Heather field goal lifts X-Men over Gaiters in AUS semifinal

ANTIGONISH, NS - A last second field goal from Tyson Heather capped off a dramatic 26-24 win for the STFX X-Men over the visiting Bishop's Gaiters on Saturday afternoon at STFX Stadium in AUS semi-final football action. The X-Men now move on to next Saturday's AUS Loney Bowl championship game, where they will face the Saint Mary's Huskies in Halifax. 

STFX quarterback and AUS Boston Pizza player of the game Silas Fagnan was on fire, throwing for 324 yards with 26 completions and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Malcolm Bussey picked up 91 yards on the ground and a major for STFX, and Heather kicked two field goals, including the game winner after STFX fell behind in the fourth quarter.

Nathan Cayouette had seven tackles including a sack, while Tristan Watrych had three tackles and a pick. 

Bishop's QB Justin Quirion had 247 passing yards and a touchdown, while O'Shae Ho-Sang ran for 125 yards.  Kristopher Isidore and Mathieu Dery each had six solo tackles for the visitors. 

Fagnan threw for 150 yards in the opening quarter, with two long drives ending in a 32-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Fogarty The extra point was blocked by the Gaiters defense as the X-Men took an early 6-0 lead in the game.

Heather kicked a 27 yard field goal and AUS leading rusher Malcolm Bussey had a six-yard run to put the X-Men up 16-0 by the time the teams switched sides of the field.

Xavier Gervais hit a 25-yard field goal for Bishop's early in the second quarter, but the X-Men responded with a five-yard Fagnan pass to Tyson Green to make it 23-3 at the half. 

The game was a take of two halves, however as the Gaiters stormed back into the game in the third quarter, with Quirion marshalling a pair of long drives capped off by short touchdown runs from Mathieu Bellavance and a two-point conversion. Gervais added a rouge to make it a five-point game going into the final quarter. 

The teams traded possessions in the fourth, and a big interception from STFX defensive back Tristan Watrych gave STFX the ball at midfield halfway through. Bishop's defense stood tall though and they got the ball back deep in their own end. Quirion again went to work and connected with Christophe Pellerin on a 65-yard touchdown for a one-point lead, 24-23, with two minutes to go. 

Bishop's defense held the X-Men to a 3rd-and-short situation before Fagnan scampered for the first down. STFX then pushed the deep into Gaiter's territory, and Heather drilled the last-second 17-yard field goal for the win. 

The Huskies shutout the Acadia Axemen 37-0 in the other AUS semifinal, earning the right to host next weekend's Loney Bowl championship. Kick-off is set for 2:00 pm on Saturday, November 8^th at Huskies Stadium.

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics