X-Men Football athletes receive AUS honours

2025 AUS football major award winners and all-stars announced
Bishop's Justin Quirion named Most Outstanding Player for second straight season

(HALIFAX, N.S.) Atlantic University Sport is pleased to announce the 2025 football major award winners and all-stars as selected by the conference's five head coaches following regular season play.

OUTSTANDING PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Bishop's Gaiters, Justin Quirion (Chris Flynn Trophy)

Bishop's Gaiters quarterback Justin Quirion has been selected as Atlantic University Sport's most outstanding player for the second consecutive season.

An education student in his fourth year of eligibility from Saint Georges, Que., Quirion led the AUS conference this season in passing touchdowns with 15, the fourth most in U SPORTS.

He also led AUS in passing yards (1,959) and passing yards per game (244.9). He had 145 completed passes on the season, leading the Gaiters to a 5-3 record.

Quirion has now accumulated 5,981 career passing yards, placing him fifth in the category in the AUS record book.

His 458 career completions place him fifth in the AUS record book, and his 44 career passing touchdowns are the eighth most recorded in conference history.

In addition to being named conference MOP this season, Quirion was also named a conference all-star for the second consecutive year.

Quirion is the only player from the Gaiters to be named AUS most outstanding player since the Gaiters joined the Atlantic conference in 2017.

He now becomes the Atlantic conference nominee for the Hec Crighton Trophy as U SPORTS outstanding player of the year.

The most recent Atlantic conference player to earn the national honour was former Saint Mary's standout Erik Glavic who won the award in 2007.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Mathieu Bellavance, Bishop's Gaiters

The AUS Rookie of the Year is Mathieu Bellavance from the Bishop's Gaiters.

A six-foot-eight, 230-lb history and global studies student from Quebec City, Que. Bellavance played in all eight regular season games for the Gaiters this season, both as backup quarterback and as a receiver.

He finished with nine carries for 45 yards and two rushing touchdowns during the regular season. He then had four carries for 15 yards and two more rushing touchdowns in the Gaiters' narrow 26-24 loss to STFX in the playoff semifinal.

Bellavance also had 10 receptions for 138 yards and two receiving touchdowns through the regular season.

This marks the third time a player from the Gaiters has earned the honour as the conference's top rookie since Bishop's joined the AUS conference in 2017.

Former Gaiters standout Liam Patton earned the honour in 2017, and Bishop's Mikaël Pattin was the 2023 AUS rookie of the year.

Bellavance now becomes the Atlantic conference nominee for the national rookie of the year award.

Mount Allison's Jakob Loucks is the most recent AUS winner of the Peter Gorman Trophy as the top rookie in the nation, earning the honour in 2016.

OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Owen Watrych, STFX (Tony Proudfoot Trophy)

STFX X-Men linebacker Owen Watrych has been named the AUS outstanding defensive player of the year.

A third-year arts student in his second year of eligibility from Yorkton, Sask., Watrych led U SPORTS in tackles this season, averaging 9.2 per game.

His 73.5 total tackles (including 54 solo tackles) this season were the most by any player in the country. He also set a new single-season school record for tackles in a season—eclipsing the previous record of 63.5 set by no. 1 overall CFL draft pick Henoc Muamba in 2010.

He had 5.5 tackles for loss this season, including one sack. His impressive defensive efforts also included two fumble recoveries and a pass breakup.

In addition to being named the AUS outstanding defensive player of the year, he was also named a conference all-star for the first time in his career today.

Watrych's win marks the first time a STFX player has earned the honour as the top defensive player in the conference since former X-Men standout Ron Omara in 2013.

Watrych will now represent the conference as the AUS nominee for the Presidents' Trophy awarded to the national outstanding defensive player of the year. STFX's most recent national award winner was Muamba, who went on to play in both the CFL and NFL after earning the honour in 2010.

OUTSTANDING LINEMAN OF THE YEAR: Cailob Allaby, Saint Mary's

Cailob Allaby of the Saint Mary's Huskies has been named the Atlantic University Sport outstanding lineman of the year.

The six-foot-five, 305-lb offensive lineman played in all eight regular season games for the Huskies in their league-leading 7-1 season.

