The Rouge et Or will cross swords on Saturday at Telus Stadium with the Concordia Stingers they have beaten twice in the last few weeks, but who are counting on one of the most beautiful revelations in Quebec university football this fall: quarterback Olivier Roy .
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Record holder of the conference for passing yards in one game, with 557 – a feat achieved against the Vert & Or of the University of Sherbrooke on September 28 – Roy foiled even the finest connoisseurs with his offensive prowess during the regular season.
“It was a nice surprise,” agreed Rouge et Or head coach Glen Constantin on Thursday. He has become a good passer with good receivers. He’s really the quarterback who had the best season in our conference. “
In addition to his record, the 22-year-old pivot finished first among all quarterbacks in Quebec university football with an average of 308.8 passing yards per game. And his 18 aerial touchdowns are the highest in the country.
Not against the Rouge et Or
No doubt, therefore, that his number 12 will be prominently on Glen Constantin’s game plan this afternoon. Even if in the two games against the Rouge et Or (5-3, 2e in the standings) this year, Roy has not been as successful.
“We have to force him to put the ball in the hands of the ball carrier, that’s the big deal,” said Rouge et Or linebacker Alec Poirier.
The strategy worked well in the two wins over the Stingers (4-4, 3e in the ranking). Roy was limited to passing gains of 216 and 271 yards.
“Flawless” course
But despite these successes in season, there is no question for the Rouge et Or to take Roy and the Stingers lightly. Especially not during this more difficult fall for Université Laval, by the standards of recent years.
Because three defeats during the regular calendar for the men of Constantine, it had not been seen since 1998.
If the Rouge et Or wants to set foot on the lawn of Stade Telus on December 4, the day of the Vanier Cup, it will need “a flawless run” in the playoffs, pointed out the head coach.
Roy, he is aware that a heavy task awaits him from 2 pm and that it will be the same for all his team.
Especially since the Stingers have a young group of players, he noted.
“We know that if we want to beat them, we have to play an almost perfect game, praised the quarterback. Teams that do manage to win against the Rouge et Or almost always have perfect matches. ”
At the Rouge et Or, tackle Andy Genois, guard Nicolas Guay, center Cyrille Hogan-Saindon, center-back David Dallaire, tackle Jean-William Rouleau, linebacker Alec Poirier and kick return specialist Antoine Dansereau -Leclerc have all carved out a place for themselves on the all-star team of Quebec university football.
A bit like home for Olivier Roy
Olivier Roy will play Saturday’s match in an environment he knows well. But more than the field of the Telus Stadium, it is the stands of the home of the Rouge et Or that he often frequented, younger.
Photo courtesy, Concordia Stingers
Olivier Roy, Stingers quarterback
Originally from Donnacona, some 30 minutes by car from Laval University, Roy often traveled back and forth, when he was younger, to attend the Rouge et Or games.
“A bit by default, when you want to see good football, you go to Telus Stadium,” said the quarterback of the Stingers. I was not very different from the others kids of the region. “
Roy does not hide that he always feels a little nervous when he is the starting quarterback of a game played in Quebec.
“It’s special to go back there, especially for an important game like a playoff meeting,” he adds. I’m glad to know that I’m going to have family and friends in the stands. “
Not an option
But despite his affection for the team as a teenager, donning the Rouge et Or uniform was never really an option for the young athlete.
Roy points out that he didn’t have “a ton of offers” from college teams when he left college.
He played for La Pocatière, in Division 3, while most quarterbacks in Quebec university football play more in Division 1 before taking the plunge.
“What I wanted was to continue my career, no matter what,” explains the pivot. Not only did I enjoy my visit to Concordia, but it was also a good fit. “
“When I arrived, the starting quarterback was finishing his college career,” he continued. That weighed a lot in the balance, because in college football there is no guaranteed playing time. So I wanted to put all the chances on my side. “
At the end of the season
While he has shone as a quarterback for the Stingers this season, Roy has yet to take the time to savor his individual accomplishments.
“Even less on the eve of the playoffs, he assured. The real season begins. These are things that I will focus on during the offseason and will give me fond memories. “