(SACKVILLE, N.B.) - The StFX X-Men are the 2015 Subway AUS Loney Bowl champions after beating the Mount Allison Mounties 14-12.
Subway player of the game Jonathan Heidebrecht hit a 41-yard field goal with 45 seconds remaining to give the X-Men the win.
(CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE HEIDEBRECHT FIELD GOAL)
The two-time defending AUS champion Mounties opened the scoring on the first play of the game when regular season AUS leading point getter Ryan Lambert sailed the opening kickoff through the StFX end zone for a 1-0 lead.
The cold, windy conditions and tough defence on both sides led to a low scoring championship game.
The Mounties extended their lead to 3-0 halfway through the first quarter when StFX, backed up deep in their end, conceded a safety.
The Mounties would make it 6-0 early in the second quarter when Lambert connected from 18 yards for his first of three field goals on the day.
With the wind in the second quarter, StFX struck for the only major of the day, when AUS all-star Tivon Cook hit Randy Roseway for a 67-yard touchdown and a 7-6 lead. The touchdown came with six minutes gone in the second quarter.
StFX put points up again on their next possession, this time when Heidebrecht hit a 36-yard field goal to make the score 10-6 for the X-Men.
The Mounties found their opportunity to score late in the second quarter when Nate Rostek recovered a Christian Ridley fumble and returned it to the StFX 40 yard line.
Three plays later, Lambert connected against the wind from 30 yards to bring the score to 10-9 with 44 second remaining in the first half.
Right before halftime StFX picked up another single point when Heidebrecht missed a 30-yard field goal attempt. The missed field goal sailed through the end zone for the single point.
StFX had the wind for the third quarter but neither team was able to put points on the board, setting up a wild fourth quarter finish.
Ryan Lambert connected from 31 yards with eight minutes remaining to give the defending champions a 12-11 lead.
With just over two minutes remaining the Mounties forced the StFX quarterback to fumble and Shaun Robinson jumped on the Mounties' fourth fumble recovery of the day.
But the Mounties were unable to capitalize and were forced to punt the ball back to the X-Men.
Cook drove the X-Men 30 yards to set up a 41-yard attempt for Heidebrecht. After a Mounties timeout, Heidebrecht's kick actually landed on the cross bar of the uprights and bounced in.
Tivon Cook was 15 of 31 for 249 yards and one touchdown for StFX. AUS MVP Ashton Dickson ran for 157 yards on 27 carries while Randy Roseway had three catches for 89 yards.
Brandon Leyh was 16 of 28 for 137 yards for the Mounties while Chris Reid had 47 yards on 20 attempts. The 2014 AUS rookie of the year was playing in his first game since breaking his collarbone back in week 1.
Te Nguyen, Matt Montgomery, Nate Rostek and Shaun Robinson all had fumble recoveries for the Mounties. Peters' late interception was the only turnover for the X-Men.
The X-Men will now host the 2015 CIS Uteck Bowl in Antigonish on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 5 p.m.(AST). The X-Men will face off in the CIS semifinal against the UBC Thunderbirds who upset the University of Calgary to win the Hardy Cup in the Canada West championship game.
Source: Mount Allison Sports Communications