X-Men top Axemen 38-29

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The visiting StFX X-Men topped the Acadia Axemen 38-29 at Raymond Field Saturday afternoon in AUS football action. Veteran X-Men defensive back Demetrius Ferguson put the game out of reach with a 50 yard interception return for a touchdown to give the StFX X-Men a 38-16 lead late in the third quarter. 

The X-Men held leads of 10-7 after the first quarter and 31-16 at halftime en route to the victory.

It was Acadia who opened the scoring in the game as six minutes into the first quarter, Bobby Troop scampered in for a three yard touchdown to cap a ten-play, 85 yard drive to give the Axemen an opening quarter lead.

But X-Men wide receiver Jordan Catterall, who posted a game high 114 yards in receiving on only three receptions, tied the game at 7-7 with a 51 yard reception for the first of five StFX majors.

With less than two minutes remaining in the first quarter, Jeremy Ford added a 30 yard field goal to round out the scoring in the opening quarter.

An 18 yard toss from starting StFX pivot Tivon Cook to Keon Hughes pushed the lead to 17-7 in the opening minutes of the second quarter. Cook finished the day 15 for 29 for 277 yards in the air including three touchdowns.

A snap over Jeremy Ford's head that rolled into the end zone gave the Axemen a two-point safety two minutes into the second quarter, but StFX would respond again following a 32 yard StFX punt return by Demetrius Ferguson, plus an Acadia objectional conduct penalty that would spot the ball on the Axemen's 39 yard line. Running back Ashton Dickson, who posted a game high 105 yards in rushing for the X-Men, stretched the lead to 24-9 with a 29 yard touchdown.

Acadia's Eli Prochnau jumpstarted the Axemen at 11:25 in the second quarter with a 71 yard punt return for a touchdown, only to have StFX's Catterall spark an 84 yard drive with a 54 yard reception that eventually set-up StFX's fourth major of the day. Jerome Stevens pulled in a two yard reception to give the X-Men a 31-16 lead heading into the intermission.

Ferguson's interception return for a touchdown was the only scoring in the third quarter. Acadia scored early in the fourth on a one yard rush by Bobby Troop – his second touchdown of the day - that ended a six play, 79 yard drive. Ryan Begin added two field goals late in the final quarter to bring the Axemen to within nine points, though StFX prevailed with a 38-29 win.

Axemen starting pivot John Shaw was replaced Darcy Lavoie in the second half. Lavoie was 14 for 25 attempts for 188 yards and two interceptions, while Shaw was 8-13 and 60 yards passing and one interception.

The X-Men improve to 2-1 on the season, while Acadia drops to 1-2. The undefeated Mount Allison Mounties (3-0) held onto first place with a 39-8 win over Saint Mary's (0-3), while StFX sits in second place. Acadia will travel to Sherbrooke next Saturday in the RSEQ-AUS interlock to take on the Vert et Or (1-2), while StFX will host the Montreal Carabins (2-1) at StFX Oland Stadium. Kick-off is 2:00 pm.

Courtesy Acadia Sports Information