U Sport pre-season action [RECAP]: RSEQ top 2 dominate, AUS holds it’s own with the Gryphons, Gaels down Redmen

Antigonish, NS – In what was a unique format for U SPORTS football competition, the StFX X-Men, Mount Allison Mounties and Guelph Gryphons took to the field at StFX Oland Stadium Saturday afternoon in the ‘Summer Showdown’, featuring six mini exhibition games.

Each squad played four mini games, or 15-minutes quarters, two each against each other. When all the points were tallied, both the Gyphons and Mounties came away with 3-1 records while the host X-Men were 0-4 on the afternoon. Guelph tallied 62 total points, MtA had 40 and StFX scored eight.

Guelph defeated StFX 15-3 in the first game, then beat Mount Allison 30-0. The Mounties defeated conference rivals StFX 20-2 and following a half-time break, Guelph beat StFX 17-0. Mount Allison then followed up with wins over Guelph (10-0) and StFX (10-3).

X-Men head coach Gary Waterman knew it was going to be an interesting afternoon with the different format, commenting “The challenge heading into it was you knew you were going to play, then sit off and get warmed up again, and I think all the teams did a good job of dealing with that. There are momentum shifts in a quarter and a lot of factors that play into this format more so than a regular game.”

Gryphons offensive coordinator Todd Galloway said the afternoon was great experience for their team, noting the format “hasn’t been done like this before, so we didn’t know what to expect coming out, but our guys got up for the game today and they got to see two opponents they’ve never faced before and get all their mistakes out before the regular season.”

When asked about how the team faired out on the gridiron Galloway commented, “It’s early and we made some mistakes, but we’re happy with how our guys played today. We’ll go back and make some corrections and get ready for week one.”

Mounties head coach Scott Brady also noted that it is a starting point for his squad and there are some things they need to do better. “I think there was some very positive things today. It’s the best job we’ve done in the second half of any exhibition games we’ve played in terms of getting guys in and out and getting some younger guys some experience. Some of the starters were starting for the first time so getting them into the game against good teams like Guelph and StFX was really positive to get them some experience.”

Game by Game scoring breakdown

Guelph 15, StFX 3

  • Safety conceded by StFX at 4:07 to give Guelph early 2-0 lead
  • Guelph linebacker Luke Korol recovered a StFX fumble by QB Josh Millar to run it in 36 yards to increase the lead to 9-0
  • Jonathan Heidebrecht kicked a 20 yard field goal for the X-Men to pull to within six points
  • Guelph receiver Jordan Terrio scored their second major of the game with a 16 yard catch off a James Roberts pass
  • Two-point conversion attempt was incomplete as the game wrapped up 15-3

Guelph 30, MtA 0

  • Johnny Augustine scored a one yard TD run on the Gryphons opening drive of the game to give them an early 7-0 advantage
  • Gabriel Ferraro booted his first of three field goals at 4:39, this one came from 31 yards out
  • Running back Jamal Hooker scored a touchdown on a 21 yard run to increase the lead to 17-0
  • Terrio scored his second major of the afternoon, catching a 10 yard pass from Theodore Landers with 50 seconds left in the game
  • Ferraro then booted two field goal bombs with 17 seconds left (51 yards) and no time on the clock (57 yards) to give Guelph the 30-0 shutout

MtA 20, StFX 2

  • Mount Allison conceded a safety on the opening drive of the game in what would amount to StFX’s only points scored
  • Mounties wide receiver Malik Richards had a 69 yard TD pass from Jakob Loucks
  • Ryan Lambert kicked a 43 yard field goal at 8:35 to give the Mounties a 10-2 lead
  • Kiel Ambursley scored a one yard TD rush on a third and goal play for Mount A
  • Lambert booted his second field goal of the game from 23 yards out to round out the scoring in the 20-2 win

Guelph 17, StFX 0

  • An eight-yard TD run by Jamal Hooker on the second drive of game gave Guelph early 7-0 lead
  • With under three minutes left, Jordan Terrio caught a 10 yard pass from Theodore Landers for their second major
  • A 35 yard field goal with no time left on the clock by Chris MacLean rounded out the Gryphons scoring as the X-Men were held off the score sheet

MtA 10, Guelph 0

  • Guelph conceded a safety in opening two minutes as MtA took an early 2-0 lead
  • Mounties touchdown by Nathan Jones (3rd and goal) on a one yard run after a long drive gave them a 9-0 advantage
  • A rouge on the ensuing kick-off rounded out the scoring in the 10-0 Mount Allison win

