X-Men Football receive nine AUS all-star selections

Bishop's Justin Quirion named AUS' Most Outstanding Player

(HALIFAX, N.S.)  Atlantic University Sport (AUS) is pleased to announce the 2024 football major award winners and all-stars, as selected by the conference's five head coaches following regular season play.

MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Chris Flynn Trophy): Justin Quirion, Bishop's University

Justin Quirion of the Bishop's University Gaiters has been selected as the 2024 AUS Most Outstanding Player.

The 5'10", 178lb pivot from Saint-Georges, QC, becomes the first Bishop's player to win this award since the Gaiters joined the AUS back in 2017.

Quirion started all eight games this season for Bishop's, leading his team to a perfect 8-0 record in the regular season.

The Education student led the AUS in yards passing (2,307), passing yards per game (288.4) and touchdowns (18). His 2,307 yards passing is the fourth most in AUS history, trailing only Acadia's Larry Jusdanis (2,551 in 1995), STFX's Tivon Cook (2,537 in 2016) and STFX's Steve Snyder (2,353 in 2009).

In addition to being named MOP, Quirion also earned his first AUS All-Star Team selection.

Quirion will now move forward as the AUS Conference's nominee for the Hec Crighton Trophy as U SPORTS Most Outstanding Player. The most recent player from the AUS to earn the national award was former Saint Mary's standout Erik Glavic, who was honoured in 2007.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Nick Swain, Acadia University

Acadia University Axemen kicker Nick Swain has been named the 2024 AUS Rookie of the Year.

The 6'1", 165lb product of Moncton, NB, earned the award after putting together an impressive rookie season in which he went 7-for-9 in field goal attempts and a perfect 10-for-10 in extra point attempts.

The Business Administration student's first season was highlighted in Week 3 when he connected on a 43-yard field goal with no time left on the clock to beat STFX 24-22 back in early September.

Swain's win makes him the first Acadia player to earn Rookie of the Year honours since defensive lineman Adam Melanson did so back in 2013.

Swain now becomes the Atlantic conference nominee for the U SPORTS National Rookie of the Year award, the Peter Gorman Trophy. The last AUS player to win this award was Mount Allison's Jakob Loucks in 2016.

OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Tony Proudfoot Trophy): Alex MacDonald, Bishop's University

Bishop's University Gaiters defensive back Alex MacDonald has been named the 2024 AUS Outstanding Defensive Player.

The Health Sciences student from Eastern Passage, NS, played a huge role in his Gaiters finishing the regular season with a flawless 8-0 record.

MacDonald tied for the AUS lead in sacks with 5.5, was second in tackles for loss with 10. Altogether, he recorded 37.5 total tackles (33 solo, 9 assisted). The MacDonald-led Gaiters defense allowed a league-low 16 points per game and 290.4 yards of offense against this season – 234.1 passing, 56.3 rushing.

The award makes him the second Gaiters player to ever earn the distinction – the other being current teammate Gabriel Royer back in 2022. To top it all off, MacDonald also earned his first AUS All-Star Team selection.

MacDonald will now represent the conference as the AUS nominee for the U SPORTS Presidents' Trophy awarded to the national Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year. The last AUS player to win the national award was Jonathan Langa, of the Saint Mary's Huskies, in 2014.

OUTSTANDING LINEMAN OF THE YEAR: Brandon-James Poulin-Marques, Bishop's University

Brandon-James Poulin-Marques has been named the 2024 AUS Outstanding Lineman of the Year.

The 6'2", 240lb defensive lineman played in all eight games this season for the Gaiters, collecting 33 tackles (29 solo, 8 assisted) and four sacks. His 11 tackles for loss topped all AUS defenders this season.

With the product of Montreal anchoring their defensive line, the Gaiters allowed just 56.3 yards rushing per game – ending up as the only team in the AUS to allow less than 130 yards rushing per game.

In addition to his Outstanding Lineman of the Year Award, Poulin-Marques was also named to the AUS All-Star Team for the first time.

He will represent the conference as the nominee for the J.P. Metras Trophy for the U SPORTS National Lineman of the Year. STFX's Mike Kushnir was the last Atlantic conference player to take home this honour, in 1997.

STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Malik Williams, Saint Mary's University

Saint Mary's University running back Malik Williams is the recipient of the 2024 AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award.

Williams, from Ajax, ON, played in seven games for the Huskies this season, tying for second in the AUS in touchdowns (6) and third in yards rushing (435).

As impactful as Williams has been on the field, he has been even more of one in his community – both in Nova Scotia and back home in Ontario.

Williams has given of his time to various food banks and shelters, helping to provide food for those who are need. He has also lent his time to Mission Mart thift stores sorting out clothes, as well as with the Nova Scotia Guard handing out brochures and answering questions.

He was also amongst the volunteers at the Progress Pride Flag Raising at the Province House, as well as on North Preston Day – a day in North Preston where the community comes together to celebrate their history and each other.

Williams also lends his athletic expertise with the Bauer First Shift program – helping new-to-hockey families find the proper gear. He also helps younger football players train and develop their athletic skills at the Powerhouse Athletics Headquarters in the summer.

In the classroom, the third-year Bachelor of Commerce student recorded a 3.1/4.3 cumulative GPA in the 2022-23 academic year and a 3.9/4.3 GPA in 2023-24.

"Malik is one of the most well-rounded student-athletes I have come across in my coaching career; a quiet leader who commands the room and leads by example," said Huskies head coach, Steve Sumarah. "He is always willing to go the extra mile to help anyone who needs it. Academically, studying in Commerce and achieving a 3.91 GPA is remarkable in itself, then to add all of the volunteer hours on top speaks to the character of this young man."

