Fifth-year receiver Mike Squires of the Acadia football Axemen had a big day in Acadia’s 45-24 win at Mount Allison Oct. 27, catching four touchdown passes from quarterback Kyle Graves. It was the second time in as many seasons that Squires had four touchdowns in one game, a new AUS and CIS record. Squires had 10 receptions in all in the game for a season total of 53, setting a new Acadia team record. (John DeCoste)
By John DeCoste
The Acadia football Axemen spent last weekend as spectators, awaiting their opponent in the Loney Bowl AUFC championship, scheduled for Nov. 10 in Wolfville.
The Axemen, who had already clinched first place and a first-round playoff bye, capped off their second straight 7-1 regular season with a 45-24 win over the Mount Allison Mounties Oct. 27 in Sackville, N.B.
Acadia erased an early 7-2 Mounties’ lead with 21 second-quarter points for a 23-10 halftime lead, then added 22 more points after the intermission. The Axemen finished with 571 yards of total offense to 348 for Mount Allison.
Axemen Mike Squires was both the star and the story of the game, hauling in four touchdown passes from quarterback Kyle Graves.
The fifth-year receiver from Bedford became the first CIS receiver to score four touchdowns in a game twice – he also had four TDs on Oct. 22, 2011 against Saint Mary’s. The four touchdowns in one game tied a school record, previously held by Squires and Eric Neilsen, and was one short of the conference and CIS single-game record of five.
Squires also had 10 receptions in all, which gave him 53 receptions for the season – a new school record and second in the AUFC all-time.
The other Axemen touchdown came on a one-yard run by Daryl Bien Aime. Ryan Begin kicked two field goals and four converts, with one convert attempt blocked. Begin and Graves each had a rouge to round out the Axemen scoring.
For the Mounties, Jordan Botel had a pair of rushing touchdowns, Morgan McIsaac caught a 47-yard touchdown pass from Alex Curtis, and Curtis also kicked a field goal.
Graves went 24-38 passing for 292 yards ands four touchdowns. Thomas Troop rushed 15 times for 112 yards, giving him 421 yards on 63 carries in five games. Squires had 10 catches for 84 yards, Taylor Renaud eight for 97 and James Fioroni four for 70 yards.
Botel rushed for 143 yards on 21 carries for the Mounties. Central Kings grad Iain MacMillan got into the game and rushed four times for 16 yards.
Defensively, Drew Morris had six solo and one assisted tackle, two tackles for a loss, and one quarterback sack.
Jarrett Laycock and Kirby Fletcher each had five tackles, one tackle for a loss and a sack, and Martin Pesek also had a sack.
Graves finished the season 156-273 in passing (57.1 per cent) for 2,012 yards, 14 TDs, leading the conference in each category, and just four interceptions. Squires and Renaud both finished with over 50 pass receptions, Squires with 53 and Renaud 51.
The Axemen will face the winner of this past Saturday’s semifinal between Mount Allison and Saint Mary’s in the Nov. 10 Loney Bowl game.
