Last season, the Bishop’s Gaiters (no, not spelled Gators) won the first Jewett Trophy in school history. After defeating Saint Mary’s in the Loney Bowl to secure said trophy, AUS Most Outstanding Player Justin Quirion led his team to the program’s first national semi-final appearance since 1994.
Bishop’s 2024 campaign came to an end
As 2025 is set to kickoff in Lennoxville, fans of the Gaiters have a lot going for them. Quirion, will be back under centre and he won’t be alone. 2024 leading rusher O’Shae Ho-Sang (105 ATT, 780 YDS, 8 TD) will also be back and so will 2024 AUS Most Outstanding Defensive Player Alex MacDonald, who tied for the conference lead in sacks, with 5.5.
They will once again be led by Chérif Nicolas, who has held the role of head football coach at Bishop’s since Dec. 21, 2016.
Since his first season at the helm in 2017, Nicolas holds a regular season record of 25-28. In five post-season appearances (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024), his squad holds a record of 5-5, including one Loney Bowl victory (2024).
After a slow start coming to AUS from the RSEQ, Bishop’s has definitely climbed to the upper echelon of the AUS under Nicolas’ watch, as the program has appeared in four of the last five Loney Bowls. The Gaiters will most certainly be setting their sights on another appearance in 2025.
This past week, the Gaiters traveled to Quebec City where they suited up against the reigning national champion Laval Rouge et Or in a preseason tilt. Preseason or not, Laval left no doubt that they will once again be fielding a championship calibre team, unleashing a 52-3 performance.
The reality is that the competition that Bishop’s will face weekly during their AUS season will not be to the same level as a well-oiled Laval Rouge et Or team, but the game does introduce some questions about the season ahead in Lennoxville.
Will Bishop’s be able to defend their AUS crown in 2025, and if they do, what will their fate be in the national semi-final?
For context, this year’s Uteck Bowl (national semi-final) is to be a contest between the AUS champions and the RSEQ champions, hosted by the Atlantic conference. For now the Gaiters will regroup and focus on the task at hand: conquering the AUS.
The Bishop’s Gaiters will open their AUS season on the road against the Mount Allison Mounties in Sackville, New Brunswick at 2:00 pm ET.