Gaiters squeeze by Axemen 13-5 in AUS season opener

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – Marco Briones (Guadalupe, Mexico)  and David Chaloux (Saint-Charles-Boromee, Que.) combined for 265 yards on the ground as the visiting Bishop's Gaiters pulled off a 13-5 win over the hometown Acadia Axemen in one of two AUS season-opening games today.

When asked what led his team to victory today, Subway Player of the Game Marco Briones noted a great team effort, but the work is not completed.

"We have a lot of work to do. We will keep training to be the best we can be.  I think more than anything, it was an effort (that led to the win). We forgot about what happened last year, and moved forward," said Briones after the game.

While Bishop's only scored one major, when David Chaloux capped a 68-yard drive with a 4-yard dive into the end zone, the Gaiters prevailed with ball control and two field goals by Noah Laursen (Calgary, Alta.).

The Gaiters accumulated 420 yards of net offence including 154 net yards in the air and 266 net yards on the ground, compared to Acadia's 267 total yards (210 net yards passing, 72 net yards rushing).

Ben George (Moncton, N.B.) put the Axemen on board first at 10:28 of the opening quarter on a 31-yard field goal. George was only good this time, missing two other attempted field goals in the game.

Bishop's responded in the opening minutes of the second quarter with the Chaloux touchdown.

The Gaiters pushed the lead to 10-3 on a 28-yard field goal by Laursen at the 8:04 of the second quarter.

Ben George's rouge in the closing two minutes of the first half followed by a third-quarter rouge would be all the Axemen would score.

Laursen nailed a 17-yard field goal in the third quarter to give the Gaiters a 13-5 lead and eventual win.

Starting Gaiters' pivot Mason McGriskin (Markham, Ont.) was 16 for 25 throws for 154 yards. His longest completion of the day was for 18 yards.

Axeman Mitchell Tufts (Dartmouth, N.S.) was 15 for 29 attempts for 210 yards, one interception, and the longest completion of the day for 34 yards.

Oliver Burnett (Fredericton, N.B.) had six punt returns for 95 yards – longest for 45 yards – and recorded a 15.8-yard average in returns.

Gabriel Royer (Lawrenceville, Que.) led the Gaiters on defense with 8.5 tackles and two sacks, while Acadia's Spencer Richard (Wolfville, N.S.) posted 9 solo tackles and 1 assist for the losing cause.

The Axemen (0-1) will visit Saint Mary's this coming Friday night, while the Gaiters (1-0) travel to Sackville, N.B. to take on the hometown Mount Allison Mounties (0-0).