Huskies top Axemen to open AUS football season

The Acadia Axemen opened their AUS football season Friday night in Halifax, falling 35-7 to the Saint Mary's Huskies at Huskies Stadium.

Quarterback Tyran Duval (Abbotsford, B.C.) connected with Xander Matheson (Grande Prairie, Alta.) for the play of the game, a 75-yard catch-and-run touchdown on the first drive of the second half. Matheson led all receivers with 142 yards on four receptions, showing his ability to stretch the field.

Duval was efficient through the air, completing 20 of 29 passes for 253 yards, including the major score to Matheson. On the ground, the Axemen used a balanced approach, with multiple backs contributing to short-yardage gains.

Defensively, fifth-year linebacker Riley Comeau (Centreville, N.S.) anchored the Axemen with a game-high 10.5 tackles and an interception, picking up right where he left off after finishing second in the country in tackles per game last season. Linebacker Ryan Duffus (Bedford, N.S.) added four tackles and a fumble recovery as the Acadia defence fought to slow a strong Saint Mary's rushing attack.

The Axemen now shift focus to their home opener next Saturday, Aug. 30, when they welcome the STFX X-Men to Raymond Field. Kick-off is set for 2 p.m. in Wolfville as Acadia looks to bounce back in front of its home fans.