Defense dominant as Gaiters overcome slow start to earn first win
HALIFAX – The Bishop's Gaiters defense allowed just three points in the last 55 minutes as they led Bishop's to a 23-17 victory over the winless St. Mary's Huskies on Saturday in RSEQ – AUS interlock university football at Huskies Stadium in Halifax.
Trailing for the most of the contest freshman Mathieu Demers (Quebec City) hooked up with fellow newcomer Trevon Millings (Laval, Que.) with 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Gaiters their first lead of the game, one they did not relinquish.
The Huskies struck first with back-to-back touchdowns early in the first quarter off of Gaiters miscues. The first was the result of an interception by Andreas Robinson (Dartmouth, N.S.); the second was off a fumble by Bishop's, recovered by the Huskies on the Gaiters 33-yard line. Derek Pisani (Newmarket, Ont.) ran the ball eight yards for the touchdown to lead 14-0 just 4:08 into the game.
In the second stanza, Jamall Hyman-Hamilton (Toronto) got the Gaiters on the scoreboard early with a six-yard run into the end zone. He had 12 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown on the day.
Saint Mary's drove in a 23-yard field goal to extend their lead to 17-7 going into the half.
In the third quarter the Huskies conceded the safety to close the lead to 17-9.
Early in the fourth, Vincent Dube (Montmagny, Que.) hit a 24-yard field goal to put the Gaiters within a touchdown of the lead. Shortly after Millings had reservations for six in the Huskies end zone thanks to a 43-yard pass from Demers. The 21-year old first-year pivot completed the two-point conversion with a pass to Michael Cleghorn (Newmarket, Ont.). The Gaiters grabbed the tight 20-17 lead with just over ten minutes left in the game.
Dube kicked a 27-yard field goal to extend Bishop's lead and the Gaiters defense shut down the Huskies offence for the remainder of the contest. The six-point advantage was enough to give Bishop's their first tick in the win column, a 23-17 victory.
QUICK STATS: Vincent Pruneau (Stoneham, Que.), who was named player of the game, rushed on 12 occasions for 70 yards to lead Bishop's in the category...In his second game as the Gaiters starting quarterback Demers finished 13-28 for 146 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions…Michael Nelson (Brampton, Ont.) caught five passes for 58 yards to be the Gaiters top receiver…St. Mary's was flagged 22 times resulting in 188 yards of infractions while Bishop's committed 11 fouls for 83 yards.
