CIS #9 ranked Axemen downed in exhibition game

WOLFVILLE, NS – For most fans, last year’s 54-14 loss to the Saint Mary’s Huskies in preseason play was still in the back of most minds today as the Axemen were downed 24-21 by the StFX X-men in exhibition play.

BOXSCORE

Last year’s preseason thrashing was followed by a 7-1 season, head coach Jeff Cummins’ third AUS championship in nine seasons.

With eight of twelve AUS All-Stars returning this season, the Axemen looked in fine form in the opening quarter taking a 14-1 lead off of two first quarter touchdowns.

All-Canadian receiver Mike Squires (Bedford, NS) got the crowd of 1867 cheering after pulling in a seven yard pass from 2011 AUS Most Valuable Player Kyle Graves (Barrie, ON) for Acadia’s first of three touchdowns.

On the last play of the first quarter, Graves hit third year quarterback turned receiver Andrew Healy (Halifax, NS) for a 37 yard strike to push the Axemen lead to 14-1.  StFX opened the game with a Jeremy Ford Rouge (Halifax, NS) off of a 40 yard kickoff at the beginning of the game.

StFX pivot Clay Masikewich (Calgary, AB) capitalized on a 24 yard scramble to add seven points to the X-men’s total followed by Ford’s second rouge of the day to cut the lead to 14-8 with under seven minutes remaining in the second frame.

Backup quarterback Evan Brown (Hubley, NS) connected with first year receiver James Fioroni (Guelph, ON) at 7:21 of the third quarter to give Acadia their third and final major of the day.

Second stringer Tivon Cook (Barrie, ON) added two touchdown strikes , the first to second year receiver Randy Roseway (Ottawa, ON) late in the third, followed by an early fourth quarter 66 yard reception by rookie Kadeem Campbell (Montreal, QC) to give the X-men their first lead of the game. Hayden Peters (Inverary, ON) added a rouge off the ensuing kickoff.

StFX would hold on to 24-21 lead through the fourth quarter to give them their first win against Acadia since October 9th in 2009.

Acadia’s Graves was four for five attempts for 60 yards and two touchdowns, while Evan Brown posted an impressive 13 for 18 for 143 yards and one touchdown in more than two quarters of play.

With the loss of AUS All-Star Zach Skibin (Edmonton, AB) to a fractured leg sustained during training camp, the Axemen were led by Darryl Bien Aime (Montreal, QC) who had 8 carries for 48 yards. Andrew Healy led Acadia with 79 yards receiving on four catches.

StFX’s Tivon Cook had the game high 178 yards in passing and was nine for 11 while starting pivot Clay Masikewich was five for eight for only 87 yards.

The X-men led team total offense output with 385 yards compared to Acadia’s 300.

The Axemen will defend their 2011 AUS championship this season by opening up the regular season at home against the Saint Mary’s Huskies next Saturday at 2:00 pm on Raymond Field. The Huskies lost their exhibition game, 16-10 to the Mount Allison Mounties.

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