Occasional training partners during the summer season, cornerback Jordan Lessard and winger Hassane Dosso, will cross swords in Saturday’s duel between the University of Laval’s Rouge et Or and the University of Montreal’s Carabins at CEPSUM.
Last week’s defensive player in the RSEQ, Lessard made two interceptions in the Rouge et Or’s win over the Concordia Stingers last Sunday. After a shoulder injury that caused him to miss seven games last year, Dosso was back in top form and dominated the Quebec circuit in 2021.
Ousmane Bary, assistant for the Nomades de Montmorency and former color man for the Syracuse Orange in the NCAA, offers training sessions for defensive backs and receivers, hence the meeting between the two players.
“We trained together this summer and it will be a good duel,” said Lessard. I’m looking forward to competing against Hassane. I’m also really looking forward to playing my first game in Montreal.”
“It’s interesting to go up against Jordan, who I know a little bit, to compete with the Filons de Thetford Mines product. We trained together and he is a good player. I’m happy with my start to the season, but not satisfied. When I came back last year it was more complicated, but the team needed me. Now I’m like new again.”
Marco Iadeluca confirms that his receiver is back to 100 percent. “In the last three games he has shown what he is capable of,” said the Blues player. He’s catching fewer passes than in the past, but we have a more varied offense.
In the first game between the Rouge et Or and the Carabins, Lessard, who is playing his first season in the university ranks, was not up for it and they couldn’t really prevail.
Glen Constantin likes what he sees from Lessard, who was named Defensive Player of the Year in Division 2 last year with John Abbott’s Islanders. “In John Abbott, he impressed me with his seriousness and his desire to do things well,” said the Rouge et Or head coach. “We needed help at the cornerback position. Two of his three interceptions were deflected, but to his credit he was in a good position to make the play.