MtA 10, StFX 3

  • Mounties opened the scoring at 5:09 on 15 yard touchdown catch by Corlan Challenger from Troy Downton
  • Lambert field goal with just over five minutes to play from 24 yards out gave them a 10-0 lead
  • Keiran Burnham got the X-Men on the board with a 36 yard field goal with 1:21 left on the clock

Pivot Notes

  • The X-Men used four different quarterbacks – one per mini game – in Josh Millar, Dylan Fisher, Quinn Stewart and Michael Beale
  • X-Men head coach Gary Waterman was asked after the game if he knew who his starting QB would be heading into next week’s first regular season game and he noted, “We will evaluate the game tape, we got a chance to look at all the quarterbacks today. Sometimes when you watch the game live there’s thing you think that you’re seeing or not seeing or not sure of, so I think going back and watching the tape is really going to be helpful in making all those final decisions.”
  • Mount Allison used five different quarterbacks in Jakob Loucks, Troy Downton, Brandon Smyk, Dan Comfort, Jeremy Gallant
  • Loucks saw action in the majority of the first two games with Downton playing the final series of the second game and most of the third game.
  • Jeremy Gallant, listed as a receiver, threw some passes for the Mounties, as did Smyk and Comfort
  • The Gryphons went with four pivots on the afternoon – James Roberts, Theodore Landers, Deandre Rose and Brayden Lassenba. Roberts played the first mini game with Landers throwing the majority of the next two, with Lassenba and Rose also seeing action.

Next Up

  • Mount Allison and StFX open up AUS regular season play next weekend. The X-Men travel to Halifax for a Friday night game against the Saint Mary’s Huskies on August 25th at 7:00 pm, while the Mounties will host the Acadia Axemen Saturday at 2:00 pm
  • Guelph begins OUA regular season play on Sunday, August 27th when they host the Ottawa Gee Gees

Source: MTA Mounties

Saint Mary’s (20), Acadia (17)

Final 1 2 3 4 T
Saint Mary’s (0-0-0) 0 7 0 13 20
Acadia (0-0-0) 0 0 17 0 17

WOLFVILLE, NS – In one of two AUS football exhibition games, the visiting Saint Mary’s Huskies squeezed past the host Acadia Axemen with a 20-17 win. The weather was neither team’s choice as both teams battled the elements including a second half that was marred by high winds and rain.

Huskie Brian Hope (Port Coquitlan, B.C.) recorded two fields goals from 37 and 35 yards out and a rouge in the second quarter to give Saint Mary’s a 7-0 halftime lead.

Acadia’s Eugene McMinns (Nassau, Bahamas) recorded a 44 yard touchdown reception on the Axemen’s opening drive of the second half. A safety and a rouge would follow in the middle of the third quarter.

McMinns struck again on a 41 yard touchdown catch from first year pivot Mason Brown. The throw was Brown’s first pass of his rookie season.

Just over two minutes into the final quarter, Chika Uzor (Montreal, Que.) pulled down an eight yard pass for Huskies’ first and only major of the day. Uzor was the leading Huskie receiver with three catches for 46 yards.

Two safeties and two rouges by Huskie Trevor Wright (Calgary, Alta.), concluded the scoring in the exhibition game.

Rookie Axeman Cole Estabrooks (Moncton, N.B.) was the game’s top rusher with 44 yards on three carries. Fourth year running back Cameron Davidson (Kentville, N.S.) added 25 on six carries. McMinns had 85 yards on two receptions.

From behind the center, Saint Mary’s Kaleb Scott posted 129 yards in passing on nine completions, while teammate Cameron Valardo was four of 10 passes for 55 yards. First year pivot Alex Laurie completed six of 13 for 68 yards and one touchdown. Mason Brown was one for three that included a 41 yard touchdown.

On the defensive side of the ball, linebackers Jesse Boudreau and Bailey Feltmate each had 4.5 tackles. Raphael Muntu, of the Huskies, dominated defensively during his playing time with eight solo tackles.

In offensive net yards, the Axemen trailed Saint Mary’s 180 yards to 269 yards, yet the time of possession was 30 minutes each.

Saint Mary’s host the St. Francis Xavier X-Men in their season home opener at Huskies stadium, Friday, August 25th. Game time is 7 p.m. Tickets on sale Monday at the Homburg Centre.

Source: SMU Huskies
York (9), Sherbrooke (21)

Concordia (23), Laurier (16)

Photo by Yan Doublet

Laval (46), Carleton (2)

QUEBEC CITY, QC — Carleton became the first victim in Laval’s quest to repeat as national champions in 2017, as the Ravens felt the full force of the Rouge et Or’s power in Saturday’s 46-2 preseason loss at Stade Telus-UL.

