Quarterback Olivier Roy threw for 249 yards and two touchdowns in 29-19 loss.
The Concordia Stingers football team faced their cross-town rival McGill Redbirds at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium on Oct. 25. With the matchup being the final one of the regular season for both teams, the outcome would decide third place in the Réseau du Sport Étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) football standings.
Despite the high-stakes matchup against a rival opponent and the playoff implications on the line, Stingers head coach Brad Collinson said that the message in the Stingers’ locker room was simple.
“It’s like any other football game,” Collison said. “[Our mindset is] trying to win a football game and secure third place.”
As the game kicked off, the Stingers jumped out in front of their opponent early. Following a two-point safety taken by the Redbirds, Stingers quarterback Oliver Roy found wide receiver Louis-Félix Doyon wide open for a reception and a 76-yard touchdown run. The Stingers led by a score of 9-0 four minutes into the game. This, however, would change quickly.
McGill closed the first quarter by scoring a field goal, closing the score gap to six points. Nine minutes into the second quarter, the Redbirds struck again. This time it was a 22-yard touchdown pass, giving McGill a 10-9 lead. The Stingers and Redbirds traded points in the ensuing final drives, with the first half concluding with a 17-12 McGill lead.
Despite the offensive struggles, Roy finished the first half strong with multiple long-distance pass completions. He spoke about strategy on offense after the game.
“I thought [McGill] wanted us to throw the ball deep a little bit more,” Roy said. “Their plan was to stop the run a little bit more, so we had to make them pay by throwing deep.”
The Stingers would need more of those completions if they wanted to pull off the comeback in the second half.
The third quarter saw airtight defense from both teams, with the only score coming on a two-point safety in favour of McGill. The Redbirds led 19-12 heading into the final frame.
With eight minutes remaining, the Stingers found themselves with a third down and two yards. As kicker Eric Maximuik set up for a punt, the Stingers faked the kick, attempting to run for the first down.
He made it to around the first down marker when he fumbled the ball. The Redbirds recovered and returned the ball forty yards for a touchdown. This made the challenge even tougher for the Stingers, putting them down by a score of 26-12.
One minute later, the Stingers answered. Roy aired out a pass to slotback Santino Sparagna for yet another 76-yard reception. This brought Concordia down to the McGill six-yard line, where they would score a touchdown the next play. The Stingers were back within seven points.
Ultimately, McGill would add a field goal and cement their 29-19 victory over the Stingers. With the loss, Concordia clinched fourth place in the RSEQ standings, meaning they will face the top-seeded Université Laval Rouge et Or in the RSEQ semi-finals. Collinson said that whoever the opponent is, the preparation will be no different.
“We have a couple of weeks left if we do everything right, but we need to fix some things,” Collinson said. He added that they will look over the film and get back to work on the field at the start of the week.
The Stingers will face the Rouge et Or in the RSEQ semi-final on Oct. 9. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m.
