(HALIFAX, N.S.) - The Mount Allison Mounties opened the 2016 AUS season with a 29-14 loss to the StFX X-Men on one of the warmest afternoons of the year in Sackville, N.B.
In a rematch of last year's Subway AUS Loney Bowl, the X-Men used a strong first half to build a 15-0 lead. Although the Mounties climbed to within six points in the second half, the X-Men were able to hold on for the win.
StFX opened the scoring at 7:53 of the first quarter when kicker Jonathan Heidebrecht connected on a 31-yard field goal to give the X-Men the lead.
Four minutes later, the X-Men stretched their lead to 10-0 when Dejaun Martin took an eight-yard pass from Tivon Cook and found a hole all the way to the end zone. The 79-yard scoring play was the longest of the day for either side.
Heidebrecht hit his second field goal of the game, this time from 38 yards, three minutes into the second quarter to give the X-Men a 13-0 lead.
A Mount Allison safety with 90 seconds remaining in the first half stretched the X-Men lead to 15-0 at half time.
The Mounties conceded another safety at 10:50 of the third quarter. Heidebrecht then hit his third field goal of the day with just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter to run the score to 20-0.
The Mounties offence found some life late in the third quarter when freshman quarterback Jakob Loucks drove his team 75 yards on eight plays before running back Chris Reid scored from one yard out.
Lambert's extra point made the score 20-7.
After the Mounties defence forced a two and out and forced good field position, the Mounties offence went back to work.
Back-to-back strong runs by Chris Reid and Kiel Ambursley put the Mounties back in scoring position and Reid once again found the end zone, this time from three yards out.
After Lambert's extra point, the Mounties were within six, 20-14.
But it was as close as the Mounties would come. Veteran StFX quarterback Tivon Cook once again drove his team down the field before Jordan Socholotiuk punched it in from one yard out.
StFX would add another Heidebrecht field goal before the end of the fourth quarter to make the score 29-14.
The Mounties defence had two interceptions, one each by Dylan Cossar and Philip Thompson, and they were able to sack Tivon Cook five times. For the X-Men, Hayden Peters had an interception.
The Mounties now go on the road for Week 2 as they travel to Saint Mary's on Friday, Sept. 16 for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
The X-Men host the Acadia Axemen the following day at 2 p.m. in Antigonish, N.S.
Source: Mount Allison Sports Communications