Huskies edge Axemen in a 25-23 win

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – Former Axemen pivot Duncan Patterson (Bedford, N.S.) posted 216 yards in passing on 15 completions to lead the Saint Mary's Huskies to a 25-23 edging of the Acadia Axemen in Wolfville.

Acadia's Ben George (Moncton, N.B.) opened the scoring with two rouge points to give the Axemen an early 2-0 lead, but Patterson and crew drove 73 yards for the first major of the day by Huskie Malik Williams (Maple Creek, Sask.) who dove 1 yard for the touchdown.

The Axemen responded with just over a minute remaining in the opening quarter with seven points on 34-yard Benjamin Smith (Bedford, N.S.) reception and George convert.

The Huskies pushed the lead to 21-9 at the half with two touchdown receptions. Patterson hit Devin McGuirk for a 23-yard touchdown reception at the 6:40 mark of the second frame and then Patterson layed in a 28-yard pass touchdown pass to Trydell Mintis with 44 seconds remaining in the half.

McGuirk's touchdown came off of an interception by Ryan Butler (Mississauga, Ont.) that was converted into a 65-yard drive.

Down 21-9 at the half, Acadia played stingy defense and allowed only 4 points in the second frame.

Niklas Platis (Shediac Cape, N.B.) dove in the end zone on a 2-yard run that ended a 48-yard drive to narrow the Huskies' lead to 21-16.

An exchange of field goals in the dying moments of the third quarter and the opening of the final quarter pushed the score to 24-19. George's second of the day and Ethan Nagler's (Winnipeg, Man.) first.

With just over 10 minutes remaining in the game, George hit a 25-yard field goal to bring the Axemen to within two points – 24-22.

The Huskies picked up a rouge at the 6-minute mark of the final quarter to push ahead 25-22.

After a disputed call that the Axemen saw as a fumble in the end zone but was ruled as an intentional grounding by the Huskies while trying to run off time on the clock, the Axemen gained control of the ball on the Saint Mary's 28-yard line with 18 seconds remaining.

A missed field goal to tie the game resulted in an Acadia rouge and a 25-23 loss to the Huskies.

The Huskies recorded 375 yards on offense including 216 net yards in the air, while Acadia pulled together 232 yards including 169 net yards in passing and 73 on the ground.

Patterson's 216 yards of passing earned him the Subway Player of the Game. Acadia's Dante Tabacu (Lloydminster, Atla.) had 100 yards in passing on seven completions including a 34-yard touchdown.

Malik Williams had 24 carries for 107 yards, while Ethan Phinney (Porter's Lake, N.S.) had 41 yards on eight carries.

Senior defensive lineman Kyle Chappus was named Acadia's Player of the Game. Chappus had seven solo tackles and one quarterback sack.

"We went in the locker down and you can't count us out early. We went in the locker room and hyped up the boys. Once out there we started marching down the field and some two-and-outs on defense. It's not how we wanted it to end, but that's the way she goes," noted Chappus after the game.

"It's heart breaking, but every week we have got better. Last time we played them we lost by 17 and this time it was by two," added Chappus.

The Huskies improve to 2-2, while the Axemen are still searching for their first win at 0-5.

The Axemen travel to Mount Allison next Friday night and the Huskies will have a bye weekend before hosting Mount Allison on Friday, Oct. 14.