Williams will be the conference nominee for the prestigious U SPORTS Russ Jackson Award. Saint Mary's University's Duncan Patterson was the last AUS student-athlete to be honoured nationally, in 2022.

COACH OF THE YEAR (Larry Uteck Trophy): Cherif Nicolas, Bishop's University

For the first time in his AUS career, Bishop's University Gaiters head coach Cherif Nicolas has been chosen by his peers as the 2024 Atlantic conference Coach of the Year.

Under his guidance, the Gaiters rattled off a perfect 8-0 regular season and earned the No. 1 seed heading into the post-season.

 In 2024, the Gaiters' offense led the conference in scoring (348 points), points per game (41), yards of offense per game (508.8), rushing yards (1,572), yards passing (2,498). Defensively, they were just as good, allowing a league-low points per game (16), yards of offense per game (290.4) and the most sacks (27).

Ten of Nicolas' players were named to the 2024 AUS All-Star Team.

He now becomes the Atlantic conference nominee for this year's U SPORTS Coach of the Year award, the Frank Tindall Trophy. STFX's Gary Waterman is the most recent AUS coach to receive the national honour, which he was awarded in 2021.

ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR (Phil Hughes Award): Gord Beattie, Saint Mary's University 

Gord Beattie of the Saint Mary's University Huskies is the 2024 recipient of the Phil Hughes Assistant Coach of the Year Award.

Beattie has been involved in AUS football since the early 90s when he acted as the offensive line coach for STFX in 1993 and again in 1996 and 1997. He joined Saint Mary's in 1998 for a five-year stint, which included winning the U SPORTS Vanier Cup in both 2001 and 2002. After a brief departure, he returned to the Huskies in 2005 and stayed on as the offensive line coach for six years before moving to Citadel High School for 10 years.

In 2022, Beattie once again returned to the Huskies as their offensive line coach while also acting as the run game and protection game coordinator. He also manages leadership seminars for the team.

Beattie has also spent time on the sidelines with Father Gaetz High School in Mississauga, Ont., Team Nova Scotia U20 and Team Canada.

Along the way, Beattie has given of his time to countless football camps and clinics in the province, while also helping to organize team events to show support for Truth and Reconciliation Day and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

He will now move on to be the AUS nominee for the U SPORTS Gino Fracas Award – an award given annually to an assistant coach who does not make a full-time living coaching football for the university. Saint Mary's Huskies' Joe Taplin is the most recent AUS recipient of the national award. He won in 2013.

2024 AUS FOOTBALL ALL-STARS

Defensive Tackle: Brandon-James Poulin-Marques, Bishop's (4^th year – Montreal, QC)
Defensive Tackle: David McGill, STFX (3^rd year – Powassan, ON)
Defensive End: Hunter Lambert-Mousseau, STFX (5^th year – Sault Ste Marie, ON)
Defensive End: Jaurès Goké, Bishop's (4^th year – Bangui, RCA)
Linebacker: Gabriel Royer, Bishop's (4^th year – Lawrenceville, QC)   
Linebacker: Riley Comeau, Acadia (4^th year – Centreville, NS)
Linebacker: Zach Chiarotto, Saint Mary's (4^th year – Winnipeg, MB)
Safety: Owen O'Neal, Mount Allison (4^th year – Sackville, NB)
Halfback: Alex MacDonald, Bishop's (3^rd year – Eastern Passage, NS)
Halfback: Max Van Nieuwkoop, Saint Mary's (5^th year – Burlington, ON)
Cornerback: Logan Mendes, Saint Mary's (1^st year – Quispamsis, NB)
Cornerback: Jet Agette, Mount Allison (3^rd year – Ottawa, ON)

Centre: Kilian Kelly, STFX (2^nd year – Milton, ON)
Guard: Mitchell Martel, Bishop's (4^th year – Kirkland, QC)
Guard: Will Chapman, STFX (5^th year – Bedford, NS)
Tackle: Nicolas Pilichos, Acadia (4^th year – Bedford, NS)
Tackle: Philippe Létourneau, Bishop's (1^st year – Lévis, QC)
Receiver: Oliver Burnett, Bishop's (4^th year – Fredericton, NB)
Receiver: Nolan Cheeseman, Mount Allison (3^rd year – Upper Tantallon, NS)
Receiver: Ben Harrington, STFX (4^th year – Dartmouth, NS)
Receiver: Trydell Mintis, Saint Mary's (4^th year – Halifax, NS)
FB/TE/H-Back: Marco Briones, Bishop's (4^th year – Monterrey, Mexico)
Running Back: O'Shae Ho-Sang, Bishop's (4^th year – Lasalle, QC)
Running Back: Caleb Fogarty, STFX (4^th year – Moncton, NB)
Quarterback: Justin Quirion, Bishop's (3^rd year – Saint Georges, QC)

Punter: Max Capriotti, STFX (5^th year – Mount Hope, ON)
Place Kicker: Ben Hadley, STFX (5^th year – Halifax, NS)
Kick Returner: Ben Harrington, STFX (4^th year – Dartmouth, NS)
Rush/Cover: Owen O'Neal, Mount Allison (4^th year – Sackville, NB)

The AUS football semifinals will be played Saturday, Nov 2 with STFX hosting Saint Mary's in a 2 p.m. ADT start, and Bishop's welcoming Acadia in a 2 p.m. EST start. Both games can be watched live at AUStv.ca.

All Atlantic University Sport major award winners automatically become finalists for the U SPORTS awards, which will be announced at the U SPORTS All-Canadian Banquet later in November.

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