in the top-10 all season, ending the year in a tie for fourth in the country.
 
As expected, these two teams lead the conference in most statistical categories including…
…points per game (StFX 1^st at 38.4, BU 2^nd at 29.8)
…points allowed per game (StFX 1^st at 12.5, BU 2^nd at 13.8)
…yards per game (StFX 1^st at 443.4 per game, BU 2^nd at 430.8 per game)
 
StFX vs Bishop's this year
The Gaiters and X-Men opened the season in Antigonish with StFX earning a 22-8 win in wet conditions. Quarterback Justin Quirion (Saint-Georges, QC/CEGEP de Levis) led the way for Bishop's going 23-39 for 273 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Silas Fagnan was 13-30 for 140 yards with two TD's and two interceptions.  Malcom Bussey racked up 115 yards on the ground.
 
Bishop's outgained StFX 317 to 273 in that contest but turned the ball over 7 times (1 int, 3 fumbles, 3 on downs).
 
Game two was an instant classic on Coulter Field with the Bigg Bowl on the line on Friday, Sept. 29.  Bishop's took StFX to triple overtime before eventually falling 34-31 to the X-Men.  Ben Hadley kicked four field goals for the X-Men including going a perfect 3-for-3 in overtime.
 
The Gaiters held a 21-7 lead at halftime before the two-time defending AUS champs found their form and set up the epic ending.
 
Justin Quirion (Saint-Georges, QC/CEGEP de Levis) again led the way for Bishop's going 22-32 for 249 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game at the end of the third quarter with an injury.  Quirion has not played since.
 
Mason McGriskin (North Bay, ON/West Ferris S.S.) took over at pivot for Bishop's and went 6-10 for 43 yards and added 44 rushing yards.
 
AUS Semifinals Presented by Bell
It was the tale of two halves for Bishop's who used 27 unanswered second half points to punch their ticket back to Antigonish and the Loney Bowl.  McGriskin led the Gaiters under centre.  He went 16-31 for 151 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.  He also added 48 yards rushing on eight attempts and two touchdowns.
 
StFX also trailed early in their semifinal with Saint Mary's. They found themselves behind 10-0 after the first quarter and were unable to put the Huskies away until the fourth. They eventually went onto a 36-20 victory.  All-star running back Malcom Bussey rushed just 6 times for 10 yards in the contest while quarterback Silas Fagnan took the reins going 19-29 for 362 yards, four touchdowns and an interception.
 
All-Stars
The Gaiters boast eight all-stars in 2023 and the AUS Rookie of the Year.
 
Offensive Lineman Mikael Pattin (Mandeville, QC/CEGEP de Levis) was named Rookie of the Year and earned an all-star selection while fellow o-linemen Olivier Fournier (Frampton, QC/Cegep Limoilou) and Mitchell Martel (Kirkland, QC/John Abbott College) were also recognized.  Marco A. Briones (Monterrey, Mexico) earned the H-Back all-star and receiver Oliver Burnett (Fredericton, NB/Fredericton HS) rounded out the offensive players on the all-star team.
 
On defense, lineman Samuel Robichaud (Quebec City, QC/Cégep de Thetford) earned his first all-star nod, as did safety Yani Gouadfel (Mitry-Mory, France/Cégep de Thetford). Gabriel Royer (Lawrenceville, QC/Cégep de Sherbrooke) also earned an all-star selection, a year after earning the conference's Defensive Player of the Year honours.  Unfortunately, Royer's season came to an end with a leg injury in their penultimate game at Acadia.
 
Key Performances
Offense
…Justin Quirion (Saint-Georges, QC/CEGEP de Levis) played in 5 games and was second in the conference in passing at 238 yards per game. He trailed only Fagnan (259.4)
…Mason McGriskin's (North Bay, ON/West Ferris S.S.) four rushing touchdowns are good for second in the conference behind Bussey (8)
…Oliver Burnett (Fredericton, NB/Fredericton HS) is tied with Ben Harrington from StFX for most receiving touchdowns (6). That puts them second in U SPORTS
…David Chaloux (Joliette, QC/Cégep régional de Lanaudière) leads the AUS in all-purpose yards per game at 143.0 yards per game
 
Special Teams
…Kicker Xavier Gervais (Ottawa, ON/Cégep de l'Outaouais) is second in the conference in scoring with 75 points. He was 16-21 (76%) in field-goal kicking.  StFX's Ben Hadley leads the way with 123 points (24-29 on field goals)
…Yani Gouadfel (Mitry-Mory, France/Cégep de Thetford) also handles the punting duties for Bishop's. He was second in the conference at 39.3 yards per game, trailing the X-Men's Max Capriotti (41.8)
 
Defense
…Samuel Robichaud (Quebec City, QC/Cégep de Thetford) was tied for second in the AUS with 5 sacks, trailing StFX's Alex Fedchun (6.5)
…Yani Gouadfel (Mitry-Mory, France/Cégep de Thetford) led the conference and is tied for first in U SPORTS with 4 interceptions
 
 
All-time history
…Bishops' is 3-13 all-time vs. StFX
…Bishop's is 0-1 vs. StFX in the post-season
…The X-Men have won the last 7 contests dating back to Oct. 4, 2019. That is also the last time StFX has lost a game against an AUS opponent on their home field
 
Bishop's Loney Bowl History
Bishop's is 0-2 in the Loney Bowl
…L 31-1 at Acadia in 2019
…L 25-17 at StFX in 2021
 
Last time…
…Bishop's Played in a Loney Bowl: 2021 (@ StFX, L 25-17)
…Bishop's Beat StFX: Oct. 4, 2019
…Bishop's Won in Antigonish: Oct. 4, 2019
…Bishop's played in a national bowl game: 1994 Churchill Bowl vs. Western, L 41-24 (Lennoxville, Que.)
 
Social Media
Instagram: @GaitersFB & @BishopsGaiters
X: @BishopsGaiters
Facebook: Bishops Gaiters
Website: www.gaiters.ca
 
Contact
Marty Rourke
Manager of Communications for Athletics and Recreation
Bishop's University
819-574-4498
mrourke@ubishops.ca
 
On-Site Contact (Sat. Nov. 11)
Matt McBrine
Director of Athletics and Recreation
Bishop's University
819-571-6636
mmcbrine@ubishops.ca