A second-year arts student from Dartmouth, N.S., Allaby anchored a Saint Mary's offensive line that powered the AUS's top-ranked offense—first in scoring (278 points), points per game (34.8), total offense (425.1 yards per game), rushing yards (175.4 per game), and rushing touchdowns (17).

Known for his size, strength, and consistency in both pass protection and run blocking, Allaby was a key factor in the Huskies' offensive dominance and their return to the Loney Bowl championship game.

In addition to being named the league's top lineman, Allaby was also named an AUS all-star today.

This marks the first time since 2012 that a Saint Mary's player has been named the conference's top lineman. Former Huskies standout Rob Jubenville last earned the honour in 2012.  

Allaby will represent the conference as the nominee for the J.P. Metras Trophy, which was last brought back to the AUFC in 1997 when STFX's Mike Kushnir was named the nation's top lineman. The only Saint Mary's player to ever earn the national honour was Mark Pothier in 1975.

STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Cameron Brown, Saint Mary's Huskies

Cameron Brown of the Saint Mary's Huskies is the 2025 AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award recipient and will be the conference nominee for the prestigious Russ Jackson Award.

Named after CFL quarterback Russ Jackson, this award recognizes a Canadian university football player who excels on the field, in academics, and in community service.

This is the second consecutive season a player from the Saint Mary's Huskies has earned the honour.

A fourth-year punter from Hammonds Plains, N.S., Brown appeared in all eight regular season games for the Huskies, recording 47 punts for an average of 38.1 yards, with 15 punts downed inside the 20-yard line.

In the classroom, he is completing a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in biology with a minor in psychology. A three-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian on pace for a fourth consecutive honour, he achieved an impressive 4.0 GPA on a 4.3 scale last year.

Off the field, Brown has made exceptional contributions to his community through extensive volunteer work.

A Saint John Ambulance volunteer medical first responder, he has logged more than 450 hours between the Halifax and Saint Mary's divisions and now serves as president of the Saint Mary's division. In March 2024, he was part of a response team that successfully resuscitated a cardiac arrest patient, personally assisting with airway management and oxygen administration.

Brown also gives back each summer as a volunteer counsellor at Brigadoon Village, a medical camp that holds special meaning for him after being diagnosed with celiac disease as a child. Since 2022, he has dedicated more than 400 hours supporting children with chronic illnesses and disabilities, including cancer, juvenile arthritis, epilepsy, and hearing impairments.

In addition, Brown volunteers with adaptive sports programs, helping athletes experience the joy of movement through sit-skiing at Wentworth, wheelchair basketball, and accessible sailing with SailAble.

He now becomes the Atlantic conference nominee for the national award. The last AUS student-athlete to capture the Russ Jackson Award was former Huskies standout Duncan Patterson in 2022.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Steve Sumarah, Saint Mary's Huskies (Larry Uteck Trophy)

Saint Mary's Huskies head coach Steve Sumarah has been chosen by his peers as the Atlantic conference coach of the year.

In his fourth year back at the helm of the program, Sumarah led the Huskies to a league-best 7-1 regular season record and a 37-0 win in the AUS semifinal. The victory secured Saint Mary's the right to host the 2025 Bell AUS Loney Bowl, where they will face STFX this Saturday.

This marks Sumarah's fourth time being named the conference's top coach—and his first since returning to Saint Mary's in 2022. He previously spent 14 seasons with the Huskies, serving as head coach from 2006 to 2011 and offensive coordinator from 1998 to 2005. His earlier Coach of the Year honours came in three consecutive seasons (2007–2009).

Sumarah's Huskies led the conference this season in scoring (278 points), points per game (34.8), total offense (425.1 yards per game), rushing yards (1,403), yards per rush (5.6), and rushing touchdowns (17), while also ranking first in first downs (180) and total yards (3,361).

Coach Sumarah now becomes the Atlantic conference nominee for the Frank Tindall Tophy as U SPORTS Coach of the Year. He previously won the award in 2009 and is the most recent Saint Mary's coach to receive the national honour.

ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR: Bryce Fisher, STFX X-Men (Phil Hughes Award)

Bryce Fisher of the STFX X-Men is the 2025 recipient of the Phil Hughes Award and the AUS nominee for the national Gino Fracas Award.

Presented annually to an assistant coach who does not make their full-time living coaching football at the university level, this year's award holds special meaning following the passing of its namesake, Phil Hughes, in September.

