In another defensive battle between the two great rivals, the Rouge et Or de l’Université Laval lost 31-14 to the Carabins de l’Université fde Montréal in a match that was sold out to a crowd of 18,216 at PEPS this afternoon.
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With the score tied midway through the 4th quarter, Guillaume Perrier’s interception was returned 14 yards to the end zone to give the Blues the lead for the first time in the game.
The Carabins managed seven turnovers in the game and the Blues defense gave the Rouge et Or crumbs in the second half.
With two minutes left, the Rouge et Or could have given themselves one last chance to tie the game, but newcomer Olivier Cool botched the punt at their line of 42. The Carabins regained the ball and sealed their victory with a 39-yarder -Field goal by Philippe Voyer, his fifth goal of the game in six attempts.
After slowing the Carabins, the Rouge et Or’s special teams fumbled again, leading to the Blues’ first offensive touchdown.
In addition to the loss, the Rouge et Or lost the services of their star receiver for a few series in the second half. However, Mital returned to the game with a bandage on his right calf.
Third quarter
Cristophe Beaulieu intercepted the Blues’ first offensive series, which he brought back into the visitors’ territory, but the Rouge et Or could do nothing better than a field goal.
The Carabins responded with a field goal to cut the deficit to 14-12.
After some magic tricks from Jonathan Sénécal, who made three great runs, Philippe Boyer missed his fifth finish of the day when the ball hit the post head on.
Laval scored a safety touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter, bringing the two teams back into first place at 14:14.
The Rouge et Or only gained 43 yards in the third quarter and managed three first downs.
Bumpy start
The Rouge et Or didn’t get off to the desired start. A throw too high for quarterback Arnaud Desjardins led to a first loss of the ball. Angel Vital couldn’t retrieve the object and Isaac Auger retrieved the ball.
Philippe Voyer scored first for the Carabins with a 43-yard field goal.
A few minutes later, Olivier Cool lost the ball after catching a pass. The breakaway caused by Luis-Philippe Gauthier was covered by Bruno Lagacé. Voyer scored a second field goal from 33 yards.
It wasn’t until the second quarter that the Rouge et Or managed to move the ball. Édouard Arsenault caught a 41-yard pass for a touchdown.
After the Carabins lost the ball twice, it was the Rouge et Or defense’s turn to shine. Linebacker Thomas Landry intercepted a pass deflected by defensive end Charles-Lee Alarie-Tarif in Blues territory.
After two initial attempts, the Rouge et Or’s advance came to an abrupt end. An interception in the end zone by Lagacé brought the ball back to the Carabins.
The Rouge et Or came back to attack on their next possession. A 41-yard pass to Arsenault got the Locals into the red zone, but the push was halted by a disguised pass that could have seen Gabriel Leblond scamper into the end zone.
Laval had to settle for a 23-yard field goal from Vincent Blanchard to bring the score to 11-6. It was his 15th in a row.
The Carabins won the ball back and reduced the deficit with around ten seconds on the clock. Boyer scored from 27 yards to make it 11:9. A tackle by Justin Cloutier at the expense of Jonathan Sénécal forced the Blues to settle for a field goal.