A dominant defensive performance propelled the Rouge et Or to victory over the Stingers in the first game of the season.
Université Laval’s Rouge et Or claimed victory over the Concordia Stingers’ football team by a score of 36-11 on Aug. 24. This matchup marked the first time these two teams have met since they played in last season’s 2023 Réseau du Sport Étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) playoff semifinals. Laval won that game in overtime by a score of 34-27.
It is never an easy task for the Stingers to face off against the Rouge et Or. Last season, Université Laval outscored Concordia by a 40-point margin (88-48) and beat the Stingers in all three matchups.
Despite this, Stingers head coach Brad Collinson was optimistic about the challenge going into the game.
“We were excited,” Collinson said. “Obviously getting back on the field — it’s been 294 days since we played, so having the chance to get back on this field and compete — it’s always something we strive for.”
As the bleachers filled up with fans from both universities, the opening kickoff began the 2024 regular season.
The Rouge et Or were the first team to receive the ball, and they took advantage of it right out of the gate. Despite starting the offensive drive on their own ten-yard line, the Rouge et Or rushed the ball 76 yards up the field to get into field goal range. With this opportunity, Laval kicked a field goal and took an early 3-0 lead.
The Stingers looked to respond quickly with their first offensive drive of the game. The new-look Concordia offense had a tall task ahead of them, facing last season’s runner-up, but they lived up to their potential early on.
Following a ten-yard completion on his first pass attempt, Stingers quarterback Olivier Roy aired out a pass to slotback Santino Sparagna for a 25-yard completion. On the very next play, Roy found wide receiver Rodney Estimé for another 20 yards. The Stingers drove down the field with authority, allowing them to cash in with a field goal of their own, tying the game 3-3.
On the ensuing drive, the Rouge et Or responded with a 48-yard reception completion, which put them into the endzone for the first time this season, making it a 10-3 game for the visiting team.
As the second quarter got underway, Laval had the ball and looked to extend their seven-point lead. A second-and-goal found the Rouge et Or 5 yards from the endzone, and they capitalized on the opportunity.
A floater from quarterback Arnaud Desjardins to his receiver gave the Rouge et Or their second touchdown, making the score 18-3.
The Stingers desperately needed a response before the game got out of reach.
With just under seven minutes left in the second quarter, Concordia started their offensive drive at their own 38-yard line. Three first downs and 72 yards later, the Stingers found themselves in the endzone. A five-yard run by slotback Xavier Trembley and the extra-point kick from kicker Eric Maximuik brought the Stingers within one possession, with a 18-10 score.
Coach Collinson shared that the mood in the locker room at this point in the game was optimistic.
“We always are going to think we are in the game,” Collinson said postgame. “We got the ball back, we thought we could go down and score, and then we would have been down by one.”
In the third quarter, Laval sprung to life both offensive and defensively.
A touchdown half-way through the third frame padded the Rouge et Or lead, which they defended by not giving up more than a one-point rouge the entire quarter.
The fourth quarter was more of the same. Laval scored another touchdown 19 seconds in, which was all they needed to silence Concordia’s offense for the remainder of the match.
Laval added two safeties and cemented their 36-11 victory to spoil the Stingers’ home opener.
“I don’t think we executed at the level that we’re able to or wanted to,” quarterback Roy said postgame. “I think some of [our mistakes] are a quick fix, and some of them we’re going to have to put our noses in the playbook and watch the film.”
Six days later, the Stingers looked to rebound after the tough loss in their first game. On Aug. 30, the team hit the road to face the Université de Sherbrooke Vert et Or. This time, the Stingers were victorious, winning by a 19-15 margin.
A defensive first quarter paved the way for the Stingers to capitalize in the second, taking a 5-0 lead into the second half.
An 81-yard offensive drive was topped off with a 14-yard touchdown by running back Franck Tchembe, making it a 12-0 Stingers lead. This would not last, however, as Sherbrooke responded with back-to-back touchdowns, as well as a one-point rouge, giving the home Vert et Or a 15-12 lead in the fourth quarter.
With time running out, the Stingers needed at least a field goal to see another offensive drive. 87 yards later, Tchembe ran into the endzone for his second touchdown of the game, this one being the game-decider.
The Stingers held on for their first victory of the season. They now sit in third place out of five in the RSEQ standings.
The Stingers’ football team will be back in action on Sept. 14 when they visit the top-seeded Université de Montréal Carabins. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