Coach Fisher is currently serving as the X-Men's defensive backs coach and has been on the STFX coaching staff since 2019.

Prior to joining the STFX staff, Fisher was already an integral member of the local football community through his role with Football Nova Scotia, coaching provincial teams at multiple levels since 2012.

He continues to balance his provincial coaching duties with his commitment to STFX, contributing to three AUS championship teams and serving as a respected mentor within the football and campus communities.

This marks the first time since 2022 that a STFX coach has been honoured with the Phil Hughes Award, with Tyler Wilson last earning the honour in 2022.

Fisher now becomes the Atlantic conference nominee for the U SPORTS Gino Fracas Award. Saint Mary's coach Joe Taplin was the most recent AUS recipient, winning the award in 2013.

2025 AUS Football All-Stars:

Defensive Tackle: David McGill, STFX (4^th year – Powassan, Ont.)
Defensive Tackle: Westley Johnsen-MacDuff, Saint Mary's (2^nd year – Edmonton, Alta.)
Defensive End:  Rory Litt, Acadia (3^rd year – Upper Tantallon, N.S.)
Defensive End: Jahmari Brown, Saint Mary's (3^rd year – Oshawa, Ont.)
Linebacker: Owen Watrych, STFX (2^nd year – Yorkton, Sask.)
Linebacker: Owen O'Neal, Mount Allison (5^th year – Sackville, N.B.)
Linebacker: Isaiah Okoli, Saint Mary's (5^th year – Surrey, B.C.)
Free Safety: Ryan Butler, Saint Mary's (4^th year – Mississauga, Ont.)
Halfback: Alex MacDonald, Bishop's (4^th year – Eastern Passage, N.S.)
Halfback: Kallon Edwards, Saint Mary's (4^th year – Toronto, Ont.)
Cornerback: Naijaun David, STFX (3^rd year – Dartmouth, N.S.)
Cornerback: Logan Mendes, Saint Mary's (2^nd year – Quispamsis, N.B.)
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Centre: Evan Reece, Saint Mary's (2^nd year – Smithville, Ont.)
Guard: Dalton Cox, Saint Mary's (2^nd year – Newmarket, Ont.)
Guard: Antony Roy, Bishop's (2^nd year – Lévis, Que.)
Tackle: Cailob Allaby, Saint Mary's (2^nd year – Dartmouth, N.S.)
Tackle: Jackob Branton, Saint Mary's (3^rd year – Shearwater, N.S.)
Receiver: Cherokee Robinson, Saint Mary's (3^rd year – Halifax, N.S.)
Receiver: Devaughn Blackwood, STFX (4^th year – Kanata, Ont.)
Receiver: Zachary Houde, STFX (4^th year – Falardeau, Que.)
Receiver: Joey Julien, Bishop's (3^rd year – Joliette, Que.)
FB/TE/H-Back: Brad MacDonald, Saint Mary's (2^nd year – Lewis Lake, N.S.)
Running Back: Malcolm Bussey, STFX (4^th year – Hammonds Plains, N.S.)
Running Back: O'Shae Ho-Sang, Bishop's (5^th year – Montreal, Que.)
Quarterback: Justin Quirion, Bishop's (4^th year – Saint-Georges, Que.)
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Punter: Malcolm Cameron, STFX (1^st year – Coquitlam, B.C.)
Place Kicker: Adam Johnston, Saint Mary's (4^th year – Rothesay, N.B.)
Kick Returner: Chandler Zinck-Marier - Saint Mary's (3^rd year – Bridgewater, N.S.)
Rush/Cover: Liam Legge, Saint Mary's (2^nd year – Stewiacke, N.S.)

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This Saturday, the Saint Mary's Huskies (1^st place) will host the STFX X-Men (2^nd place) in the 2025 Bell AUS Loney Bowl.

The championship game will be streamed live at www.AUStv.ca.

The AUS champion will move on to host the RSEQ conference champion in the 2025 U SPORTS Uteck Bowl Saturday, Nov. 15.   

The Mitchell Bowl and Uteck Bowl winners will advance to play each other in the 60^th Vanier Cup on Saturday, Nov. 22. The 2025 national championship game will be hosted by the University of Regina at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Sask. More information can be found here.

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