Football: Gaiters leave McGill red on homecoming
SHERBROOKE, QC - The Bishop's Gaiters (2-3) beat the McGill Redmen (1-4) on Saturday, September 29 by a final score of 26-18. An overcast, cold homecoming led to a Gaiters slow start; however the Gaiters scored 14 straight second half points to grab a lead they would not relinquish.
The first score of the game came off a Mathieu Paquette (Magog, Quebec) missed field goal just over three minutes into the game. McGill's Samy Rassy (Montreal) kicked a 31 yard field goal with one minute left in the quarter and gave the Redmen a 3-1 lead.
The Redmen struck first in the second frame on a Jonathan Collin (Greenfield Park, Quebec) quarterback keeper. After the convert they led 10-1. The Gaiters responded with reigning RSEQ player of the week Matt Burke (Timberlea, Nova Scotia) scoring on a five yard run. After the conversion the Gaiters cut the Redmen lead to 10-8. Rassy missed an 11 yard field goal resulting in a rouge before Paquette booted a 21 yarder knotting the game at 11 heading into halftime.
After the break the Gaiters took over. A Paquette rouge seven minutes into the frame followed by Burke exploding on a 47 yard run to pay dirt. With the convert, Bishop's led 19-11. That would be the score as the teams entered the fourth quarter.
Midway through the final frame Bishop's put the nail in the coffin as Jordan Heather (Oromocto, New Brunswick) found Alexander Fox in the back corner of the end zone for a 10 yard score. The Paquette convert extended the Bishop's lead to 26-11 with just over eight minutes left. McGill did not go quietly as Collin threw a seven yard touchdown pass to Shaquille Johnson (Toronto) with 52 seconds remaining. A failed onside kick recovered by Ronlee King-Fileen (Oshawa, Ontario) and a couple strong runs by him ended the game.
The Gaiters win leaves them in control of their own playoff lives as they sit at 2-3, tied for third place with the Concordia Stingers and Sherbrooke Vert et Or. The Gaiters hold the tiebreaker with the Stingers and will face the Vert et Or on October 13 in the annual Mayor's Cup. The Redmen and Gaiters will play again on Thursday, October 4 at 7 p.m. at Percival Molson Stadium. Get all of your Bishop's Gaiters information at www.gaiters.ca.
Game Note: The Gaiters rushed the ball 38 times for 234 yards while McGill carried the ball 32 times and amassed 194 yards. Geoff Coventry (Orleans, Ontario) caught 5 passes for 127 yards. The Gaiters had 585 yards offense.
