Glen Constantin didn’t have to look far to find out if his players seemed motivated going into the playoffs. He quickly proved that in training.
• Also read: “It’s not the motivation that’s missing”
• Also read: The Alouettes are ready for the semi-final game
The Rouge et Or head coach admits he’s seen quite a “contrast” between his team’s two weeks of training as they prepare to visit the Concordia Stingers for the Quebec varsity soccer semi-finals, with each other for the second time in as many weeks , but this time the stakes are much higher than last Saturday. “This week we’re seeing even more focus, more energy. We need to rein in the emotions and energies a bit. Sometimes we practice a little too hard for my taste. It’s not the time to hurt yourself in practice. In short, the intensity level seems spot on if Constantin is to be believed. And he certainly won’t complain about it at the start of the “real season”: “That’s a good sign. It’s better to hold them back than shove them up the ass,” he laughs.
The importance of the ground game
After pinning Concordia 60-14 earlier in the season, the Rouge et Or beat Concordia again last Saturday, 37-24. In both cases, air play spearheaded Laval’s attack, but Constantin wants to strike a better balance with ground play, citing the example of the last duel: 450 yards were gained by the air, compared to just under 92 on the ground.
“Last week we didn’t run the ball the way we would have liked. Both in yards per carry and total yards,” notes the Rouge et Or honcho. “In the playoffs you have to be able to control the ball on the ground. The message did not fall on deaf ears. Rookie running back Kalenga Muganda wants promotion. “We went much better in the first game here in Quebec. The deep [à Concordia], it was different. But at the weekend we will come back very, very strong,” he promises. Due to COVID and an injury, Kalenga Muganda hasn’t felt the excitement of a playoff game in a long time. He says he’s impatient to try again: ” It’s been a long time since I’ve played a match with so much enthusiasm. Especially since we’re playing them twice in a row. I can’t wait to see how it turns out. It’s a game with no future. […] In every game you have to give 100%. »
stars everywhere
Nowhere else have no fewer than 11 Rouge et Or players been voted onto RSEQ’s All-Star Team. This is the best vintage since 2014 when 14 players were selected. On offense we find Arnaud Desjardins (quarterback), Kevin Mital (receiver), David Dallaire (centerback), Nicolas Guay (guard) and Nathaniel Dumoulin-Duguay (blocker). . Defensively, Alec Poirier (linebacker), Maxym Lavallée (defensive back), Cristophe Beaulieu (defensive back), Jean-William Rouleau (tackle) and William Quenneville (defensive end) are among the chosen few, with Vincent Blanchard (precision kicker) taking his place on the All-Star team.” “Eleven players, but it takes 40 for these guys to stand out,” recalled Constantin. […] We are happy. On the other hand, the merits we want are the ones we don’t vote for, but the ones we win on the ground. “More than 8,500 tickets have already been sold for tomorrow’s game, which will be played from 12 noon.
“It’s not the motivation that’s missing”
The “Rouge et Or” didn’t play along [qu’il] is playable” and by the end of the week there will surely be a change of tone.
The words come from defender Francis Bouchard. He wasn’t exactly talking about a change in tone, but we could tell from his words. The sophomore is confident he and his teammates can play “more intensely”.
“I’m confident things will settle down this week with the start of the playoffs,” said Bouchard, who missed much of the season after suffering a hamstring injury in training camp.
Finally back
On October 16, his birthday, he returned to the field in the second game against Montreal.
“It definitely feels good [d’être de retour]. This is what I’ve been waiting for since joining Laval in early 2020. We had the Covid year, I didn’t play. Then, in 2021, I was injured for most of the season. At the end of the season I came back to play on special teams. This year I arrive and miss seven to eight weeks,” he recalls.
“I’m happy to be on the pitch. There is no lack of motivation. I will play hard on the pitch. »
The 23-year-old athlete also caught the eye last Saturday with an interception at the expense of Olivier Roy at the very end of the third quarter. A great game that has certainly “done well”.
“Our coaches do a good job of making the right decisions and it’s my job to execute them. That’s why I was in the field. I was able to make a big game and I have my chance to go out on the field. When I’m on the field, I have to play games,” he continues.
A great trio to watch
The product of the Notre-Dame-de-Foy campus does not hide it. Particular attention needs to be paid to the Stingers’ big receiver trio, made up of Jeremy Murphy, Jaylan Greaves and Jacob Salvail.
Together they flew 230 meters through the air last week. The Stingers ended the duel with 325 net rushing yards.
“I think all three are great recipients. Jeremy Murphy is a very, very good receiver and I think we can still do good things against him and stop him. You have to be there mentally and physically. It’s a very explosive trio. »
The knife between the teeth
“It is the actual season that begins. We don’t want it to end this week and we will put all our effort into that. »
At the line, head coach Brad Collinson is aware of the challenge that awaits his team. Smashing the Rouge et Or onto its floor to earn a place in the final promises to be anything but a walk in the park. The Stingers have lost their last 12 playoff games to Université Laval, conceding them 97 points this season, a high among Rouge et Or’s four rivals.
Because of this, players must approach this game with a knife between their teeth if they are to hope to emerge victorious. “It’s not easy to play against a team in a row. On the other hand, they are well trained. I know they will be ready. »
Not here to participate
Brad Collinson looks at his team’s last two games for inspiration. A 37-30 win over the McGill Redbirds and a 37-24 loss to the Rouge et Or. In the case of that last game, the Stingers were in the game for a good chunk of the game.
But even if his players could raise doubts about their future opponents, Collinson has nothing to do with it. “Challenging Laval wasn’t planned at all. We play this game to win, not to doubt others, not to participate. »
There was still a lot of positive things to report for the last duel of the season. The Stingers pilot knows them well and doesn’t hesitate to list them. Energy, competitiveness and good winning games, he says. But in the end it’s another defeat in the general classification.
“It was good but at the end of the day it’s a loss. We don’t celebrate defeats. Frankly, we will not celebrate moral victories. The players work too hard for it [se satisfaire] a moral victory. »
We must also find a way to stop Arnaud Desjardins. Last Saturday he completed 29 of 41 passes for 450 yards.
“We have to fix things. They still had a lot of yards on offense. You need to tighten the screw a little to safely get rid of the mistakes you made. We had a few misattributions. The guys wanted to do too much, they didn’t do their job. But it happens in a match when you roll 60-70 games. To beat a team like Laval you have to be perfect. »