For the fourteenth time in school history the Laval Rouge et Or will play in the Vanier Cup after a 17-14 victory over the University of Regina Rams in the Mitchell Bowl on Saturday.
After a scoreless opening quarter, the Rams struck first. Kicker Isaac Wegner split the uprights from 20 yards out to give Regina a 3-nothing lead early in the second quarter.
Following a two-and-out by the Laval offence, the Rams once again moved the ball deep into Rouge et Or territory. However, after an incomplete pass on second down, Regina had to settle for a 33-yard field goal attempt from Wegner that would sail wide right. The ball, though, would fly through the end zone, giving Regina a 4-nothing lead midway through the second quarter.
That lead was short-lived, as Laval took the ball at their 35-yard line following the rouge. On the next play, Laval quarterback Arnaud Desjardins found his favourite receiver, Olivier Cool, streaking through the middle of the field. Eighty-five yards later, Cool cruised into the end zone, giving Laval their first lead of the game, 7-4.
The Rams would not be deterred as late in the half running back Marshall Erichsen took a screen pass from Noah Pelletier 61 yards to the Laval nine-yard line. Two plays later, the Regina offence would come up short again in the red zone. Wegner’s second field goal, this time 14 yards would tie the game at 7 heading into halftime.
As the teams emerged from their locker rooms after halftime, fog would sometimes set in at Mosaic Stadium, making it difficult to see the fans in the stands on opposite sides of the field.
Both teams' offences sputtered in the third quarter before Laval took control of the field position game, hemming Regina in on their own end for much of the start of the fourth quarter.
The Rams would get momentum back on their side when Jacob Tkachuk would strip Laval’s William Trembley of the ball. That allowed Michael Jourdan, who also had an interception in the game, to swoop in and recover the ball on the Regina eight-yard line.
The momentum was short-lived by the Rams as the Rouge et Or’s Jordan Lessard would intercept a deflected Noah Pelletier pass and return it to the Rams 28-yard-line. However, Laval could not find the end zone, settling for a 32-yard-field goal by Felipe Forteza and giving them their first lead of the ball game, 10-7, with seven minutes remaining.
The resilient Rams offence would return to the field following the field goal and march the ball into Laval territory. Capping the drive off with a Marshall Erichsen 36-yard touchdown run with just under four minutes to go, allowing the Rams to retake the lead 14-10.
The veteran Laval group was not to be denied on their next drive. Moving the ball down the field in rhythm, Arnaud Desjardins threw a touchdown pass to Isaac Gaillardetz from five yards out, giving the Rouge et Or a 17-14 lead with 1:19 left in the game—a lead that Laval would not relinquish.
Rams Head Coach Mark McConkey was proud of his team for leaving it all on the field during their unexpected postseason run.
“I don't really have words. Just proud of the guys. I mean, how many more O-linemen can we get hurt? How many more injuries can we have? Just like I told the guys, just so proud of these guys, the way they fought all year.”
Many observers had predicted a Laval blowout victory. Rouge et Or Head Coach Glen Constantin wasn’t surprised by the close outcome.
“We knew we were playing a team of destiny. This was a special team that we played. They were driven and inspired, and they played tough football, and they played us to the end.
McConkey was proud of his team’s effort and compete despite three offensive lineman leaving the game with injuries and not many not giving them a chance to advance to the school’s second Vanier Cup.
“We knew coming out after warm-ups, I'm like, we can hang with these guys. They're just like us. We never quit. They’re a resilient group. So many teams in the past would have just packed it in after that 2-5 record, but these guys just kept going.”
Rams quarterback Noah Pelletier was 28-of-44 passing for 356 yards despite his availability 小蓝视频 uncertain after sustaining an injury to his non-throwing shoulder on the final play of last week’s Hardy Cup.
The third-year pivot lost his starting job at the midpoint of the 2023 season and was expected to back up Owen Sieben this season. However, a season-ending concussion sustained by Siben in week one thrust Pelletier back into the starter role. McConkey was nearly at a loss for words describing his quarterback's performance.
“He's been great. He's been a warrior for us all year, and he's just gotten better and better as the season went on, and just so proud of him. Again, he means a lot to me.”
For Laval, it’s on to the Vanier Cup for the second time in three seasons, and Constantin says his team’s experience helped them win at Mosaic Stadium.
“We used to playing in big games, and I think that we knew we didn't play very good football. I don't take away anything from Regina, but I thought we didn't play a very good first half, and we didn't finish our drives in the third quarter,” Constantin said.
“We knew we could move the ball, and it was just a matter of time to get it done. “
Laval will face the University of Laurier in the Vanier Cup on Saturday, November 23. Laurier advanced with a 48-24 victory over Bishop’s University.
