The Laval University Rouge et Or won the 59th Vanier Cup on Saturday, beating the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks 22-17 on Saturday.
Laval won the 12th ring in its history in this Canadian university championship and only lost twice in the grand final. Coach Glen Constantin won 11 of them in his 23rd year at the helm of the team.
A Quebec team has won top honors for three consecutive years. Laval won in 2022, then the Carabins the following year.
The Golden Hawks were aiming for their first victory in 19 years, which also dates back to their last appearance in the final. The Ontario university had not suffered a defeat in 11 games this season, which counted on the athlete par excellence in Canada in Taylor Elgersma, the quarterback.
Felipe Forteza set a Vanier Cup record with six successful field goals on the winning side.
Arnaud Desjardins had 320 air yards in the victory.
Ryan Hughes and Jaxon Stebbings caught a touchdown pass in the loss.
Desjardins completed his first 22 attempts by air. Forteza made five precision kicks in the first half to help Laval University build a 17-7 halftime lead.
Forteza's sixth field goal, made with just 2:31 remaining in the game, set a Vanier Cup record. The Golden Hawks were then unable to generate any offense.
Wilfrid Laurier University went 8-0 this season and outscored its opponents 128-76 in its first three playoff games. The Rouge et Or entered the game with a 10-1 record and were coming back from two close victories in recent weeks.
Desjardins allowed his troops to move deep into enemy territory during the first offensive possession, but Laval University had to settle for an 18-yard field goal from Forteza.
The Rouge et Or used a no-huddle attack, while Desjardins successfully completed several passes on the call. After a nine-play, 63-yard drive, Forteza sent the ball between the posts a distance of 15 yards.
The excellent defense of the Rouge et Or, who led Canadian university football with just 106 points allowed this season, set the tone when Jordan Lessard caused a fumble that the Golden Hawks recovered. On the next play, Ndeki Garant-Doumambila made a resounding sack of the quarterback.
Wilfrid Laurier University didn't record a first down until the final moments of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Golden Hawks conceded a safety touchdown to make the score 8-0 in favor of the Rouge et Or. Forteza then added a 35-yard precision kick.
Jackson gave the Golden Hawks some life when he made a 51-yard run to the Rouge et Or 5 line. Hughes caught a pass from Elgersma to close the gap.
Desjardins, however, led the Laval University attack into the territory of the Ontario champions, allowing Forteza to make a 32-yard field goal.
After another fumble caused by Lessard, Forteza made a 32-yard precision kick to give the Rouge et Or a 17-7 lead.
The Golden Hawks had a much better start to the second half.
Elgersma spotted Ethan Jordan for a 45-yard reception. The offensive sequence was capped by a three-yard catch from Stebbings in the end zone.
Laval University got two more points in the fourth quarter, following a safety touchdown, and the Golden Hawks got within two points thanks to a 34-yard field goal.
In 2025, the Vanier Cup will be held in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Arnaud Desjardins and Justin Cloutier
