If it is true that defense wins championships, the players of the Carabins of the University of Montreal can sleep soundly.
For a third straight playoff game, the Carabins did not allow a touchdown and defeated the Western University Mustangs 29-3 on Saturday afternoon in the Uteck Cup final.
After limiting the Vert et Or of the University of Sherbrooke to three points, and the Rouge et Or of the University of Laval to six points, the challenge was daunting for the Montrealers.
Still undefeated since the start of the year, the Mustangs arrived at CEPSUM with the best attack in the country: 350 points scored in eight games this season. However, they had probably not faced a defense as aggressive as that of the Carabins — the best in Canada.
In total, on Saturday, Marco Iadeluca’s squad managed three interceptions, five sacks and seven tackles for losses in addition to recovering three fumbles. Helped by its vocal supporters, the defense regularly manhandled the Mustangs’ offensive front and caused six turnovers in the first half.
“There was quite an offensive on the other side. We knew our defense was playing big football since the start of the season, especially since the start of the playoffs, but it’s difficult to measure certain things with video alone. The turnovers at the start of the match hurt them. I haven’t seen that often, a team that causes six turnovers in the first half, but I would like us to do that again next week,” said Iadeluca, smirking.
Thanks to this third conquest of the Uteck Cup, and a first since 2019, the Carabins will participate in the Vanier Cup for the fourth time in their history. They won it once, in 2014.
Who will be their opponents for the Vanier Cup?
However, their opponents are still not known. The St. Francis Xavier University X-Men and the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds are currently vying for the final berth in the Mitchell Cup.
Nicolas Roy set the tone by intercepting a pass from Mustangs quarterback Evan Hillock in the visitors’ first offensive sequence. He notably added a sack and a fumble recovery to receive the title of defensive player of the Uteck Cup.
Roy had watched the playoffs from a wheelchair from the sidelines in 2022 due to a left knee injury.
“It feels good to have the chance to be here next week. With the injury and the rehabilitation last year, it’s all the efforts that lead to this,” he mentioned.
Following the victory against the Rouge et Or, Iadeluca and quarterback Jonathan Sénécal noted that the attack must also support the defense.
Sénécal, the athlete par excellence in Quebec university football, was more comfortable despite two interceptions. He completed 21 of 31 passes for 228 yards through the air and had 38 yards on the ground.
Beyond the defense, the attack and the special teams, we can see an esprit de corps within the Carabins.
After receiving the Uteck Cup – which was untouched – the players sang the lyrics to Kodak Black’s “Skrilla” on stage while embracing. If it is an “anthem” in the locker room in the eyes of Sénécal and Kaylyn St-Cyr, the image represents a united group which must still sign one last victory before achieving its objective.
“It’s the fun and chemistry we have together. We have so much fun when we run the games. In all three phases of the game, we support each other. There will be some less good plays, but in the end, we know that the offense is there, that the defense is there and that the special teams are there for each other,” insisted St-Cyr.
On the wheel hats
As it did last week against the Rouge et Or, the Montreal defense started the game strong. After the Mustangs got two first downs, Roy intercepted a pass from Hillock to give his team possession again.
The visitors responded in the same way through Jacob Saunders, but Sénécal recovered a few minutes later.
The Carabins quarterback distributed the ball well and put the finishing touch by joining William Legault in the end zone to give his team a 7-0 lead.
The defense showed up again before the end of the first quarter. Bruno Lagacé intercepted a pass from Hillock to set the table for a 20-yard field goal from Philippe Boyer.
The Mustangs tried to create things offensively, but Harold Miessan caused a fumble and Christopher Fontenard recovered it to give the ball back to the “Blues”.
Although it did not manage to take advantage immediately, the Montreal offense added three points when Boyer managed a 25-yard precision kick. Louis-Philippe Gauthier had made an interception a few games earlier.
Jackson Findlay intercepted a Sénécal pass to give Western University some momentum, but Jeremiah Ojo forced a fumble which was once again recovered by Fontenard.
After Carl Chabot gave the Carabins a 20-0 lead when he crossed the only yard separating him from the end zone, Roy got his hands on a loose ball in enemy territory to allow Boyer to make a 19-yard field goal.
Greg Marshall’s men showed signs of life in the third quarter, thanks to a 21-yard field goal from Brian Garrity, but it did not continue in the fourth quarter.
A 42-yard precision kick from Boyer and a safety touchdown confirmed the final score in favor of the Carabins.