In a back alley fight, the Rouge et Or of Laval University won the Mitchell Cup on Saturday and prevailed at the last minute to score a 17-14 victory against the Regina Rams who sold their team dearly. skin.
- This match was presented on TVA Sports.
With this victory, the Rouge et Or secures its ticket to the 14th Vanier Cup in its history where it has a record of 11 victories and two losses. Laval will cross swords next Saturday at Queen’s with the Laurier Golden Hawks who won the Uteck Cup by defeating the Bishop’s Gaiters with a score of 48-24 earlier in the day.
Trailing 14-10 with 3:39 left in the 4th quarter, the Rouge et Or orchestrated an 85-yard drive that ended with a touchdown from Isaac Gaillardetz on a five-yard pass.
The Rams took the ball back at their 24-yard line with 73 seconds left on the clock. After two first downs, the Rams were stopped on a 3rd down and a yard to go. Defensive end Nathan Charron and linebacker Francis Bouchard tackled Marshall Erichsen for a loss to seal the victory. Mathieu Roy added a first to definitively close the books.
“We faced a good team that played inspired football and was pumped up,” said head coach Glen Constantin. At the start of the match, the guys were too upset after the lively discussions in the center of the field.
DIDIER DEBUSSCHERE/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
Even though the offense blew three opportunities inside the Rams’ 20-yard line in the second half, Arnaud Desjardins assures that everyone was confident when the Rouge et Or regained the ball late in the game with a delay by four points.
“No one gave up even though there was a little frustration because we couldn’t score even though we moved the ball well,” explained the 4th year center. We achieved our best sequence of the season at the most important moment. We made mistakes that we don’t usually make, but everyone showed resilience.
DIDIER DEBUSSCHERE/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
Touch of victory
Gaillardetz was of the same opinion. “I wasn’t worried. I’m happy that the ball came to me for the winning touchdown, but Arnaud had other options on this play. We have to capitalize and we will correct our problems for the next game.
A field goal that hit the post, an interception in the end zone and a breakaway in wildcat formation from William Tremblay deprived the Rouge et Or of precious points.
DIDIER DEBUSSCHERE/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
Avalanche of penalties
The Rouge et Or had a difficult first half. Gains of just 124 yards, including a 75 play to Olivier Cool for the touchdown, and six penalties for 75 yards led to a time of possession completely in favor of the Rams who had the ball for 21:43.
Two penalties for obstruction and another for roughness against the kicker allowed the Rams to extend offensive series. “There were some questionable punishments, but that’s life on the road,” Constantin said. We shot ourselves in the foot a few times, but the players showed resilience.”
