Short Look: StFX Football in 2023
Photo: David Cox Photography
Written By: Naol Denko
Who currently dominates the AUS?
Answer: StFX
In fact, that has been the case since 2019 - the last time the X-Men lost a regular season game.
With recent wins against SMU and Bishop’s, fans have started now more than ever, how special this team is.
Let's take a look at the offence
The X-Men have established a strong rushing attack with Malcolm Bussey and an electrifying passing game with Silas Fagnan at the helm.
With receivers such as Zachary Houde, Ben Harrington, and Zakariya Karim, and big performances from Silas Fagnan - currently averaging 201.3 passing yards per game - and Malcolm Bussey - currently average 132.0 rushing yards per game - the X-Men have more than enough to win in the AUS.
How about their defence?
StFX currently ranks 3rd in the nation when it comes to stopping the run, allowing only 112.8 rushing yards per game.
However, when it comes to stopping the pass, the X-Men are allowing an average of 348.2 passing yards per game - the most in the AUS.
The X-Men defence is loaded with key figures such as Alex Fedchun, Dyton Blackett, and Thomas Bentley.
Fedchun leads the X-Men with 4.5 sacks in the season - 8th in the country, while Blackett has channelled his inner Kam Chancellor, forcing a team-leading three fumbles. Bentley, who recently recorded a pick-six against SMU, has two interceptions on the year, another team-leading effort.
The truth about X
Having not lost a game since 2019 is absolutely special. The way the X-Men have been able to rebuild over the course of 2020, and return to the gridiron with arguably one of the greatest teams in not only StFX history, but AUS history, is nothing short of impressive.
But the cloud that will continue to hang over StFX, along with all four other AUS teams, is the drought that haunts them in the national semifinals.
The drought? No AUS team has pushed through to the Vanier Cup since 2007.
November 23, 2007 - that was the last time an AUS team appeared in a Vanier Cup when the Manitoba Bisons defeated Steve Sumarah’s SMU Huskies
That’s nearly 16 years! But, how about winning the Vanier Cup?
November 23, 2002 - Saint Mary’s vs. Saskatchewan (33-21)
It’s been almost 21 years since a team from the AUS has tasted the glory of hoisting the Vanier Cup, and another year brings another set of hopes that the AUS drought can end.
Can StFX be that team?
Time will tell