BOX SCORE

The Ravens never found their stride against the defending Vanier Cup winners, who looked like a well-oiled machine in mid-season form. Carleton’s offence struggled to penetrate the Laval defence, which turned several turnovers into touchdowns, while the Rouge et Or punished Carleton through the air with three more scores.

Unlike last year’s preseason encounter that saw the Ravens go toe-to-toe with Laval before ultimately falling short in overtime, this year’s result showed a disparity between the two programs just a week before the start of 2017 regular season.

GAME FLOW:

Following a roughing-the-passer call against Carleton in the early stages of the first quarter, the Rouge et Or took advantage of their field position to open the scoring. Laval quarterback Hugo Richard found receiver Marc-Antoine Pivin on a 25-yard toss to the back corner of the end zone to put the home team up 7-0 at the 7:46 mark. Carleton’s deficit increased to 9-0 on their next offensive possession as the Ravens were pinned deep in their own territory and opted to take the team safety.

Carleton’s offence appeared to come to life to start the second when freshman QB Michael Arruda (Gatineau, QC) hit running back Mathieu Pickens (Amherstburg, ON) on a screen pass for a 45-yard gain, but several plays later, a botched field-goal snap forced kicker Michael Domagala (St. Catharines, ON) to take a consolation 1-point rouge. The Rouge et Or dominated the remainder of the quarter as Hugo Richard’s 13-yard TD scramble capped off a 75-yard drive to put his side up 16-1. To make matters worse, consecutive pick-six touchdowns from Laval’s Carl Achy and Frederic Gagnon to put the Ravens in a 30-2 halftime hole. Despite controlling possession for 16:31 of the opening two quarters, the Ravens’ undisciplined play (11 penalties for 103 yards ) inhibited them on both sides of the ball.

The Rouge et Or continued their onslaught in the third as backup QB Samuel Chenard completed a 29-yard touchdown strike to Benjamin Garand-Gauthier, before finding Simon Gingras-Gagnon on a 9-yard corner route for his second TD pass of the quarter as Laval headed into the fourth with a 46-2 stranglehold. Both Giordy Belfiore (Vancouver, BC) and Tanner DeJong (Brockville, ON) of Carleton saw time under centre in the final quarter, but with Laval well in control, an uneventful fourth quarter transpired with no scoring plays.

BY THE NUMBERS:

The Ravens’ defence was scorched for 313 yards through the air on a combined 24-for-40 passing day from the three Rouge et Or quarterbacks to 14 different Laval receivers. Carleton forced Laval into five turnovers, including three forced fumbles, but were unable to take advantage on the scoreboard as the offence could only muster nine first downs all game. The Ravens struggled to pound the ball through the ground game, as the Rouge et Or limited Carleton to only 43 rushing yards on 20 attempts.

RAVENS REPORT:

Carleton running back Jayde Rowe (Scarborough, ON) and linebacker Leon Cenerini (La Salle, MB) did not feature in the game. Fourth-year defensive end Kene Onyeka (Brampton, ON) showed his attacking prowess in the first half with two sacks and one fumble recovery. Rookie Shaiheem Charles-Brown (Vancouver, BC) led the Ravens with six tackles in his first university game, while defensive backs Keith Graham (Halifax, NS) and Thomas Knapp (London, ON) each had an interception.

2017 SEASON OPENER:

The Ravens will need to refocus and put their lacklustre exhibition effort behind them as a trip to Kingston to face regional rival Queen’s awaits in Week 1 of the OUA regular season. After not meeting last season, the Gaels will finally get their chance at payback following Carleton’s lopsided 39-8 quarterfinal playoff victory in the last game played at the old Richardson Stadium in October 2015.

UP NEXT: 
OUA Week 1
Carleton at Queen’s
Saturday, August 26, 2017 – 1 p.m.
Richardson Stadium – Kingston, ON

Source: Carleton Ravens

 

Montreal (63), Toronto (3)

Box Score

The University of Toronto Varsity Blues football team dropped a 63-3 decision to the Montreal Carabins on Saturday, August 19 in non-conference exhibition action in Montreal.

Third-year Washington State transfer Connor Ennis started at quarterback for the Blues and went 8-for-14 for 57 yards through the first half.

Fifth-year running back Kaleb Leach led the Blues on the ground, rushing 10 times for 45 yards, while also making four kick returns for 75 yards on the day.

Second-year receiver Nick Stadnyk made five catches for 37 yards, while rookie standout Jaykwon Thompson had two receptions for 17 yards and made three kick returns for 46 yards.

