The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ED Reed is that kind of play-making defensive back that has a knack for highlight reel plays and finding the end-zone. Demetrius Ferguson is developing a similar reputation.

Ferguson had a career day for the St Francis Xavier X-Men by forcing three turnovers in their 38-15 win over the Concordia Stingers in Canadian Inter-University Sport football action in Montreal, Canada, on Saturday. He finished with 4.5 tackles, one forced fumble, and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a 103-yard touchdown score.

“The first interception I had was an amazing one. Once I got my hands on the ball, I knew I was going to the house,” he said. “And it was one of the most pivotal plays in the game because it was such a big return.”

Ferguson opened the scoring with his interception return at the 9:11 mark in the first quarter. His second pick-off of Stingers’ quarterback Reid Quest came at the 12:22 mark in the third quarter. He had his third turnover with less than a minute left to play in the fourth quarter when he stripped Stingers’ receiver Alexander Hebert,recovered by the X-Men’s Hugo Rajotte.

“Yesterday’s game was a great win for us, we needed to win that game to show ourselves that we can play with anyone. It was an all around team win, from the coaches, to the players, trainers and team managers. Everyone on our team was a part of that win. All week we went through practice preparing for that game, and all the hours we spend watching film, and making improvements as a team and as individuals,” Ferguson said. “I played well yesterday but there’s still a lot of room to improve on in my game.”

The X-Men scored 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull away late and improve to 2-0, first place in the Atlantic University Sport Conference.

Nursing a slim 19-18 lead, X Men quarterback Clay Masikewich found Jordan Catterall for two deep touchdown passes. They opened the fourth with a scoring drive, capped by a 50-yard connection between the two players.

With just over two minutes left to play, they connected again for an 85-yard touchdown score to clinch the win for the X-Men.

Masikewich went 16-28 for 279 yards and three touchdowns, while Ashton Dickson totalled 72 yards on 17 carries, while Catterall had six catches for 157 yards and two scores.

The X-Men will shift to a Friday night game this week when they host the defending AUS champion and winless Acadia Axemen 7pm September 20 at Oland Stadium in Antagonish, Nova Scotia.

StFX will celebrate and honour 60 years of X-Men football during the game.

It was the second interception returned for a touchdown in Ferguson’s two year CIS career.

In his debut with the X-Men last fall, Ferguson intercepted a pass midway through the third quarter which he returned for a 78-yard touchdown.

St FX went on to dominate the Mount Allison Mounties 51-5 before a crowd of 2,200 who came out to witness the first night game in the Mounties’ history.

Ferguson said he looks to be more of a leader this season after spending last year in a reserve role.

“Last season I didn’t start, but got into the rotation a lot. There are guys here that have been here for a few years, and as an underclassman I respected that. We have a really good defensive backfield that can cover anyone in our conference,” he said. “This year is my second year on the team, and my role is to be one of the veteran leaders on this team and to lead by example. I see myself as a vocal leader and someone who leads by example.”