The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

PLAYOFF football is in full swing for Bahamian players on the gridiron in their respective leagues in Canada.

The platoon of Bahamians at Holland College are set to defend their Atlantic Football League title, while Demetrius Ferguson prepares to head into the postseason with his St Francis Xavier X-Men for the first time.

In the Atlantic University Sport conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport, the X-Men will host the Acadia Axemen in the Subway AUS semi-final game on Saturday, November 2.

The winner will return to MacAulay field to face the first place Mount Allison Mounties for the Subway AUS Loney Bowl 2pm Saturday, November 8.

Depite an 18-10 loss to end the regular season, Ferguson was named an “Athlete of the Week” for the third time this season.

The senior defensive back led all StFX defenders in tackles in the loss with seven solo tackles and four assisted tackles in the game. He also had one interception and a breakup for the X-Men.

Ferguson finished the AUS season third in tackling with 46 and also added two interceptions. In week six he was named the Defensive Athlete of the Week for his performance in the X-Men’s 36-6 win over St Mary’s University. He led all StFX defenders in tackles with eight solo tackles and one assisted tackle in the game.

In week four, Ferguson was named the X-Men Football Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in his team’s September 27 loss to the Montreal Carabins. He had a then season high 8.5 tackles in the game, including eight solo tackles, and also had two punt returns for 26 yards and a kick-off return for 18 yards.

Defensively, he added one tackle for a loss.

In the AFL, the Hurricanes continued the dominace they became known for during the regular season and eased their way to a 29-0 semi-final win over the UNB Red Bombers at the UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place last weekend.

With the win, the Hurricanes advanced to the AFL title game when they are slated to face the UNB Saint John Seawolves 1pm Saturday, November 1.

It will be the second consecutive year the teams will meet to decide the Moosehead Cup.

In two previous matchups with the Seawolves this season, the Hurricanes have won by a 23- point average margin of victory.

In the season opener, the Hurricanes made an early statement with a 36-13 win on the road.

Running back Jamaal Storr was a force on the ground with two rushing touchdowns while Eugene McMinns caught a another score.

The Hurricanes converted a blocked punt into a score on their second drive when McMinns capped off the drive with the 35-yard touchdown reception from Christian Hackney.

Storr sparked the go-ahead drive for the Hurricanes with a big kickoff return to place his team just outside the redzone and they took a 15-10 lead at the half.

In the third quarter, Storr scored both of his touchdown runs as the Hurricanes put the game away.

In the second matchup, the Hurricanes protected homefield with a 40-17 win.

The Bahamian presence was strong again as Storr returned to form with his team-leading sixth rushing touchdown of the season, while linebacker and defensive captain Cardell Rolle added a score for the defence.

In the first quarter, the Hurricanes attacked from the opening snap when the first play from scrimmage resulted in a deep pass play to Eugene McMinns.

Storr returned to action after he had been relegated to special teams and spot duty at running back due to a high ankle sprain.

The turning point in the game came when the Hurricanes forced a turnover on an interception and a key defensive play by Rolle.

He intercepted a pass near midfield and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown and a 17-10 lead following the extra point. It was the third interception on the season for the defensive captain.

With less than a minute to play in the half, Seawolves evened the score but then the Hurricanes scored 23 unanswered points in the second half to surge to victory.

Holland’s drive stifled on their first possession of the third, but their biggest loss appeared to come when McMinns was blindsided by a block on punt coverage. He returned to the game with an apparent head injury.

Storr sparked the Hurricanes offensively on their next series. He picked up three consecutive first downs on three carries, the third resulting in a 12-yard touchdown run.

Since a preseason loss to NCAA Division III Maritime Academy Mariners, the Hurricanes have reeled off seven wins in a row.