(LENNOXVILLE, QUE) Cody Barton finished off a wild 3-and-10 play with 1:03 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Mount Allison Mounties a one-point lead. He caught the ensuing two-point conversion to put the visitors up 15-12 and stun the Bishop’s Gaiters on Saturday in the Subway AUS Football Semi-Final presented by Bell.
It was the first post-season victory in three tries for Mount Allison who lost the previous two years to Bishop's in the AUS semifinal.
The Mounties move on to play the StFX X-Men on Saturday, November 12 in Antigonish, N.S. in the Subway AUS Loney Bowl presented by Bell.
What was expected to be a defensive battle throughout played true as the game was scoreless after 15 minutes on an unusually hot but breezy November day in Lennoxville. A conceded safety and a Mounties 11-yard field goal after taking over on a muffed punt gave them a 5-0 lead at halftime.
Noah Laursen got the Gaiters on the board in the third stanza when he connected on a 17-yard field goal. Bishop’s then added a team safety to knot the game at 5-5 heading into the fourth.
Driving against the wind, Bishop’s pivot Justin Quirion orchestrated a 6 play 66-yard drive capped on an 11-yard pass to Gavin Leux. The Gaiters had life and a 12-5 advantage.
Then the chaos happened. The Mounties stopped Bishop’s on a third and short with 8:32 remaining to regain field position. The Gaiters defence stood tall but the Mounties continued to have the upper hand in field position and with 2:30 left, Bishop’s conceded another safety that cut the lead to 12-7.
The ensuing possession saw Gabriel Royer knock down a pass on third down and send the Coulter Field faithful into a frenzy as Bishop’s took over.
Once again the Mounties defence stood tall forcing a Bishop’s punt. The snap sailed over Laursen’s head with 1:21 remaining to give the Mounties momentum and the ball on the Bishop’s 33.
Two unsuccessful plays set-up what was an epic finish. On third and 10, Mountie quarterback Justin Vogels threw up a prayer that deflected off a Gaiters defensive back and into the waiting arms of Barton who scampered into the end zone for their first major of the day and a 13-12 advantage.
Vogels connected with Barton on the two-point conversion to give the Mounties the 15-12 victory.
Bishop’s final possession ended up in an interception and Mount Allison punched their ticket to the AUS Championship.
Vogels finished 15-30 for 141 yards, the major and an interception. His counterpart Quirion went 18-28 for 197 yards a TD and a pick.
Barton earned Subway Player of the Game honours after catching 9 balls for 93 yards and the touchdown.
Quirion was the Bishop’s Subway Player of the Game.
-Recap courtesy of Marty Rourke, Bishop's Athletics