Low looks. Long faces. The long sighs. All these expressions are normally reserved for losers. However, we found them on the faces of the Carabins players from the University of Montreal, after their 32-31 overtime victory against their sworn enemy, the Rouge et Or from Laval University.
Even more absurd: the Carabins had an easy opportunity to win, and they let it slip away. Montreal led by a small point, at 25-24, when the Rouge et Or attempted a 42-yard field goal. The attempt was in vain. Montreal just had to leave its territory and throw itself on the ground to ensure its victory.
The Carabins, however, preferred to kneel on the ground in their end zone, granting the Rouge et Or a point. At 25-25, overtime was going to be necessary. Why did the Blues act like this?
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PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Jonathan Sénécal directs his gaze forward, looking for a target.
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PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Rouge et Or quarterback Arnaud Desjardins, on the ground
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PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Émile Choquet
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PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Jonathan Sénécal slides to the ground after carrying the ball himself.
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PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Maxime Saucier-Lafond and Benjamin Nadon, from Rouge et Or, clash their helmets.
1/5
To give yourself a better chance of getting first place in the standings, and at the same time, home advantage in the playoffs. If both teams have the same number of points at the end of the season – which should be the case – first place will be determined by the Carabins’ total points against the Rouge et Or during the season.
After the two regular schedule meetings between the two teams, this score is tied. Laval could therefore have the upper hand due to its lower number of points awarded. Montreal therefore hoped to score valuable points in overtime.
“It’s a victory that almost hurts,” summarized Carabins quarterback Jonathan Sénécal. But we will come back stronger [en séries]whether here or there. »
“It would have been nice to have one more point, but the important thing is to win games,” he added.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Kicker Felipe Forteza in action
The Rouge et Or, for its part, had several opportunities to concede the match, when it lost by a single point, which would have allowed it to increase its chances of finishing in first place. However, the team preferred to try to win the match.
“We wanted to win the match, we didn’t want the tiebreaker,” revealed Rouge et Or coach Glen Constantin. Either we were going to present ourselves as sheep or as wolves. That was our watchword this week, to play aggressively. »
Fury
Coach Marco Ladeluca was in a foul mood, despite his team’s victory. He categorically refused to comment on a call for roughness awarded to his defensive back Louis-Philippe Gauthier, in overtime.
Thanks to this penalty, Laval obtained a first down, instead of a third down, with 10 yards to go. The verdict changed the shape of the match, which Montreal might have won by a large margin, thereby ensuring home field advantage in the playoffs.
“It was limited to my taste,” commented receiver Enrique Jaimes Leclair. From his angle of view, the referee could not give a tissue. That match was over. »
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
The weather was chilly, but the sun was beating down on CEPSUM.
The sprinkler watered
Nonetheless, the Carabins will have given back to the Rouge et Or, who also won the last clash by a single point. To do this, Montreal had to complete a great comeback to win, trailing 16-7 at the half.
The Carabins won without complexes, despite their underdog status.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Carabins head coach Marco Iadeluca
We’ve been disrespected all week. We proved that we were capable, we played really well today.
Carabins head coach Marco Iadeluca
The attack of the Blues proved particularly convincing, amassing 437 yards, including 375 through the air. Quarterback Jonathan Sénécal completed 79.5% of his passes, for three touchdown passes.
“We saw today that he was the best player in Canada,” said his coach Marco Ladeluca.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Jonathan Sénécal, quarterback of the Montreal Carabins
If Sénécal was able to be so convincing, it is also thanks to the brilliance of his receivers. The match was the scene of several miraculous receptions. At the end of the fourth quarter, rookie receiver Enrique Jaimes Leclair notably caught the ball with one hand to score a touchdown. We bet that Yvan Ponton wrote down the sequence in his notebook.
“I thought the defense had taken a penalty on me, so I told myself I had to go for it. It was all or nothing, and it worked well,” the rookie rejoiced after the meeting.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
The Rouge et Or came to CEPSUM pumped up.
Rouge et Or quarterback Arnaud Desjardins also had an exceptional game, accumulating 333 passing yards.
The Carabins will play their last game of the regular season on Saturday at Concordia, against the Stingers. The Rouge et Or will face the McGill Redbirds the next day and will face the Vert & Or on October 26 to conclude their season.