Mounties topple first place Axemen in 32-14 win

WOLFVILLE, N.S. - Subway Player of the Game Kiel Ambursley rushed for 142 yards on 25 carries to help the Mount Allison Mounties topple the first place Axemen 32-14 in front of an Acadia home crowd.

The Mounties jumped on the score board quickly with a team safety and a 28 yard Ryan Lambert field goal (Grimsby, Ont.), but the Axemen were the first to score a major when Brian Jones (Bedford, N.S.) hauled in his second touchdown of the season on a well-placed pass from Cody Cluett (Cole Harbour, N.S) to give Acadia the 7-5 lead.

Lambert would give the Mounties an 8-7 lead on a 17 yard field goal that capped off a seven play 55 yard drive in the second quarter. Mount Allison would add to the lead following a fumbled punt return by the Axemen that would setup the Mounties' first of 3 touchdowns.

Starting on Acadia`s 21 yard line, the Acadia defense stifled any offensive progress but an unnecessary roughness call moved the ball to Acadia's 10 yard line where Mountie pivot Brandon Leyh (New Westminster, B.C.) rushed 10 yards for the major.

With a 15-7 advantage into the halftime intermission, Mount Allison padded the lead to 18-7 on a third quarter Lambert field goal from 35 yards out. The score would remain 18-7 until the 10 minute mark of the final frame when Acadia's Eli Prochnau (Cochrane, Alta.) pulled in an 11 yard pass from Cluett to close the margin to 18-14. The Acadia touchdown was setup by a blocked punt and recovery by Axeman Aaron Bourdages at the Mountie 11 yard line.

With a stiff wind at their backs for the final quarter, the Axemen faultered with a 12 yard punt from their 39 yard line to setup a 51 yard, five play Mountie drive that would put the game out of reach for Acadia. Leyh completed a nine yard pass to Dakota Brush (Brantford, Ont.) to push the Mountie lead to 25-14 with just over four minutes remaining in the game.

The Mounties scored on an 11 yard run by Ambursley with 45 seconds remaining in the game after a faked field goal extended the drive setting up the final points of the day.

Mount Allison edged the Axemen in total offense with 288 yards compared to Acadia's 218 yards. Cluett was 18 for 28 and 140 yards passing, while Mountie counterpart Leyh threw for 19 receptions on 29 attempts for 145 yards.

Acadia's Thomas Troop picked up 78 yards on 19 carries but left the game early in the fourth quarter. Ambursley averaged 5.4 yards per carry for 134 total yards on 25 carries.

Ambursley credited the win with being focused throughout the game. ``It started with a good week of practice and we came off the bus fired up. We stayed focused and it allowed for our success later on``

In the air, Brian Jones led the field with 57 yards on six receptions and Mountie Dakota Bush pulled in six passes for 53. Axeman Sabastian Robinson (Saskatoon, Sask.) grabbed 56 yards on five receptions.

Penalties played a role in limiting the Axemen's impact on the field with a game high 13 penalties for 125 yards. Senior Linebacker Drew Morris (Ottawa, Ont.), who was named the Acadia Subway Player of the Game, had 10 solo tackles, 5 assisted tackes, while Mountie Te Nguyen (Mississauga, Ont.) had 10 tackles and 1 assist.

The Mounties and Axemen are tied for first place in the AUS standings along with StFX with 2-2 records. Mount Allison picked up wins against Saint Mary's and today's win over Acadia, while Acadia has recorded wins against Mount Allison and StFX.

Next weekend`s scheduled games will break the deadlock between three teams and will feature the Axemen visiting Saint Mary's for the first meeting in the regular season and the Mounties head to Antigonish to take on the StFX X-Men.