The Carabins champions of the Vanier Cup | “It’s an incredible feeling! »

(Kingston, Ontario) As the Vanier Cup approached, Jonathan Sénécal’s name was on everyone’s lips. Winner of the Hec-Crighton Trophy awarded to the outstanding player in Canada, he is considered the greatest Quebec hope at the quarterback position in ages.

Sénécal added the Vanier Cup to his list of achievements. He led the Carabins to the second Vanier Cup in their history on Saturday. The University of Montreal beat the University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds 16-9 at Richardson Stadium.

This is a second victory in the Vanier Cup for the Carabins, who also triumphed in 2014. The emblem of Canadian university football therefore remains in Quebec since the Rouge et Or of Laval University won last year. pass.

The play he will remember most from the match? “Clearly, the interception. Well no, I’m kidding! » Sénécal was light-hearted, as we all would have been after such an afternoon. The day had started off badly for him; his very first pass of the match ended up in the enemy hands of Jason Soriano.

Sénécal nevertheless kept a cool head, and failing to distribute 30-yard passes, he managed his game, limited errors and even allowed himself a touchdown by running. “My touchdown is a game that I will remember for the rest of my life. It was a little more difficult, there was adversity, but we found a way,” summarized Sénécal.

For his strong comeback after the aforementioned interception, Sénécal also received the Ted Morris Trophy, awarded to the game’s MVP. A good day at the office.

The victory of the defense

As we said, Sénécal’s name was on everyone’s lips before the match. That of Denis Touchette, a little less. Not for lack of skills, on the contrary, but simply because as defensive coordinator of the Carabins, attention is focused less on him.

And after the match? First here is linebacker Nicolas Roy.

“Without Denis, we wouldn’t have gotten there. He is an educator, the defense general. We feel like we are playing to our full potential with him. He makes us want to give everything. Denis tells us to run head first into a wall and we do it. »

And now, another linebacker, Nicky Farinaccio.

“We proved that we have the best defense in Canada. Denis Touchette is the best in game, that’s it. »

Praises rained down on Touchette because his unit had just achieved a feat. In four playoff games this fall, the Carabins have not allowed a single touchdown. Zero as in Ouellette, one might say, but since Paul-Antoine Ouellette plays offense, let’s go for zero as in Ojo, in honor of defensive end Jeremiah Ojo.

Vanier Cup, Uteck Cup, Dunsmore Cup, Quebec semi-final: the opponent has never scored a touchdown. The Carabins have only allowed 21 points in these four games.

“The group, the work of the coaches, it’s incredible,” said Carabins head coach Marco Iadeluca. Four games against big teams. We didn’t have an easy road getting here. The Rouge et Or, Western, and there, UBC. To not allow a touchdown in four games is incredible. »

Much praise for Touchette, but the players made the proverbial big plays at the right time. Roy, for example, knocking down a pass to force UBC to punt in the fourth quarter, while the British Columbians had the wind at their backs. “I felt the ball was coming there. I had seen on the type how [Edgerrin Williams] made his turns, I felt he was going inside, he’s one of their good players. I trusted my instincts and made the play.”

And Farinaccio making a tackle behind the line of scrimmage on a third down.

“That’s for sure, it’s a great game!” I’m so happy, it feels good! », says Farinaccio.

Tears, everywhere

All championships arouse strong emotions, but this is particularly true in school and junior sports, firstly because players grow together in the organization and are not traded. Then because there are always a handful of players who leave the team by force of circumstances, having reached the end of their eligibility, and who must either play in the pros or hang up their boots.

The emotion was therefore everywhere at the end of the match. It was receiver William Legault, injured in a leg at the end of the match, consoled by all his teammates on the sidelines during the final minutes. It was Bradley Nseka, stationed in front of us during the Vanier Cup presentation, who was struggling to hold back his tears.

And it was also Nicky Farinaccio, whose family story was told in our pages.

Farinaccio burst into tears as he hugged his mother, Patrizia, who raised him alone.

“My mother… My mother is incredible. She helped me, she made so many sacrifices. That’s why the emotions come out, after all the effort we put in, all the work, the injuries. It’s over, we won! »

Almost every player had their reasons for wanting this conquest, and for being emotional about it. These individuals have come together to form the 2023 Vanier Cup champions.