The Université de Montréal Carabins kept their perfect record on Friday at Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard, but the Vert & Or from the Université de Sherbrooke came close to causing a surprise.
Posted at 12:15 a.m.
Winners 24-20, a third win in three games, the Carabins were once again bothered by a team that has often been their pet peeve. And the visitors, who have not won a match on the road since the 2017 season, came very close to a feat.
“We expected a great performance from them and we really had to fight until the end. After our last-second win over Laval [samedi dernier]it’s starting to be difficult for my nerves,” agreed head coach Marco Iadeluca, half-seriously.
“Fortunately, we again showed our ability to react well in these close games and we found a way to get the win. That said, we still had difficulty finishing our series in the “red zone” and the indiscipline cost us dearly, a penalty nullifying a touchdown. It is certain that we will talk about it this week… ”
PHOTO JAMES HAJJAR, PROVIDED BY THE CARABINS
Carabins players try by all means to reach the ball.
Vert & Or’s performance is all the more commendable as the team was deprived of several key players. While number one quarterback Anthony Robichaud has been absent since the start of the season and his replacement Zacharie Cloutier was injured in the second game, the Vert & Or lost its third quarterback Charles Picard last week.
Cloutier was back on Friday, but head coach Mathieu Lecompte had also “dressed” two reservists, Gianni Casati and Hugo Legros.
The Carabins started the game strong and, as they had done last week, it was the defense that stood out. On the second offensive play for the visitors, Bruno Lagacé intercepted a pass from Cloutier to then run 37 yards and score a touchdown.
The Vert & Or quarterback didn’t let up, however, and showed great mobility to orchestrate a four-game series punctuated by a 57-yard touchdown pass to Emilio Jaimes Leclair.
The visitors kept the initiative throughout the first quarter with good positions on the ground and it is logical that they took the lead on the last play of the quarter thanks to a 14-yard field goal from Louis Tardif. Cloutier was however injured in the right shoulder and it was Legros then Casati who took over.
The Green & Gold clings
The Carabins finally got going early in the second quarter, with Sénécal making three consecutive passes, the last to Carl Chabot in the end zone. But when we thought that the Blues were going to save themselves with the match, the Vert & Or hung on with inspired play in defense and even some opportunities in attack.
Two missed field goals and a safety touchdown allowed the Carabins to widen the gap to 18-10. A fumble recovered by Julien Le Guehennec offered a good push from the attack, which brought the ball to the door of the goals, but, against all odds, it was the Vert & Or who created the equality. William Legault fumbled the ball on the goal line and Marius Massé brought it back 110 yards for a spectacular touchdown. Casati completed a 5-yard pass to Leclair for a two-point convert.
Once again, Sénécal and the Carabins showed their character. From its line of 20, the offense started to gain 61 yards in seven plays and allow Philippe Boyer to achieve a field goal of 37 yards.
After getting a safety touchdown, which made the score 21-20, the Vert & Or got one last chance to come back, but Pier-Olivier Cadoret dropped the ball at his line of 18. Boyer took the opportunity to add three more points and, this time, the Carabins were finally able to savor their victory.
“We were stressed until the end, acknowledged Bruno Lagacé. They played really well, even though they played their fourth and fifth quarterbacks. And we made a lot of mistakes, all those penalties in particular that almost cost us the win. »
The Carabins (3-0), who also have to deal with numerous injuries, will play their next game next Saturday against the Redbirds at McGill (0-2). The latter are in action this Saturday as they visit the Concordia Stingers (0-2).
The Vert & Or (2-2), who still won two victories despite all the injuries, will welcome a week’s break.