(Montreal) The Université de Montréal Carabins won the Dunsmore Cup final on Sunday, taking the measure of the Laval University Rouge et Or, 28-19.
This is the fourth provincial title in the team’s history, but the first it has won on their home ground at Cepsum. It is also the first time the Carabins have beaten the Rouge et Or three times in a season.
The Carabins advance to the national semi-final, which they will host in two weeks, and are in contention for the Vanier Cup, whose final will be played in Quebec on December 4.
Quarterback Jonathan Sénécal and running back Bertrand Beaulieu were the offensive stars of the game, while the Carabins’ defense as a whole prevailed as it has all season.
However, the Carabins attack took a long time to find its rhythm, the fault of bad positions on the field and several penalties which spoiled some good games.
PHOTO PASCAL RATTHÉ, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
The Rouge et Or took the opportunity to take the advantage. Better prepared and calmer than in the first game at Cepsum a few weeks ago, quarterback Arnaud Desjardins immediately allowed the visitors’ attack to advance on the field. A touchdown from Kevin Mital, on a 20-yard pass, and a 25-yard field goal from Vincent Blanchard logically gave the Rouge et Or a 10-0 advantage after less than 12 minutes of play.
It wasn’t until midway through the second quarter that the Carabins responded. As the defense adjusted to the play of his rivals, quarterback Jonathan Sénécal began to find loopholes in the Rouge et Or, often stretching the plays with his runs.
It was finally Bertrand Beaulieu who scored the first touchdown for the Blues after catching a pass from Sénécal and rushing to the goal line. The same Beaulieu returned to the charge at the very end of the half, with a one-yard run that allowed the Carabins to return to the locker room with a priority of four points.
PHOTO PASCAL RATTHE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Quarterback Jonathan Sénécal
The Rouge et Or quickly returned to 13-14 early in the third quarter, but Desjardins suffered an interception from Harold Miessan on the next offensive streak and the Carabins only needed four games to go through the 50 yards that separated them from goals. Usually sent into the fray in ground play situations, reserve quarterback Dimitri Morand surprised the opposing defense, from the two-line, by completing a touchdown pass to Paul-Antoine Ouellette late alone in the end zone.
The Carabins returned to the charge in the next streak, this time with a 42-yard push, punctuated by a 17-yard touchdown pass from Sénécal to Beaulieu.
While believed to be beaten, the Rouge et Or players showed their character by pulling off a long push at the end of the third quarter. Playing at a faster tempo to avoid charges from the Carabins’ defensive front, Desjardins completed several passes before handing the ball to Mathieu Robitaille for a three-yard run and a touchdown.
The convert was blocked, however, and the Rouge et Or were never able to threaten again.
On the way to the Vanier Cup
The Carabins will be entitled to two weeks of preparation before hosting the national semi-final for the Uteck Cup, on November 27 at Cepsum, against the champion of the West. The other semi-final (Mitchell Cup) will pit the Ontario champion against that of the Maritimes.
The finals of the other three conferences will not be played until next Saturday, the pandemic having disrupted the schedule of the regular season. In the West, where defending Vanier Cup champions the Calgary Dinos did not advance to the playoffs, the Saskatchewan Huskies will host the Manitoba Bisons in the Hardy Cup final.
In Ontario, the Queen’s Gaels will host the Western Mustangs in the Yates Cup final, while the Loney Cup final will pit the Bishop’s Gaiters against the St. FX X-Men in the Maritimes.
The Vanier Cup final will be played on December 4 at Laval University’s PEPS.