By Dylan Monico – Contributor

When we last saw the Bishop’s Gaiters’ football team in action, they were dealt a disappointing loss in the semifinals of the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) playoffs. The Gaiters football team officially started their 2023 season on Aug. 11. With high expectations this season, they hope to bring an AUS championship to Lennoxville for the first time. 

Justin Quirion, a second-year student from Cégep Lévis, returns as the signal caller for the Gaiters. Quirion showed tremendous promise at the tail end of the Gaiters’ 2022 season. 

Starting the final three games for Bishop’s, as well as their lone playoff game, Quirion racked up a very impressive 722 yards and seven passing touchdowns last year. Quirion also cemented himself in the Bishop’s record book when he tied the program’s all-time record for passing touchdowns in a single game where he threw for four touchdowns. 

Furthermore, the Gaiters have added a couple of new and exciting faces to their already tremendous coaching staff. Former Montreal Alouette and Saskatchewan Roughrider Ryan White has joined the staff as the Gaiters’ offensive line coach. Coach White was previously the offensive line coach at Vanier College, whose team captured the Bol d’Or in 2021. 

Moreover, the Gaiters have added Samuel Pollan as their defensive backs coach. Pollan is a Sherbrooke native who had a phenomenal playing career with the Vert et Or of Université de Sherbrooke where he earned the chance to participate in the East-West Bowl. Pollan last coached for the Volontaires of Cégep de Sherbrooke who won the Bol d’Or in 2022. 

At the helm of the Bishop’s football program and back for his seventh season in Lennoxville is none other than their head coach Cherif Nicolas. Nicolas is coming off his best season as the team went 4-3 in 2022, strong enough to finish second in the AUS. 

The 2023 Gaiters first took to the field in an exhibition match against the Vert et Or of Sherbrooke on Aug. 17. They unfortunately came up short, losing 11-5 in a hard-fought match between the two cross-town rivals.

 The Gaiters opened their season on the road in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, on Saturday, Aug. 26, facing off against the defending AUS champions  – the X-Men of St. Francis Xavier. Unfortunately, the X-Men bested the Gaiters 22-8.

The Gaiters will have their first chance at defending Coulter Field as the Huskies of Saint Mary’s will travel to Lennoxville on Sept. 2.