The first playoff games are played this Saturday in Quebec university football, the semi-finals between Sherbrooke in Montreal and Concordia in Laval at 2 p.m.
If the regular season is to be trusted, the usual favorites will have to be on their guard. The Université de Montréal Carabins (3) and the Université Laval Rouge et Or (14) have shared all the championships since 2003, usually outrageously dominating their other rivals. This has not been the case this season.
The Carabins (7-1) certainly won their two games against Laval, with a “historic” 35-14 victory on their home turf at the end of the season, but they were also beaten 31-28 by the Concordia Stingers ( 4-4). The Rouge et Or (5-3) suffered an even more surprising defeat in Sherbrooke (17-23), the first in its history against the Vert & Or (3-5).
Obviously, the cancellation of the 2020 season and the two years of recruiting has helped to rebalance the forces.
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Game between the Vert & Or of the University of Sherbrooke and the Carabins of the University of Montreal, on October 2
We lived for almost 20 years in a league where there was no parity, where the results were a little known in advance. By dint of hard work, determination, involvement and collaboration from everyone, we have brought back a certain parity and, above all, football that fans are eager and want to watch every week.
Mathieu Lecompte, head coach of Vert & Or,
The season has indeed allowed us to witness many spectacular matches, the outcome of which remained undecided until the end. The Vert & Or and the Stingers have just played several, the first escaping a few victories at the end of the game.
“We stayed a few games away from finishing the season with a winning record that would have been more representative of what our team can give, underlines Lecompte. We are building a winning culture here and these are lessons that our players will learn for the future. There, we are in the series. Come what may, we’ll go one game at a time. ”
The Vert & Or have not won a playoff match since 2012, when the team came to surprise the Carabins at CEPSUM. Sherbrooke has also often done well in Montreal, but Lecompte did not want to come forward to predict anything: “It is on the field, between two whistles that it will be played. We prepare for it and focus on what we have to accomplish and nothing else. ”
As for the Carabins, head coach Marco Iadeluca is aware that his players have yet to prove anything, even if he is very proud of the resilience of his troops during a season marked by a large number of injuries. “We have dressed no less than 82 players this season, it’s amazing, and they all answered the call when they were on the pitch. ”
The Rouge et Or wants to forget …
After suffering three losses in the regular season for the first time since 2002, the Laval Rouge et Or are hoping to rebuild their confidence – and reputation – in playoff games.
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Glen Constantin, Rouge et Or head coach
Scores and statistics [de la saison régulière] do not want to say anything anymore. The past doesn’t mean anything anymore, everyone is 0-0 and it’s what we will do on the pitch that will decide if we continue our journey.
Glen Constantin, head coach of the Rouge et Or, in a press briefing on Thursday
The Rouge et Or have easily won their two games against the Concordia Stingers in the regular season, but Constantine believes his team’s next rivals haven’t shown their true faces.
Led by quarterback Olivier Roy, the Stingers have dominated the offensive statistics this season in the RSEQ with more than 308 passing yards on average, but they were limited to 216 and 271 yards against Laval. Manhandled by the Carabins in its last match, the defense of the Rouge et Or will therefore have to regain its composure.
Laval and Montreal have played the last seven Dunsmore Cup finals since 2013 and the two teams are still favorites to meet on Sunday, November 14. Concordia and Sherbrooke, however, have the means to worry them. It remains to be seen whether visitors will be able to silence the noisy crowds of PEPS and CEPSUM.
Stars everywhere!
The RSEQ on Thursday unveiled the regular season star team in college football and all the teams are well represented. While Laval and Montreal each obtain eight caps, several players from Concordia (5), Sherbrooke (3) and McGill (3) have also been recognized by the head coaches of the five teams.
Attack
- Andy Genois, LAVAL
(Blocker) - Anthony Vandal, SHERBROOKE
(Blocker) - Nicolas Guay, LAVAL
(Keep) - Alexandre Levac, MONTREAL
(Keep) - Cyrille Hogan-Saindon, LAVAL
(Center) - Jaylan Greaves, CONCORDIA
(Recipient) - Kevin Mital, LAVAL
(Recipient) - Darius Simmons, McGILL
(Recipient) - Hassane Dosso, MONTREAL
(Recipient) - David Dallaire, LAVAL
(Center-back) - Bertrand Beaulieu, MONTREAL
(Ball carrier) - Olivier Roy, CONCORDIA
(Quarterback)
Defense
- Philippe Lemieux-Cardinal, MONTREAL
(Defensive end) - Joshua Archibald, McGILL
(Defensive end) - Jean-William Rouleau, LAVAL
(Tackle) - Jérémie Verreault, SHERBROOKE
(Tackle) - Alec Poirier, LAVAL
(Linebacker) - Michael Brodrique, MONTREAL
(Linebacker) - Benjamin Carré, McGILL
(Linebacker) - Ahmadou Boubacar, CONCORDIA
(Corner half) - Kaylyn St-Cyr, MONTREAL
(Corner half) - Derek Achaempong, CONCORDIA
(Defensive back) - Bruno Lagacé, MONTREAL
(Defensive back) - Khadeem Pierre, CONCORDIA
(Marauder)
Special units
- Jacob Camiré, SHERBROOKE
(Punt kicker) - Michael Arpin, MONTREAL
(Precision kicker) - Antoine Dansereau-Leclerc, LAVAL
(Kick Return Specialist)