The Rouge et Or in search of a first victory in six years at CEPSUM

Who from the Rouge et Or or the Carabins will host the Dunsmore Cup match? This is essentially what is at stake during the second duel of the season between the two rivals, Saturday, at the CEPSUM of the University of Montreal. A place where Glen Constantin’s men have not won since 2018.

What’s so difficult to overcome at the Blues’ home ground? Managing our emotions and managing the noise to execute well. I think that’s the biggest challengereplies the head coach a few days before the match in Montreal.

Five weeks after the last-minute victory against the Carabins at the Telus stadium, the Rouge et Or has every reason to be confident. Still undefeated this season, the team has not allowed a single touchdown in its last two games.

However, there remains this drought of six years without a victory at CEPSUM, a much smaller stadium than that of the PEPS at Laval University, but particularly noisy due to the arrangement of the concrete stands facing Mount Royal.

It seems to bother you more than us. We’re going to win theresays Constantin to the author of these lines when asked about the failures of his people at the University of Montreal.

Practicing with speakers

Managing noise, admits receiver Isaac Gaillardetz, is a challenge for the offensive unit. The communication of plays and the cadence of the quarterback are sometimes buried by the opposing crowd.

But I still think we have a good plan and we’re practicing for it. We have ways to counter itspecifies the 23-year-old athlete.

Noise management can be practiced, but even if you practice with speakers, you cannot recreate the emotionadds his trainer.

Keeping a cool head in a hostile environment could make the difference for the young Rouge et Or team. Especially in a match that could be decided by a handful of small errors from one or the other of the two teams.

Home-field advantage at stake

As the Rouge et Or won their first duel against the Carabins by one point, a victory for the Blues by two points would be enough for them to regain first place in the Quebec rankings and, likely, host the provincial final.

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An issue of which the Rouge et Or players are very aware, despite a faultless season so far.

It’s certain that there is an additional stake, but the point difference doesn’t change anything. We want to winstates linebacker Justin Cloutier, general of the best defensive unit in Canada with an average of 11.4 points allowed per game.