Mounties slide by Axemen in a 10-9 win in season opener

The Mount Allison Mounties treated a large Homecoming crowd to a thrilling 10-9 victory to kick of the AUS football regular season at Alumni Field on Saturday. The game was the first AUS football game played on Mount Allison's campus since the end of the 2019 season. 

The game was marked with strong defense by both teams, leading to a low-scoring game that went down to the last minute. The visiting Axemen found the scoreboard first when a 7 play, 47-yard drive resulted in a single point after a missed field goal. Acadia kicker Ben George missed wide from 31 yards, but the ball sailed through the end zone to give Acadia a 1-0 lead with 6 minutes remaining in the 1st quarter. 

The Mounties took a 2-1 lead late in the first quarter when Acadia elected to take a safety after being stopped deep in their own end by the Mounties. On the ensuing possession, the Mounties drove 58 yards to set up kicker James Parker for a 24-yard field. Parker connected to give the Mounties a 5-1 lead. 

Parker would connect on his 2nd field goal of the game with just over a minute remaining in the first half, this time from 29 yards. This gave the Mounties an 8-1 lead at the break. 

The game's only touchdown came when Acadia's quarterback Duncan Patterson connected on a 6-yard completion that receiver Matt Gledhill took for an 82-yard touchdown reception. After George connected on the extra point to tie the game, he sailed the resulting kickoff into the end zone to give Acadia a 9-8 lead. 

But the Mounties had a little flight left to electrify the Homecoming crowd. The Mounties used a 51-yard drive to set up a 38-yard field goal attempt for Parker's third of the day. The field missed right but sailed through the end zone to tie the game at 10-10. 

Less than 2 minutes later Parke had another chance, this time from 29 yards. The kick missed but once again sailed through the end zone to give the Mounties a 10-9 lead. A late fumble recovery gave Acadia one more chance but when returner Terrell Connell ran George's missed 50-yard field goal attempt out of the end zone the Mounties were able to secure their first win of the season. 

Mounties quarterback Julian Wytinck was 10-22 for 72 yards with 1 interception. For Acadia, Patterson was 19 of 29 for 181 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. 

Subway Player of the Game Jack Estabrooks (Sackville, NB) had 98 yards on 18 carries with a long of 26 yards. Cole Estabrooks had 29 yards on 14 carries for the Axemen. 

The Mounties now prepare for a trip to Quebec where they will play Bishop's on Saturday, September 25th at 2PM (Eastern). Acadia returns home to host Saint Mary's on Saturday at 2 PM. 

Recap provided by Mount Allison Athletics