X-Men hold off Gaiters for third win of season

LENNOXVILLE, Que. – A fourth quarter push from the Bishop's Gaiters in their home opener came up just short as the No. 7 STFX X-Men escaped Lennoxville with a 21-16 win.

The loss drops Bishop's to 1-2 while STFX remains undefeated at 3-0.

X-Men kicker Ben Hadley went 4-for-4 in field goals, including a long of 47 to pace STFX in the first half. He also booted balls from 17, 38 and 39 yards as the X-Men jumped out to a 19-1 lead at halftime.

Devaughn Blackwood added the only major for the visitors on a 39-yard pass from Silas Fagnan at the start of the second stanza.

Bishop's conceded a rouge to start the third before momentum started to swing.

However, it wasn't until the 8:38 mark of the fourth quarter when Bishop's found pay dirt. Cedric Maurice scored on a 1-yard end around run. 

The Gaiters dominated field position in the frame and made for a frantic finish when quarterback Mason McGriskin found Oliver Burnett for a 7-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 21-14.

StFX conceded a safety in what was setting up to be a mirror image of when the two teams met in Antigonish, N.S. a year ago, with the script flipped. However, two major penalties on the return forced Bishop's deep in their end, a key sack by Zechariah Willems (Tiny, ON), and the X-Men defense held on and kept their perfect record intact.

Hadley received Subway player of the game honours for the X-Men.

Next up on the AUS schedule sees the Gaiters (1-2) travel to Halifax to play the Saint Mary's Huskies (1-2) on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 3 p.m. local.

The X-Men (3-0) are in Sackville, N.B. to face the Mount Allison Mounties (3-0) at 2 p.m. in a clash of undefeated teams.

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Recap courtesy Bishop's Sports Information

Ben Hadley picks up Subway Player of the Game honours with four field goals in the X-Men's 21-16 win at Bishop's! #goxgo #SubwayFuel pic.twitter.com/if9CmsgUVh

— StFX Athletics (@StFXAthletics) September 17, 2022