PREVIEW: X-Men and Mounties meet for the 2022 Subway AUS Loney Bowl

After an undefeated season, STFX hosts the AUS championship on home soil once again

(ANTIGONISH, N.S.) This Saturday, the defending champion STFX X-Men host the Mount Allison Mounties for the 2022 Subway AUS Loney Bowl presented by Bell, marking the 48^th Loney Bowl championship game in AUS history.

The X-Men will make their second consecutive appearance in the championship final, entering the game with an undefeated season under their belts having finished 8-0. Led by five-time AUS coach of the year Gary Waterman, STFX led the conference in scoring (261), points per game (32.6), yards per game (404.6), passing yards (1940), passing touchdowns (13), rushing touchdowns (13), field goals (16-22), sacks (27) and defensive interceptions (14) and outscored their opponents 261-83.

Along with Waterman's coach of the year win, the X-Men roster includes five major award winners—Malcolm Bussey (most outstanding player of the year), Zachary Houde (rookie of the year), Alex Fedchun (outstanding lineman of the year), and Tyler Wilson (volunteer coach of the year)— as well as 13 all-stars. The X-Men have appeared in four of the last six AUS football championship finals, winning all four.

Mount Allison makes their first Loney Bowl appearance since 2016 this weekend, after a thrilling, down-to-the-wire 15-12 semi-final win over the Bishop's Gaiters—who've appeared in the last two conference finals—last weekend. The Mounties finished the regular season in third place overall, with a 4-4 record, sitting top-three in the conference in passing yards (1398), passing yards per game (174.8), sacks (11), defensive interceptions (11), fumble recoveries (11) and field goal percentage (72.7%). 

Six Mount Allison players—four defensive, one offensive and one special teams—were named 2022 AUS all-stars earlier this week. On Saturday, they'll be hunting for the Mounties' first AUS title since 2014; they've won six since 1960.

The Loney Bowl finalists have faced each other twice so far this season with STFX both times—37-13 at home and 26-7 at Mount A in Sackville, New Brunswick.

The 2022 Subway AUS Loney Bowl presented by Bell gets underway at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 12. Tickets are available via goxgo.ca, and the game will be streamed live with AUStv.ca.