In a one-sided game, the University of Montreal Carabins secured the regular season championship by defeating Laval University’s Rouge et Or by a score of 28-0. The game was played this afternoon in a CEPSUM filled to capacity.
This is the Carabins’ third regular season title after those in 2004 and 2021. The Carabins will look to celebrate the second perfect season in their history next Saturday by hosting the Concordia Stingers. They achieved this in 2004 before losing in front of their fans in the Dunsmore Cup.
For the second time in history, the Carabins won the two-game regular season series against the Rouge et Or. They also took out the broom in 2021. It was also the Blues’ win by the largest margin over their major rivals since victories of 28-7 on October 4, 2009 and 35-14 on October 24, 2021.
The Rouge et Or was never in the game and suffered its second defeat of the season. Without several starters on defense, including star tackle Jean-William-Rouleau, the Rouge et Or never managed to upset Jonathan Sénécal.
With a record of five wins and two losses, Laval will finish second in the RSEQ and face the Concordia Stingers in the semifinals. To conclude the regular season, the Rouge et Or will host the University of Sherbrooke’s Vert & Or next Sunday.
The Carabins led 21-0 at halftime and tied it with two safety touchdowns and a field goal in the final 30 minutes.
Costly interception
Without doing anything remarkable, the Rouge et Or played a good first quarter before a Nicky Farinaccio interception turned the game around.
On 2nd down and two, Arnaud Desjardins attempted a pass to Alex Duff, who was well covered by the Blues’ inside linebacker and galloped 30 yards to the Rouge et Or 5 line.
On the next play, Jonathan Sénécal scored the game’s first touchdown with a 5-yard run.
After 15 minutes, the Carabins led 9-0 and completely dominated the second quarter. Hassane Dosso scored the decisive goal after a seven-yard pass from Sénécal.
Forced back into their zone, the Rouge et Or allowed a second safety touchdown that could have been far more damaging. Desjardins recovered his fumble in the end zone.
Philippe Boyer completed the scoring with a 24-yard field goal.