It’s not every day that a defense fails to give the Carbines an offensive touchdown. The Rouge et Or have just managed the feat twice in the same season.
• Also read: Red and gold: an important victory and a record
On September 10 in Montreal, the Carabins’ only major goal – who nonetheless won the game 21-18 – was the result of an interception by Michael Brodrique, who was brought back into the end zone. Today, the only three points for the Blues came in the third quarter from a placement by Philippe Boyer.
We don’t know if the Rouge et Or have the recipe to slow Montreal’s attack, but one thing is for sure, they have shown they have no complexes.
“I think we have the best defense in the country and I genuinely believe in that. I work against them every day, I can tell you it’s really difficult to play against them. They have once again demonstrated their dominance and it’s really nice to see,” said quarterback Arnaud Desjardins.
At halftime Sunday, the stat sheet showed just 86 yards of offense for the Carbines. They finished the game at 174 yards. After two quarters only five first games had been won.
Flowers for Marc Fortier
Amazing numbers the team third in the country last week.
In an attempt to find the reason for these successes, head coach Glen Constantin immediately turned the reflectors to his defensive coordinator, Marc Fortier.
“He’s been my mate for a long time, Marc Fortier, he works very, very hard. It’s nice to have a plan, the players have to stick to it. They’ve done a great job on this all week. Things are going well. There is good focus. We mature every week. »
However, Constantin recalled that Sunday’s carbine attack did not have all its weapons and there was no need to swell your head. Their offense was largely impacted by injuries to missing key players, including star wide receiver Hassane Dosso. The latter has yet to play a game this fall.
“You also have to understand that they may not have their numbers, their receiver strength, as they normally have. But that doesn’t take anything away from our players. You have to show up anyway. »
“A Good Game Plan”
Charles-Antoine Beaulieu, author of 4.5 tackles, a quarterback sack and a healed fumble, enjoyed his teammates’ performance. The central defender praised “the good game plan” that the coaches had drawn up. “We do what we have to do and there is a good result. »
Alongside Beaulieu, Nicolas Lessard had an important interception in the fourth quarter. His theft sealed the outcome of the game, so to speak.
Giant steps thanks to Constantin
Glen Constantin, head coach
If Quebec football is what it is today, it owes it in part to the “architect” Glen Constantin, whose work and influence “forced everyone to improve their football program.”
The man who has led Rouge et Or for 21 years has triumphed for the 197th time in his career, making him Canada’s varsity football’s most successful head coach. It was a great opportunity to remember how much his work has impacted his sport.
“The Carabins, what they are today, would probably never have come into existence if the Rouge et Or had not been so powerful and dominant. I think that made the program at home push their game even further. And I think the same goes for the other programs in Quebec,” said Marco Iadeluca, head coach of the Montreal Carabins.
“We can see it this year, the RSEQ is more competitive than ever. He’s the architect of it all, if you will. He deserves this record and I’m very happy for him,” he added.
” A movement Bold “
The organization had also invited several former players who are keen to pay tribute to the achievements of “their” coach. Glen Constantin seemed moved by this immense surge of love. He multiplied the warm hugs after the historic moment.
“It was a bold move to come here on a program,” recalled his offensive coordinator and longtime friend Justin Éthier. Constantin had just spent a few years in Houston with the NCAA before accepting the position of defensive coordinator at Laval University in 1996.
“Back then, even me as a Montreal guy looked at it from the outside and told us it wasn’t going to be easy to build. Worse, it was built within a few years. He deserves a lot of credit. »
enjoy the moment
For his part, quarterback Arnaud Desjardins savored the moment and was happy to be forever associated with this historic win.
“I feel very fortunate to work with a coach like that and to have been there on the day he won his game to break the record. It’s incredible and it’s a really good feeling. »