(SACKVILLE, N.B.) The Mount Allison Mounties engineered a dramatic second half comeback on Saturday afternoon only to come up just short, losing 27-25 to Saint Mary's in their home opener.
The hometown Mounties trailed 24-7 early in the third quarter before storming back to take a 25-24 lead with three minutes remaining only to see Saint Mary's pick up a late field goal to regain the lead with less than a minute remaining. Mounties kicker James Parker attempted a 50-yard field goal to win the game with a kick that had enough distance but sailed just right to end the game.
Saint Mary's opened the scoring five minutes into the game when Brian Hope connected from 20 yards out to give the Huskies a 3-0 lead. Saint Mary's scored again five minutes later when quarterback Josh Shimm found Liam O'Brien in the end zone from 26 yards out. Saint Mary's missed on the two-point convert attempt, leaving them with a 9-0 lead.
Neither team was able to add points until a rouge point from Brian Hope extended the Huskies lead to 10-0 with five minutes remaining in the second quarter. Two minutes later O'Brien caught his second touchdown pass, this time from 10 yards out, making the score 17-0.
The Mounties would get on the board before half time on a scoring drive started by a Nathan Jones kick return to the 45 yard line. From there the Mounties drove 65 yards on five plays before Hunter Sturgeon scored from one yard out on a quarterback keeper. The scoring play was set up by a 32 yard completion to Robbie Walker.
Saint Mary's opened the third quarter with a long kickoff return to set up a short field for the offence. From there, O'Brien caught his third touchdown of the day for a 24-7 lead.
The Mounties comeback started when sophomore defensive lineman Vincenzo Frangione picked off a Josh Shimm pass to give the Mounties good field position. This led to a James Parker field goal from 27 yards. A blocked punt by Mounties special teams led to another James Parker field goal, this time from 11 yards out to run the score to 24-13.
With Mounties gaining momentum the offense drove 45 yards before Sturgeon punched in his second touchdown of the day, again from one yard out. At this point the Mounties trailed 24-20 with 10 minutes remaining. The Mounties defence then forced Saint Mary's to take a safety and the lead was down to 24-22.
The Mounties got the ball back with eight minutes remaining and drove 45 yards to the SMU five yard line before James Parker hit his third field goal of the day, this time from 12 yards to give the Mounties their first lead of the day at 25-24.
After a roughing the kicker call kept the Saint Mary's offence on the field with less than three minutes to play, they drove down field before Brian Hope connected from 17 yards as the Huskies regained a 27-25 lead. This is where the game would finish as Parker's game ending field goal would sail just wide.
Huskies quarterback Josh Shimm was 20 for 32 for 218 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He also added 61 yards on the ground on nine carries.
For the Mounties sophomore quarterback Hunter Sturgeon was five of 18 for 76 yards. Sturgeon also ran for 111 yards on 12 carries and scored two touchdowns for the Mounties.
The Mounties now enter their bye week before travelling to play Bishop's on Sept. 14. Saint Mary's will host Bishop's next Saturday, Sept. 7 at 3 p.m.
Source: Mount Allison Athletics Sports Information