The key card of the Carabins defense, outside linebacker Harold Miessan, is characterized by exceptional intensity.
Where does this high octane fuel come from? “This fire that drives me comes from my football years with Sun Youth,” said Miessan, who was named RSEQ Defensive Player of the Year. We were only 25 players and played on both sides of the ball. Everyone was very physically active. When I found myself at Old Montreal, physical play was also important.
“With the Carabins we want to have the best defense every year, but this year’s group is special,” Miessan added. We value turnovers and want to give the ball back to our offense, which is very explosive, as quickly and as often as possible.”
Miessan is the only graduate among his Old Montreal cohort’s most sought-after recruits who did not travel to Quebec. Arnaud Desjardins, Samuel Quévillon, Youri Gauthier and Antoine-Félix Audet-Michaud, among others, all chose Laval. “It’s fun competing against my former teammates from Old Montreal,” he said. We still talk often, we’re good friends before and after games, but when we’re on the field it’s business. I hesitated between Montreal and Laval and took my time before making my choice because I wanted to know who the new head coach of the Carabins is and especially the defensive coordinator.
Denis Touchette returned for a second stint with the Blues and was the Spartans’ defensive coordinator during the Miessan years, and his presence influenced the linebacker position.
Desjardins is a complement to Miessan. “He’s quite a competitor who doesn’t have his tongue in his pocket,” concluded the Rouge et Or quarterback. “It’s always cool to compete against former teammates.”
Fears have disappeared
Fears at the beginning of the week have dissipated for Rouge et Or, which had many disabled people. Desjardins, who was hit in the second quarter of the game against the Stingers, took Tuesday off and his three main receivers, Kevin Mital, Isaac Gaoillardetz and Édouard Arsenault, wore a black sweater.
“Everything is in place so that we are all healthy,” said Desjardins. This really gives you courage and motivates you even more to achieve top performance. I knew I could finish the game against Concordia, but there were complications after the game. Everything is fine now.”
The Rouge et Or without complexes
Desjardins assures that the two defeats against the Carabins during the season have had no impact on confidence. “We proved in 2022 that we are capable of beating them and we have a similar group. We don’t have any complexes. We have to do our best and show our true colors.”