WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The Axemen football team improve to 3-1 and are undefeated in conference play as they handed the spirited Mount Allison Mounties a 30-6 loss. The Mounties, who shocked the StFX X-men last weekend with a convincing 36-17, fell short this time around as the Axemen led for the entire game.
While statisically the Axemen led in all categories, head coach Jeff Cummins was not thrilled with his team’s performance. “We played enough to win but we played very undisciplined giving up two touchdowns that were called back due to penalties. We ran the ball well and played well defensively but we fell short on some goals and performing to our expectations”, pointed out Cummins.
The Axemen pulled together 280 yards rushing and 259 yards passing compared to the Mounties 260 yards net offense, but points on the score board were hard to come by, with Acadia posting two missed field goals and two touchdowns called back due to penalties.
Axeman first year running back Darryl Bien Aime (Montreal, Que.) capped a 10 play, 82 yard drive to open the scoring on a 5 yard touchdown run after five minutes of play in the first quarter.
All-Canadian receiver Mike Squires (Halifax, N.S.) added six points early in the second quarter on a 24 yard reception to put the Axemen ahead 14-0 after one half of play.
A 47 yard drive was ended when Kyle Graves (Barrie, Ont.) lost five yards after being sacked on the Mountie 10 yard line, settling for an Acadia field goal to give the Axemen a 17-0 lead off of a 22 yard field goal by Ryan Begin.
Three minutes later John Fioroni (Guelph, Ont.) scored his first touchdown of the season and is AUS football career on a 29 yard reception from Graves to push the lead to 24-0 at the nine minute mark of the third frame.
Mountie Jordan Botel (Prince George, B.C.) wrapped up an eight play, 71 yard drive to give Mount Allison their only points of the day. Botel punched in the six points on a two yard dive but the two point conversion failed, closing the gap to 24-6.
Ryan Begin (Orleans, Ont.) added two field goals in the final quarter on the rain soaked turf to conclude game.
Acadia pivot Kyle Graves completed 17 of 30 passes for two majors, while Mountie rookie Brandon Ley (New Westminster, B.C.) was 15 for 27 attempts, 101 yards and was sacked three times.
Jordan Botel netted 82 yards on 17 carries, while Acadia’s Zach Clarke (Sackville, N.S.) picked up a game high 92 yards on 19 carrieds. First year running back Darryl Bien Aime added 82 yards – averaging 8.2 yards per carry for the Axemen.
Mike Squires pulled in five catches for 105 yards and one touchdown, while first year receiver John Fioroni added 54 yards on four catches.
Defensive stand-outs included second year linebacker Drew Morris (Calgary, Alta.) who totaled 9.5 tackles for Acadia including six solo tackles, seven assited and one tackle for a loss. Ben Halpern (Halifax, N.S.) led the Mounties with vie solo tackles and three assisted.
The Axemen, who improve ot 3-1 and hold on to first place in the AUS standings, head to Antigonish, N.S. next Saturday afternoon to take on the winless StFX X-Men.
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