(LENNOXVILLE, QUE.) First-year quarterback Charles Aubry led an 11-play, 109-yard drive for a touchdown to put the Bishop's Gaiters up 28-16 with 5:05 left in Saturday's Subway AUS Football Semifinal presented by Keep it Social.
The score put the exclamation point on a dominant performance for the Gaiters who sent Coulter Field into a frenzy as they beat the Mount Allison Mounties by a final of 28-18. The victory was Bishop's first in the post-season since 1994 and they move on to face the Acadia Axemen in the Subway AUS Loney Bowl next Saturday.
After a slow first quarter, Bishop's led 2-0 on a conceded safety.
The Gaiters, who were playing their first playoff game since 2013, and just their second at home since 1994 gave their fans something to cheer about.
Aubry connected with veteran receiver Zach Graveson from 25 yards out for the game's first major halfway through the second stanza.
Noah Laursen tacked on a field goal to extend the Gaiters' advantage 5:20 later.
Bishop's running back Louis-Philippe Gregoire scored on a one-yard plunge as the first half expired to pace the hosts to a 19-0 advantage at the break.
Bishop's and Mount Allison exchanged safeties early on in the third quarter before the Mounties scored their first major of the game 10:59 into the frame thanks in-part to a pair of Bishop's unnecessary roughness penalties.
Momentum stayed with the Mounties early in the fourth as they threatened to make a comeback. Aubry fumbled and Mount Allison's Jake Spence rumbled 10 yards for the scoop and score to cut the hosts' advantage to 21-16.
The ensuing kickoff pinned the Gaiters on their own one-yard line after another penalty. That's when Aubry marched the Gaiters for 11 plays and 109 yards to pay dirt.
Prior to the touchdown Aubry appeared to connect with Nathan Lupien for a nine-yard score, only to have it negated by a penalty. The pair hooked up on the ensuing play for the major and a 28-16 Bishop's lead.
The Gaiters conceded one more safety but the defence held tight and secured the 28-18 win.
Bishop's ran 63 plays for 348 yards while Mount Allison ran 53 plays and 196 yards.
With the win, Bishop's heads to the AUS championship, the Subway AUS Loney Bowl, presented by Keep It Social, and have a date with the undefeated Acadia Axemen in Wolfville, N.S. on Sat. Nov. 9.
Source: Bishop's Gaiters Sports Information