(HALIFAX, N.S.) On a night that saw the Halifax Harbour fog roll into Huskies Stadium, the Saint Mary's Huskies collided with St. Francis Xavier X-Men in the season opener of AUS football action.
It has been 21 months since these two rivals faced each other due the COVID-19 pandemic and both teams treated the fans to some great football action.
The game opened up with the X-Men controlling the tempo in the opening minutes opening the scoring with a 12-yard field goal from kicker Max Capriotti three minutes into the game. Capriotti would add to the X-Men 6-0 lead with another field goal of 42 yards six minutes later.
The Huskies would find their rhythm on offence in the next series driving the ball 75 yards, capped by an 11-yard touchdown run by Teon Alexander-Amour (Vancouver, B.C.). Owen Macrae (Canning, N.S.) converted the score to put the Huskies ahead 7-6. The Saint Mary's defence would get into the mix scoring a safety to close the quarter up 9-6.
The Huskies defence would again strike again half way through the second quarter when Adrian Bah (Toronto, Ont.) scooped up a fumble an returned it 42 yards for the score. Macrae converted again to put the home squad up 16-6.
The X-Men with some solid defence had a pair of scores in the final two minutes of the half to pull even at 16-16 going into the locker room. Capriotti hit a 34-yard field goal while Malcolm Bussey scored on a 21-yard pass and run from quarterback Silas Fagnan and with the Capriotti convert the teams were deadlocked.
In the second half the X-Men took the opening possession 95 yards on six plays culminating with a 45-yard pass score by Isaac Fagnan from Silas Fagnan. With the Cappriotti kick the visitors took the lead 23-26. St. Francis Xavier added to their lead a few possessions later with a five-play 41-yard drive capped off with a one-yard run by quarterback Fagnan; closing the quarter with another Capriotti convert up 30-16.
Bolstered by a strong defence in the fourth quarter the Huskies got back on the board with a thrilling 66-yard punt return by Justin Julien (Montreal, Que.) five minutes into the closing quarter to cut the lead to a single score 30-23.
The Huskies pressed to find the some scoring late in the game but an interception by the X-Men sealed their fate. Capriotti hit another 11-yard field goal in the last minute to make the final score 33-23.
The X-Men were led by Subway Player of the Game Silas Fagnan who was 22 for 34 for 312 yards and two touchdowns. The offence was bolstered by Isaac Fagnan with eight receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown; defensively Brandyn martin had 6.5 tackles, a forced fumble and 1.5 sacks.
For the Huskies, KJ Steinbridge (Calgary, Alta.) was 20 for 34 and 201 yards while Liam O'Brien (Parksville, B.C.) caught six balls for 63 yards. On defence, Isiah Okoli (Saint John, N.B.) had 5.5 tackles while Jacob Morgan (Halifax, N.S.) chipped in with five.
Saint Mary's (0-1) returns to the gridiron Sept. 25 when they travel Acadia University to take on the Axemen.
STFX (1-0) has a bye.
Source: Saint Mary's Huskies Communications