Ho-Sang powers Gaiters to 18-11 win over Huskies in season-opener
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bishop's (1-0) | 0 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 18 |
|
Saint Mary's (0-1) | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 11 |
HALIFAX, NS - The Bishop's Gaiters (1-0) outscored the Saint Mary's Huskies (0-1) 16-4 in the second half to score a season-opening 18-11 victory in the first game of the 2024 Atlantic University Sport football regular season at Huskies Stadium in Halifax, N.S.
The game kicked off with a bang as the opening kick-off saw Huskies defensive back Gavin Nesterenko (Sudbury, ON) force a fumble from Gaiters running back O'Shae Ho-Sang (Lasalle, QC), which was recovered by Huskies linebacker Zachary Chiarotto (Winnipeg, MB), giving Saint Mary's excellent field position. Moments later the Huskies took advantage, as kicker Adam Johnston (Rothesay, NB) drilled a 31-yard field goal to put the Huskies ahead 3-0.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��
— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) August 24, 2024
The opening play of the 2024 @AUS_SUA regular season sees Zachary Chiarotto force a fumble on the kick-off, leading to a Huskies field goal for the first three points of the season! pic.twitter.com/mpr9Du6Rj0
The two teams exchanged punts, before the Huskies made a big defensive stand inside their own 10-yard line, stopping the Gaiters on three consecutive plays to force a turnover on downs. Saint Mary's took over possession but quarterback Michael Petroschke (Toronto, ON) threw a pass that was intercepted by Gaiters defensive back Jean Aubert (Lyon, France). The Gaiters seemed poised to capitalize, but on the very next play, Gaiters quarterback Justin Quirion (Saint-Georges, QC) was picked off by Huskies defensive back Max Van Nieuwkoop (Burlington, ON) keeping the visitors scoreless.
The big defensive plays continued late into the first quarter, with Zachary Chiarotto forcing Gaiters receiver Joey Julien (Sherbrooke, QC) to cough up the football, which was recovered by Huskies linebacker Isaiah Okoli (Surrey, BC), ending the first quarter with the home team in front 3-0.
On the opening drive of the second quarter, Saint Mary's conceded a safety to cut the lead to 3-2. The Gaiters drove down the field looking to take the lead, but their drive was ended with a 33-yard missed field goal from kicker Guillaume Brousseau (Mascouche, QC).
Petroschke and the Saint Mary's offence found some momentum on the next drive, connecting with receivers Trydell Mintis (Halifax, NS) and Cherokee Robinson (Halifax, NS) on 39 and 45 yard completions, advancing the Huskies offence into the red zone, where Adam Johnston nailed a 20-yard field goal to extend the lead to 6-2.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��
— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) August 24, 2024
Michael Petroschke connects with Cherokee Robinson for a 45-yard completion, leading to an Adam Johnston field goal to push the Huskies lead to 6-2! pic.twitter.com/mUW5QDN0Zv
The Huskies would add a single-point off of an impressive 72-yard punt from Cameron Brown (Hammonds Plains, NS), and take a 7-2 lead into halftime.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��
— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) August 24, 2024
"It would be nice to get a big punt here from Brown" - how about a 71-yard punt for a single point! pic.twitter.com/l5y5w4Tdzx
Early in the third quarter, the Gaiters offence started to click into gear – Justin Quiron connected with receivers Nykolas Pierre-Masse (Laval, QC) and Cedric Maurice (Laval, QC) on receptions of 32 and 43 yards respectively, with O'Shae Ho-Sang finishing off the play with a dynamic 21-yard scamper into the end-zone to put the Gaiters ahead 10-8 for their first lead of the afternoon.
Not to be outdone, the Gaiters defence applied serious pressure to the Huskies line, with back-to-back sacks from Mathieu Payette (Québec, QC) and Gabriel Royer (Lawrenceville, QC) putting an early end to a promising Saint Mary's drive. Early in the fourth quarter, the Gaiters added another point off of a Guillaume Brousseau rouge, extending their lead to 11-8.
On the next Gaiters drive, another Brousseau punt saw Huskies receiver Chandler Zinck-Marier (Pleasantville, NS) break out on a 50-yard punt return, giving the home team excellent field position. After a 11-yard completion from Petroschke to receiver Gabe McInroy (Rothesay, NB), Johnston hit his third field goal of the afternoon, this one from 33-yards away, tying the game at 11-11 with 3:28 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Gaiters offence responded with the Quirion to Ho-Sang connection quickly moving them into Huskies territory, but another missed field goal – this time from Xavier Gervais (Ottawa, ON), returned possession to the Huskies deep in their own territory.
The Huskies Stadium crowd came to life as the host had possession with just over two minutes remaining, but the Gaiters quickly curbed their enthusiasm with another big-time defensive play, as Aubert picked off Petroschke for the second time, giving Bishop's another possession inside the Saint Mary's 20-yard line.
It took just over 30 seconds for the Gaiters to capitalize, with Ho-Sang punching in a 6-yard touchdown run to restore the Bishop's lead, 18-11. Saint Mary's had one last chance to equalize, but Petroschke was picked off by defensive back Krystopher Isidore (Montréal, QC) for the third and final time, securing the 18-11 victory for the visitors.
O'Shae Ho-Sang was named Player of the Game, leading the Gaiters with 212 all purpose yards – including 104 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Justin Quirion completed 23 of 45 pass attempts for 351 yards and one interception, while Oliver Burnett paced the receiving corps with 103 yards on six catches.
The Huskies offence was paced by running back Malik Williams (Ajax, ON) and receiver Trydell Mintis, who each recorded 61 yards. Michael Petroschke completed 11 of 25 pass attempts for 164 yards and three interceptions. The Huskies special teams was a highlight, with kicker Adam Johnston (3/3 FG), punter Cameron Brown (11 punts for 483 yards) and returner Chandler Zinck-Marier (four punt returns for 127 yards) all having effective games.
On the defensive side, the Gaiters dominated with seven sacks and three interceptions. Gabriel Royer (seven tackles, three sacks), Jaures Goke (seven tackles, two sacks) and Mathieu Payette (three tackles, two sacks) all created havoc in the Huskies backfield, while Jean Aubert and Krystopher Isidore combined for three interceptions.
Huskies defensive standouts included linebackers Dawson Puk (11 tackles) and Zachary Chiarotto (6.5 tackles, one fumble forced, one fumble recovered), while defensive back Max Van Nieuwkoop recorded 8.5 tackles and an interception.
The Gaiters will be back in action next weekend, as they host the STFX X-Men on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 2 p.m., while the Huskies hit the road to Wolfville, N.S., where they will visit the Acadia Axemen on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 2 p.m.
Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Mona Ghiz / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
