Gaiters defeat Huskies 38-10 in season opener

Gaiters defeat Huskies 38-10 in season opener

LENNOXVILLE, Que. – Gabin Leux's blocked punt at the 11:35 mark of the first quarter set the tone as the Bishop's Gaiters rolled to a 38-10 victory over the Saint Mary's Huskies in their home opener at Coulter Field on Saturday in Atlantic University Sport football action.

The Huskies offence struggled to start the game, but the defence picked up the slack, with defensive back Max Van Nieuwkoop (Burlington, ON), picking off Gaiters quarterback Justin Quiron to halt a Bishop's drive.

On the next series, Huskies quarterback Duncan Patterson (Bedford, NS), hit received Liam Stewart (Port Coquitlam, BC) downfield for a 51-yard completion. The Huskies would get on the scoreboard moments later, as kicker Ethan Nagler (Winnipeg, MB) hit an 11-yard field goal halfway through the first quarter to open the scoring with the visitors leading 3-0.

On the Huskies next drive, it was the Gaiters special teams unit that turned the tide of the game, with Gabin Leux blocking a punt, and Alex MacDonald recovering it and scampering 22-yards the Gaiters first major of the day, putting the hosts up 7-3.

The Gaiters continued to make plays on special teams in the second quarter. Xavier Gervais hit a 33-yard field goal, Yani Gouadfel scored a rouge, and in the final seconds of the half, the Gaiters pulled out some trickery, snapping the ball to Gervais, who pooch-punted it down the field.  Gouadfel and Marco Briones were on-side and recovered the loose ball.  That set up a Gervais 15-yard field goal as the first half ended to put Bishop's up 14-3.

Gervais added a 37-yard field goal in the third quarter, and quarterback Justin Quirion connected with received Oliver Burnett for a 22-yard touchdown as time expired in the third, with the Gaiters taking a 24-3 lead into the final frame.

Saint Mary's would cut into the lead in the fourth quarter, as backup quarterback Zac Montgomery (Indianapolis, IN) marched the Huskies on an 11-play, 84-yard drive that ended with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Liam Stewart to cut the lead to 24-10.

The Gaiters responded with two late touchdowns thanks to the legs of Mason McGriskin and David Chaloux as they focused on the potentially crucial point differential tie-breaker at the end of the season.

The Gaiters out-gained the Huskies 373 yards to 187. Quirion finished 17-29 for 197 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Huskies starter Duncan Patterson went 7-15 for 51 yards and Montgomery was 3-8 for 33 yards and a touchdown.

The victory moves Bishop's to 1-1 as they head into their bye week. Saint Mary's falls to 0-1 and will play at Acadia (1-1) on Friday night in Wolfville, N.S.