Nova Scotia Destination for Carabins:
For the first time in four years, the Montreal Carabins will visit the Atlantic provinces. As during their last visit in 2010, the Carabins will stop in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, to take on the St.FX X-Men on Saturday afternoon.
The Carabins have been successful against AUS opponents in the past. They have won 13 consecutive victories against them since their inaugural season in 2002, when the Mount Allison Mounties had earned a 21-4 win.
“It’s a trip that comes in the middle of the season and this is the perfect time to strengthen team bonds until the second half,” said Carabins sophomore defensive lineman Emile Charron-Ligez, a health and physical education student. “We will go there to play good, old physical football.”
This is not only the first trip to the Maritimes for some players, but also for Carabins head coach Danny Maciocia.
“It will be a good experience even if it’s not much different than going to Quebec or Sherbrooke,” he said. “It gives us an opportunity to see the caliber of play outside of our division.”
“It’s always good to know what is being done elsewhere. ”
During their last contest, the Carabins defeated the X-Men 27-10 and only allowed only 88 yards against. The two teams have not played each other since that game. Last year, during their interlock game Saint Mary’s Huskies at CEPSUM, the Carabins silenced their opponent’s attack to with a total of -24 yards in a 29-10 victory.
“The teams in the Atlantic are known to be physically strong,” added Maciocia. “Their players hit hard.”
“In addition, we face one of the best teams in the conference this year.”
This season, the X-Men have an identical regular season record to the Carabins (2-1). That one loss the X-Men suffered was heart-breaking, as the Mounties rebound late in that game to win 27-25.
“We do not know much, so it is difficult to predict what we will face,” said the quarterback Gabriel Cousineau, who is studying administration at HEC Montreal. “However, we know that we have to play our best football and expect a battle from the X-Men. ”
The Carabins defense seemed to find its bearings in the last two outings. Not only did they manage a total of eight sacks against McGill last Friday, they also limited their opponents to an average of 180 yards of offense in the last two games.
“We still have work to do to establish our identity,” said Maciocia. “I often say that we must continue to improve to play our best football at the end of the season.”
“The success of our defense is the result of several factors. Our defensive line played well, but also has the support blanket behind them.”
Saturday’s match will be played at Oland Stadium and will be broadcasted live on the web at austv.ca . Kickoff is 1:00pm EST.
(With files from Mathieu Dauphinais)
Gaiters Host Mounties Under Lights
SHERBROOKE – Lennoxville is buzzing as homecoming weekend here. As is tradition the highlight of the event is the Bishop’s Gaiters football game. Breaking with tradition the Gaiters will host the No. 8 Mount Allison University Mounties of the AUS under the lights. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. on Coulter Field.
The annual match-up pits Mount Allison (3-0), the east’s bests against the Gaiters (0-3). Bishop’s has dropped its opening three games at Concordia (3-0), at Montreal (2-1) and their home opener a week ago to the Laval Rouge et Or (3-0). The three clubs Bishop’s has lost to are all currently nationally ranked.
The Mounties have played each of their AUS counterparts once. They snuck by Acadia (1-2) in week one, came from behind to be St. Francis Xavier (2-1) in week two and rolled over St. Mary’s last week. The reigning Loney Bowl champions moved into the eighth spot in the national rankings this week.
Bishop’s is hoping the trend of RSEQ dominance over the AUS continues. Since the annual crossover games started in 2002 teams from La Belle Province have a 57-22 record. The Gaiters are 3-1 against their foes from Sackville, N.B. and Mount Allison has not won a game in Quebec in 10 attempts. A year ago Bishop’s was not involved in a crossover game while the Mounties lost to the McGill Redmen at home.
“Mount Allison is a good football team,” said Gaiters head coach Kevin Mackey. “We will have to be ready for them. We are really excited to be playing a night game at home; the fact that it is homecoming will make it that much more special. I’m really looking forward to seeing the guys from the ’94 team that will be celebrating their 20th anniversary of winning the Dunsmore Cup.”
The Gaiters and Mounties will kick-off under the lights on Saturday, September 27. Game time is set for 7 p.m. on Coulter Field. The game will be available online atwww.gaiters.ca/webcast.
(Source: Marty Rourke, Bishop’s Gaiters Sports Information)
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