Defensively, the Blues were led by second-year defensive back Austin Rosbrook, who totaled a game-high nine tackles. Veteran linebacker Michael Leslie recorded 5.5 tackles and one break up, while Julian Romano had 2.5 tackles and a sack in the loss.

The Varsity Blues open their 2017 regular season campaign next Sunday, August 27 when they travel to Waterloo to take on the defending Yates Cup champion Laurier Golden Hawks. Kick off is scheduled for 1 p.m.

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite U of T athletes and teams, please visit www.varsityblues.ca. Don’t forget to follow us on TwitterInstagramSnapChat and Facebook for the latest and greatest in Varsity Blues intercollegiate athletics.

Source: Varsity Blues football

(PHOTO COURTESY OF QUEEN’S SPORTS INFO OFFICE)

Queen’s (38), McGill (24)

KINGSTON, Ont – Quarterback Frederic Paquette-Perrault threw for 243 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns — one rushing and one passing — but it was not enough as the visiting McGill Redmen fell 38-24 to long-time rival Queen’s in U SPORTS preseason football at Richardson Stadium, Saturday. The Gaels improved to 102-75-5 lifetime against McGill, in a series that dates back to 1884.

Elsewhere in games involving Quebec-based teams, Laval clocked Carleton 45-2, the Montreal Carabins crushed Toronto 63-4, Sherbrooke clipped York 21-9 and Concordia prevailed 23-16 over Laurier.

After McGill was first on the board with an early 13-yard field-goal by sophomore Findlay Brown, the Gaels went to work and put up 28 points in the first half against the Redmen. Queen’s, which posted a 3-5 record in the OUA conference last season, led 7-3 after the opening quarter, 31-17 at halftime and 38-17 going into the final frame. The Redmen, who finished 4-4 in the RSEQ conference, had a shot for a comeback near the red zone in the final minutes but were sacked on back-to-back plays, turning the ball over on downs to the Gaels, who ran out the clock.

Paquette-Perrault, a 6-foot-2, 212-pound sophomore, completed 15 of 25 pass attempts and rushed twice for 15 yards. The 21-year-old accounting major hooked up with fellow sophomore receiver Joel Soucy for a 21-yard TD catch to cap a six-play scoring drive early in the second quarter. He then rushed for a two-yard TD with less than two minutes remaining in the half, narrowing the gap to 28-17.

“It’s great that our second-year quarterback was really throwing the ball well and our receivers benefited from that but we have to be more consistent and not drop the easy passes,” said third-year McGill head coach Ronald Hilaire. “We need to punch it in when we are in the red zone and we didn’t.”

Three McGill receivers reached the 90-yard plateau, led by Mathieu Soucy who collected a game-high 102 yards on six catches. Teammates Jeremy Sauvageau and Felix Lupien both finished just shy of the century mark. Sauvageau tallied 98 yards on just three receptions, while Lupien had 94 yards on four catches.

Freshmen pivot Dimitri Sinodinos took over for McGill in the second half and went 6-for-13 for 78 yards.

The McGill offence produced 394 net yards while the Gaels amassed 464. Queen’s also had a 31-23 edge in first downs. Both teams lost one fumble in the game and McGill had the lone interception which was returned 25 yards for a touchdown by freshman linebacker Alexandre Pare,  which reduced the gap to 38-24 midway through the final quarter.

Queen’s starting quarterback Nate Hobbs was an efficient 17-for-24 for 225 yards and threw for two touchdowns. His first TD toss was to Connor Weir at the seven-minute mark of the first quarter to put the Gaels ahead 7-3. Matteo Del Brocco added another scoring major early in the second frame to make it 14-3. The Gaels leading rusher was Jake Puskas who carried seven times for 78 yards. Jonah Pataki also contributed to the ground attack with eight carries for 54 yards and a TD.

The Gaels held McGill to just 45 rushing yards, including 25 on two carries for freshman Pearce Dumay and a dozen yards by rookie Daniel Adesegun on three rushing attempts.

Queen’s opens their OUA campaign next Saturday when they host Carleton, while McGill begins their RSEQ season on Friday, Sept. 1 at home in a 7 p.m. start against the defending Vanier Cup champion Laval Rouge et Or.

REDMEN RAP: Sophomore defensive back Vincent Dethier led all tacklers with seven total take downs, while Chris Mackey led the Gaels with 5.5 tackles… McGill specialist Joshua Lucas collected 193 return yards, including 131 on six kickoff returns and 62 on seven punt returns,

SEE STATS & VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS ONLINE AT QUEEN’S WEBSITE

Source: McGill Sports Info Office

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