CIS #10 Football Axemen dropped by McGill 45-15

MONTREAL -- Luis Guimont-Mota rushed for 126 yards and a pair of touchdowns as McGill upset No.10-ranked Acadia 45-15 in an interlocking football game between the AUS and RSEQ conferences at Percival Molson Stadium, Saturday.

McGill, which had a 45-15 advantage in first downs, led 13-2 after the opening quarter, 20-4 at halftime and 36-6 after three quarters.

Mota, a senior from Quebec City who had only 11 carries, had TD runs of 25 and five yards, to put the Redmen ahead 7-2 and 20-4, respectively. He was one of two Redmen running backs to reach the century mark. He was joined in that department by sophomore Nicholas Khandar, a native of Paris, France, who ran for a game-high 153 yards on eight carries, including a 45-yard TD scamper that capped the McGill scoring at 9:31 of the final quarter.

Rookie quarterback Nicolas English, a native of Saint-Constant, Que., who was making his first career start for the Redmen, completed 11 of 20 pass attempts for 151 yards, a pair of TDs and no interceptions. He also rushed nine times for 17 yards and a touchdown, a one-yard plunge that put his troops ahead13-2 at 9:32 of the first stanza. his favourite target was Yannick Langelier-Vanasse, a fifth-year receiver from Lachine, Que., who snared five balls for 67 yards, including an 11-yard TD toss  that put McGill ahead 36-6 late in the third quarter. English also hooked up with receiver Remi Bertellin for a 22-yard major that put McGill ahead 27-4 before the third quarter was a minute old.

It was a dismal day for the Axemen offence, which finally broke through late in the fourth quarter when Eugene McMinns scored their lone, a 39-yard reception from back-up quarterback Nick Bynkowski with only 2:21 remaining in the game. Until that point in the game, the Axemen's only points had been produced by their defence, which forced McGill to concede three safeties.

Acadia did manage to chalk up 404 yards of net offence but 180 of them came late in the game.

Starting quarterback Cody Cluett connected on only 10 of 24 attempts for 167 yards, no TDs and no interceptions. Bynkowski, who relieved Cluett in the third quarter, was 7-for-9 for 127 yards and a TD.

McGill, which evened their record at 2-2 to keep their playoff hopes alive, now face a crucial game at Bishop's (1-3) next Saturday at 3 p.m. in a game that will be televised on the TVA Sports network. Acadia (2-1) will host Mt. Allison (1-2) next Saturday at 2 p.m.

Submitted by McGill Sports Information Office - Earl Zukerman