Nick Baril — Contributor

Oct. 29 vs Saint Mary’s

A lot was at stake for the Gaiters on Oct. 29 as they hosted the Saint Mary’s Huskies. A trip to the AUS semi-final was on the line. Both teams stood at 3-3 on the standings, and this game was worth four points because their previous matchup in Halifax had been canceled due to the aftermath of hurricane Fiona. The team that came out on top would pay host to the Mount Allison Mounties the following week in the semi-final. 

The Gaiters defence started where they left off last week by forcing a turnover and setting up the offence on the doorstep of the end zone for David Chaloux to score the first major of the game. The Huskies secured a touchdown of their own in the second quarter on a 10-yard run. With a strong defensive performance through the first three quarters, the Gaiters had a 11-10 lead. The Gaiters rallied their troops during the fourth, scoring twice, once on the ground with Chaloux for his second major of the game, and again through the air with a 45-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Justin Quirion to Ianis Cherdieu. This put Bishop’s up 25-10. A late push by Saint Mary’s in the fourth was not enough though they found the endzone with 1:33 remaining on the clock. 

The Gaiters secured the win at home with a final score of 25-17, punching their way to the playoffs and setting themselves up with home field advantage against the Mount Allison Mounties. 

Nov. 5 vs Mount Allison

For the third year in a row, the Gaiters met the Mount Allison Mounties in the AUS semi-final with a trip to the Loney Bowl on the line. In their previous two playoff matchups, the Gaiters had gotten the best of the Mounties and advanced to the Loney Bowl. It was safe to say that the Mounties entered Coulter Field with a sense of urgency to get the monkey off of their backs that was the Bishop’s Gaiters. 

As games between Mount Allison and Bishop’s often go, it was a defensive battle all afternoon and the team who capitalized on mistakes would end up winning the game. The teams were deadlocked at 5-5 entering the fourth quarter. Early in the fourth, the Gaiters drove the Mounties back and scored the first major of the game on a 11-yard pass from Justin Quirion to receiver Gabin Leux to put the Gaiters up 12-5. The touchdown felt as if it might be enough to secure the win for Bishop’s if they kept their hand steady throughout the rest of the game. 

The Gaiters were forced to concede a safety with 2:30 remaining on the clock but hoped the defence would stand strong like they had all day. On a Mounties third down, linebacker Gabriel Royer knocked down a pass and set up the offense with a chance to run out the clock to send the Mounties home empty-handed. But the Mounties defence had other ideas, forcing a punt on the third down with an errand snap that went over punter Noah Laursen’s head. This set up the Mounties offence with great field position with 1:33 left. 

The fierce Gaiters defence stopped the Mounties on first and second down forcing yet another third down. Mounties quarterback Justin Vogels sailed a prayer that went through the hands of a Gaiters defender and found the Mounties’ receiver Cody Barton who ran into the endzone to put them up 13-12. With a successful two-point conversion, the Mounties took the upper hand 15-12 with a chance for the Gaiters to drive up the field with under a minute remaining. Unfortunately, their efforts proved unsuccessful and the Mounties sealed their victory with an interception. 

The Mount Allison Mounties will now face off against the StFX X-Men next week in the Loney Bowl with a chance to host a National semi-final against the winner of the Canada West conference. As for the Gaiters, they wrap their campaign with a 4-4 overall record and look forward to the 2023 season. 

On a brighter side, four Gaiters were named to the 2022 AUS All-Star team; offensive lineman Mitchell Martel and running back David Chaloux, and on the other side of the ball, defensive lineman Liam Patton and linebacker Gabriel Royer. Second-year Gabriel Royer was also named AUS Defensive Player of the Year. The Gaiters hope to continue to build on this year’s success and enter 2023 to follow up on the program’s recent success.