LENNOXVILLE, Que. – Brendan Griffiths (North Vancouver, BC) caught six passes for 107 yards and his first-career touchdown as the Bishop's Gaiters celebrated seniors' night in style. They beat the Mount Allison Mounties 18-8 on Coulter Field on Friday night to close out the AUS regular season.
The win leaves Bishop's at 6-2, their best record since 2013. They had already locked up second place in the conference. Mount Allison drops to 3-5 and finishes in third spot.
The two schools, both members of the Maple League, will reunite on Coulter Field next Saturday, Nov. 4 in an AUS Semifinal. It will be the fourth consecutive semifinal the foes play against one another.
Friday's game, which had no playoff implications, had a predictably slow pace with neither team laying their cards on the table.
David Chaloux (Joliette, QC) broke through for a 39-yard touchdown to open the scoring for the Gaiters at the 9:09 mark of the first quarter. That was set up on the heels of Xavier Gervais (Ottawa, ON) connecting with Griffiths for a 37-yard play.
The Mounties conceded a safety then were able to march six plays and 43 yards for their only major of the day when Nathan Trites scampered six yards midway through the second quarter.
Bishop's was up 9-6 at halftime.
Mason McGriskin (North Bay, ON) took over for Gervais under centre to start the second half for the Gaiters.
After an early conceded safety and a back-and-forth field possession battle, McGriskin connected with Oliver Burnett (Fredericton, NB) for 41 yards. The very next play he found Griffiths streaking down the left side and laid a pass in perfectly for the 19-yard touchdown and an 18-6 Bishop's lead.
A safety conceded by Bishop's was the only point in the fourth quarter as the Gaiters went on to win 18-8.
McGriskin went 10-14 for 130 yards while Gervais was 7-13 for 114. Chaloux ended the night as the game's leading rusher with 64 yards on seven carries.
The Gaiters out-gained Mount Allison 349 to 218 yards while the Mounties ran 14 more plays.
Trites ran for 53 yards on 7 carries and the major.
Daniel Bell was named Mounties player of the game after recording eight tackles while Griffiths earned the Player of the Game nod for Bishop's on his seniors' night.
The two teams will step back onto Coulter Field next Saturday at 2 p.m. in an AUS Semifinal presented by Bell.
Recap courtesy Bishop's Athletics