2014 AUS football schedule announced

(HALIFAX, N.S.) - Atlantic University Sport released the 2014 football schedule today for the upcoming fall season.

Each of the conference's four teams will once again play eight regular season games, with the regular season kicking off with a Friday evening and a Saturday afternoon game in Week 1.

After suffering a home loss in the 2013 Subway AUS Loney Bowl, the Saint Mary's Huskies will look to kick this season with a win in their home opener, Friday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. in Halifax, N.S., versus the StFX X-Men. The reigning AUS champion Mount Allison Mounties will host the Acadia Axemen in their home opener the following day at 2 p.m.

Interlock play will take place in Week 4 this season. All four AUS teams will see action versus the RSEQ conference on Saturday, Sept. 27. The X-Men will host the Montreal Carabins and the Huskies host the Concordia Stingers, both at 2 p.m. Meanwhile, the 2013 AUS champion Mounties will visit the Bishop's Gaiters at 2 p.m. (EST) and the 2012 AUS champion Axemen will be hosted by the Sherbrooke Vert et Or at 4 p.m. (EST).

Mount Allison will host its homecoming Saturday, Sept. 20 when they will host the Saint Mary's Huskies for a 2 p.m. game. Both Saint Mary's and StFX will host their respective homecomings on Saturday, Oct. 4. The Huskies will host the Mounties at 2 p.m. in a rematch of the 2013 Subway Loney Bowl. The X-Men will host the rival Axemen, also at 2 p.m. Acadia's homecoming is set for Saturday, Oct. 18. They will host the Mount Allison Mounties that afternoon at 2 p.m.

Regular season play will wrap up with two games on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. Saint Mary's will host Acadia while Mount Allison hosts StFX. AUS playoffs are set to begin the following weekend when the second-seeded team hosts the third-seeded team Saturday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m.

"We're looking forward to another very exciting season of football," said AUS executive director and football chair Phil Currie. "Last season really proved how much parity there is within our conference. The final standings were decided in Week 8 following a 1-4 start by the Mounties who turned their season around and won the Subway Loney Bowl and hosted the CIS Uteck Bowl. The excitement around university football in Atlantic Canada is growing and we're thrilled to be a part of it."

The 2014 Subway AUS Loney Bowl will be played Saturday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. After a week off, the winner will move on to the 2014 CIS Mitchell Bowl, which will be played versus and hosted by the OUA conference champions Saturday, Nov, 22. 

The Mitchell Bowl and Uteck Bowl winners will advance to play each other in the 50th Vanier Cup on Saturday, Nov. 29. The location of the national final will be announced by CIS. 

The complete 2014 Atlantic University Sport football schedule is now available HERE and is listed below.

The remainder of the 2014 AUS fall sports schedules, including women's rugby, men's and women's soccer and men's and women's cross country, will be announced Monday.

Note: The pre-season games and television schedules will be made available in the coming months.

Week 1:
Friday, Sept. 5 - StFX at Saint Mary's, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 6 - Acadia at Mount Allison, 7 p.m.

Week 2:
Saturday, Sept. 13 - Saint Mary's at Acadia, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Sept.  13 - Mount Allison at StFX, 2 p.m.

Week 3:
Saturday, Sept. 20 - Saint Mary's at Mount Allison, 2 p.m. (*Homecoming)
Saturday, Sept.  20 - StFX at Acadia, 2 p.m.

Week 4:
Saturday, Sept. 27 - Montreal at StFX, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 27 - Concordia at Saint Mary's, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 27 - Mount Allison at Bishop's, 2 p.m. (EST)
Saturday, Sept. 27 - Acadia at Sherbrooke, 4 p.m. (EST)

Week 5:
Saturday, Oct. 4 - Mount Allison at Saint Mary's, 2 p.m. (*Homecoming)
Saturday, Oct. 4 - Acadia at StFX, 2 p.m. (*Homecoming)

Week 6:
Saturday, Oct. 11 - Saint Mary's at Mount Allison, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 11 - StFX at Acadia, 2 p.m.

Week 7:
Saturday, Oct. 18 - Mount Allison at Acadia, 2 p.m. (*Homecoming)
Saturday, Oct. 18 - Saint Mary's at StFX, 2 p.m.

Week 8:
Saturday, October 25 - Acadia at Saint Mary's, 2 p.m.
Saturday, October 25 - StFX at Mount Allison, 2 p.m.

Week 9: AUS Semifinal
Saturday, Nov. 1 - Third Place at Second Place, 2 p.m.

Week 10: AUS Championship (Subway Loney Bowl)
Saturday, Nov. 8 - Semifinal Winner at First Place, 2 p.m.

Week 11: Off Week

Week 12: Mitchell Bowl (Location TBA)
Saturday, Nov. 22 - AUS Champion at OUA Champion, TBA

Week 13: Vanier Cup (Location TBA)
Saturday, Nov. 29 - Mitchell Bowl Winner vs. Uteck Bowl Winner, TBA