The Laval Rouge et Or demonstrated why they are considered one of the elite teams in CIS football with a 25-2 victory over the Concordia Stingers in the Homecoming game last Saturday afternoon at Concordia Stadium.
It was revenge for the 20-8 loss they suffered at the hands of the Stingers on their home turf in the season’s opening game.
In the opening quarter, both defenses stood their ground, allowing very few yards to their offensive counterparts. The first scoring play came with just under eleven minutes remaining in the second quarter. Laval kicker Nicolas Racine booted a 27-yard field goal to give his team a 3-0 lead. Laval never looked back.
With 5:10 remaining in the first half, Laval quarterback Mathieu Bertrand
connected with receiver Jean-Francois Turgeon on a 51-yard touchdown pass, giving the Rouge et Or a 10-0 lead.
The Stingers finally got on the scoreboard with 2:16 remaining in the half, but the points did not come from their offensive unit. Laval was facing a third down situation deep in their own half, causing punter Nicolas Racine to run the ball to the back of their own end zone, conceding the two-point safety to Concordia, and reducing their lead to 10-2.
On the ensuing drive, the Stingers drove to the Rouge et Or 41-yard line. With almost no time left on the clock, kicker Robert McCallum missed a 41-yard field goal attempt, keeping Laval ahead by eight points at the half.
In the second half, Laval continued to demonstrate their defensive expertise stopping the Concordia run and allowing them very few passing yards. Laval also added a couple of touchdowns, including a one yard run by Dimitri Kiernan with one second remaining in the game to seal a 25-2 victory for Laval.
“Our defense was good, but our offense seemed to sputter today,” said Stingers receiver Chris Cvetkovic, who had three receptions totalling 50 yards on the day.
Linebacker Graeme Burns was chosen as Concordia’s player of the game, and acknowledged that poor discipline by the Stingers proved to be costly. “We came to play physically but we didn’t play with our heads today,” Burns said.
Stingers coach Gerry McGrath was aware that the Rouge et Or were ready to prove something in the game, two weeks after the Stingers triumphed over the Rouge et Or. “Today was exactly the opposite game from two weeks ago. We didn’t take advantage today,” McGrath said.
A scary moment occurred in the fourth quarter when Stingers running-back Jean-Michel Paquette collided with Rouge et Or defensive lineman Sebastien Dupuis. Paquette lay on the ground for several minutes before being helped off the field, to the applause of both the Concordia and Laval supporters. McGrath said Paquette suffered a concussion and that his status would be determined later in the week.
The Stingers (2-1) are now tied with the Rouge et Or (2-1) for first place in the QIFC. The teams will meet again on October 14th in Sainte-Foy. But first, the Stingers have to stay focused on the Bishop’s Gaiters (1-2), whom the Stingers will face this Saturday afternoon at Coulter field in Lennoxville.
Kick-off is at 1 p.m.
It was revenge for the 20-8 loss they suffered at the hands of the Stingers on their home turf in the season’s opening game.
In the opening quarter, both defenses stood their ground, allowing very few yards to their offensive counterparts. The first scoring play came with just under eleven minutes remaining in the second quarter. Laval kicker Nicolas Racine booted a 27-yard field goal to give his team a 3-0 lead. Laval never looked back.
With 5:10 remaining in the first half, Laval quarterback Mathieu Bertrand
connected with receiver Jean-Francois Turgeon on a 51-yard touchdown pass, giving the Rouge et Or a 10-0 lead.
The Stingers finally got on the scoreboard with 2:16 remaining in the half, but the points did not come from their offensive unit. Laval was facing a third down situation deep in their own half, causing punter Nicolas Racine to run the ball to the back of their own end zone, conceding the two-point safety to Concordia, and reducing their lead to 10-2.
On the ensuing drive, the Stingers drove to the Rouge et Or 41-yard line. With almost no time left on the clock, kicker Robert McCallum missed a 41-yard field goal attempt, keeping Laval ahead by eight points at the half.
In the second half, Laval continued to demonstrate their defensive expertise stopping the Concordia run and allowing them very few passing yards. Laval also added a couple of touchdowns, including a one yard run by Dimitri Kiernan with one second remaining in the game to seal a 25-2 victory for Laval.
“Our defense was good, but our offense seemed to sputter today,” said Stingers receiver Chris Cvetkovic, who had three receptions totalling 50 yards on the day.
Linebacker Graeme Burns was chosen as Concordia’s player of the game, and acknowledged that poor discipline by the Stingers proved to be costly. “We came to play physically but we didn’t play with our heads today,” Burns said.
Stingers coach Gerry McGrath was aware that the Rouge et Or were ready to prove something in the game, two weeks after the Stingers triumphed over the Rouge et Or. “Today was exactly the opposite game from two weeks ago. We didn’t take advantage today,” McGrath said.
A scary moment occurred in the fourth quarter when Stingers running-back Jean-Michel Paquette collided with Rouge et Or defensive lineman Sebastien Dupuis. Paquette lay on the ground for several minutes before being helped off the field, to the applause of both the Concordia and Laval supporters. McGrath said Paquette suffered a concussion and that his status would be determined later in the week.
The Stingers (2-1) are now tied with the Rouge et Or (2-1) for first place in the QIFC. The teams will meet again on October 14th in Sainte-Foy. But first, the Stingers have to stay focused on the Bishop’s Gaiters (1-2), whom the Stingers will face this Saturday afternoon at Coulter field in Lennoxville.
Kick-off is at 1 p.m.
