The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

JUST two games into the 2017 season, the Acadia Axemen are already halfway toward last season's win total.

The Axemen improved to 1-1 on the year with a 27-10 win over Bishop's Gaiters in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, last weekend.

Eugene McMinns continues to be the team's leading receiver thus far. He finished with seven receptions for 64 yards and leads the team in both categories with 12 receptions for 126 yards and one touchdown on the season.

Fellow Bahamian Shelton Williams also returned to the Axemen starting lineup at offensive tackle.

His offensive line protected Axemen quarterback Cody Cluett efficiently all afternoon and allowed him to complete a record-tying 36 completions in a single game.

The Axemen were able to bounce back from a 64-23 loss to the Mount Allison Mounties.

Williams did not see time on the field while McMinns finished with five receptions for 62 yards.

"We just stuck with the process we've known all year. We know we didn't come and play as well as we could have last week. We obviously wanted to bounce back and every day in practice we got a little bit better and sticking with what we were doing," noted Cluett after the game.

McMinns established himself as a deep threat in the passing game with two receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns.

"As a player I would as physically nothing has changed. I am still an athletic and explosive wide receiver," he said.

"Mentally as a player I understand the game of football more and I can say I am more of a student of the game by watching film with a closer attention to detail in order to have a better edge on my opponent. Also understanding my role on every play and performing it to the coaches' design."

The Axemen travel to Antigonish, Nova Scotia, to take on the 1-1 St Francis Xavier X-Men at 2pm next Saturday.