Out-gaining the Huskies 457 yards to 227 yards net offence, the statistics didn’t reflect what was on the scoreboard as the Huskies headed to the locker room at the half with a 16-11 lead built on a Jahmeek Taylor (Mississauga, Ont.) 59 yard touchdown reception on the last play of the second quarter and a 114 yard missed field goal return for his second major of the day on the last play of the first half.
Taylor, who posted a game high 320 yards All-Purpose yards was the Subway player of the game for Saint Mary’s, while Acadia’s All-Canadian receiver Mike Squires (Halifax, N.S.) captured the Player of the Game honours with 13 catches for 123 yards. Squires’ 13 catches tied the current Acadia record for the most receptions in a game held by former Axemen Stu Venables and Grant Davy.
Two Huskie rouges early in the first quarter gave Saint Mary’s a 2-0 lead. Acadia struck back quickly on a 20 yard strike from Kyle Graves (Barrie, Ont.) to third year quarterback converted to receiver Andrew Healy (Bedford, N.S.) capping an impressive six play, 60 yard drive to give the Axemen their first of three leads.
Saint Mary’s regained a 9-7 lead on a Taylor’s first of two touchdowns in the first half. Acadia gained two safeties off of two conceited points for their second lead of the game at 11-9. A missed 47 yard field goal by Ryan Begin (Orleans, Ont.) was then returned by Taylor, with no time on the clock in the second quarter for the last major of the day by the Huskies.
A 10 yard third quarter field goal by Ryan Begin, followed by the third of three team safeties conceited by the Huskies tied the game at 16. Acadia would hold off any offensive threats by the Huskies in the closing quarter and added a missed field goal rouge; a rouge from a 69 yard punt by Kyle Graves to take a 18-16 lead in the closing minutes.
Ryan Begin solidified the win with a 41 yard field goal at 14:18 of the final frame. Defensive back Sean Stoqua (Ottawa, Ont.) hammered the last nail in the coffin with an interception on the Saint Mary’s 35 yard line with little time remaining in the game.
Acadia pivot Kyle Graves was 31 for 49 for 363 yards and one interception, while Huskie Jack Creighton (Port Colborne, Ont.), who left the game early in the fourth quarter with a suspected concussion, was 13 for 25 attempts and 180 yards. Replacement Jean Legault (Sherbooke, QC) completed two of seven attempts for 12 yards.
Acadia Head Coach Jeff Cummins was not thrilled with his team’s performance on the field, despite the win. “Saint Mary’s is a better team than people are giving them credit for. But a win is a win by definition and we are happy with that alone”, points out Cummins. “We won despite ourselves with 457 yards of offense, an interception in the end zone, a three field goal when we had a first down on the three yard line. I think our players expect more from themselves.”
The Axemen will prepare to meet the CIS #2 ranked Laval Rouge et Or in Laval’s first home night game next Saturday starting at 7:00 pm (EST). The last time both teams played in Quebec City was at the 2006 Uteck Bowl. The last time both teams have met was in Wolfville back on September 13, 2008. The Axemen are winless against the Rouge et Or since the interlock began in 2002, with five losses against the Laval including the 2006 bowl game loss.
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