Mounties edge Axemen 13-8 in tight defensive battle

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – Only one major scored in what was a tight defensive battle gave the visiting Mount Allison Mounties a 13-8 win over the Acadia Axemen.

In the first meeting of the Axemen and Mounties in Sackville, N.B., the result was similar with Mount Allison edging Acadia 10-9.

Aidan O'Neal's 6 yards run on the Mounties' opening drive, wrapped up a 79 yard, 11 play drive at 10:35 of the opening quarter was the first and only touchdown of the day.

With a 7-0 lead in the opening frame, the Axemen responded with a 30 yard Ben George field goal after Mountie pivot Julian Wytinck's pass was intercepted by Damien Bucknor at Mount Allison's 24-yard line.

The Mountie James Parker added a 42-yard field goal – his first of two – in the closing minutes of the third quarter to push the lead to 10-3.

Early in the fourth quarter, Ben George chipped in a 15-yard field goal after a 10 play drive to close the lead to 10-6 Mounties.

At the 8 minute mark of the final frame, Mount Allison conceded a safety to narrow the lead to 10-8.

An Axemen fumble on Acadia's 34-yard line set up a 41-yard field goal by Parker to give Mount Allison a 13-8 lead.

James Parker was named the Subway Player of the Game after posting a 40.2-yard average on 11 punts and was two for two on-field goal attempts plus Parker averaged 58.8 yards per kickoff.

"Definitely one of the better games I had this regular season. So far this season it's been an individual effort that has been quite disappointing, but today was a great way to get it back on track and hoping to keep this up going through the playoffs," noted Parker following the game.

A low offensive game from the onset, both teams were unable to break the 200 net yards offensive output. The Axemen edged the Mounties 190 to 187 in offensive yards but trailed in net yards running with 104 to 65.

Mountie Adam Bennett posted a team-high 60 yards in rushing, with teammate Jack Estabrooks added 55 yards. Acadia's Cole Estabrooks had a game-high 62 yards on 15 carries.

Acadia's Julien Poirier-McKiggan pulled in four passes for a game-high 53 yards. Cody Barton had 41 yards on 3 receptions for the Mounties.

On the defensive side of the ball, defensive lineman Kyle Chappus had 10.5 tackles that included 1 for a loss. Damien Bucknor had a timely interception that set up a Ben George field goal. Michael Domanico leads all Mountie tacklers with five.

The Mounties improve to 4-1 and clinch a second-place finish, while the 1-4 Axemen clinch the last spot for post-season play as the season winds down next weekend with the Axemen traveling to StFX and the Mounties hosting Bishop's.