(SACKVILLE, N.B.) - For the second week in a row the Mount Allison Mounties found themselves in a low-scoring football game and for the second week in a row the Mounties found a way to win in the end. This time the Mounties used some late-game heroics to stun the Bishop's Gaiters with a 10-7 come from behind road win. With the win, the Mounties move to 2-0 and sit alone in 1st place in the AUS standings.
Bishop's, playing their first regular season game after a bye to open the AUS regular season last week, opened the scoring when they picked up a single point when kicker Noah Larsen missed a 23-yard field goal attempt but sailed it through the end zone.
A Mount Allison interception gave Bishop's the ball on the Mounties 30 yard line, but the defense was able to hold, setting up a 37-yard field goal attempt. Larsen missed again and the Mounties' John Agette was able to run the ball out of the end zone to avoid any points being given up. Shortly after the Mounties would concede a safety, giving Bishop's a 3-0 lead. The Mounties defense would get those points right back after forcing Bishop's to take a safety of their own.
Bishop's would pick up another single point before halftime to enter the locker room with a slim 4-2 lead. Bishop's extended their lead to 6-2 late in the 3rd quarter when the Mounties conceded another safety. The lead would move to 7-2 when Bishop's picked up another single point off Larsen's 4th missed field goal of the day early in the 4th quarter.
And then the fireworks began. Mounties' linebacker Dallas Cook got things started when he intercepted Maxime Bouffard on the Bishop's 25-yard line and ran in back to the 18-yard line. Cook finished the game with an interception, 2.5 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, and a forced fumble.
Four consecutive runs by Jack Estabrooks brought the Mounties to 2nd and goal from the 4-yard line. From there, Justin Vogels, seeing his first AUS regular season action, found Adam Shambemirada in the end zone for the game's first touchdown. On the next play, Vogels hit Cody Barton for a successful 2-point conversion to give the Mounties a 10-7 lead.
On the ensuing possession 2nd year Mountie Owen O'Neal intercepted Bouffard to give the Mounties the ball back. After a punt gave the ball back to Bishop's, O'Neal grabbed his 2nd interception in 2 minutes, this time sealing the win for the garnet and gold.
Daniel Bell led a stingy Mounties defense with 8 tackles including 2 tackles for loss. The Mounties, who have given up just 1 touchdown in 2 games, caused 5 turnovers on the day with 3 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries.
Julian Wytinck was 7 of 15 for 31 yards with an interception while Justin Vogels went 4 of 9 for 21 yards with 2 interceptions and the game-winning touchdown. The Mounties were once again led on the ground by Jack Estabrooks who had 65 yards on 17 carries.
The Mounties will now enjoy a bye week while Bishop's will head to StFX to play the X-Men on Saturday, October 2nd.
Recap provided by Mount Allison Athletics