TORONTO (U SPORTS) – They are the two most decorated programs in Canadian university football history and, almost a decade after they first battled for U SPORTS supremacy in Hamilton, one of them will add to its impressive trophy collection following the 53
rd ArcelorMittal Dofasco Vanier Cup on Saturday.
Official Vanier Cup website: www.vaniercup.com
Kickoff for the championship game between the undefeated
Western Mustangs (11-0) and the defending national champion
Laval Rouge et Or (10-1) is set for 1 p.m. Eastern at Tim Hortons Field, which hosts the event for the second straight year.
Television coverage on
Sportsnet 360,
Sportsnet ONE and
TVA Sports gets underway with pre-game shows at 12:30 p.m. The broadcast is also available online through
Sportsnet NOW and
TVASports.ca.
It is the very definition of a heavyweight bout.
In the red corner, Laval comes in as the top-ranked team in the nation, holds the record for most Vanier Cup victories (9) and ranks second all-time in Vanier Cup appearances (11 including this year).
In the purple corner, No. 2 Western comes in as the only undefeated team in the country in 2017, is set to make its record 13
th trip to the championship match, and ranks second in number of national titles (6).
The main difference between the perennial contenders? While the Rouge et Or have captured all of their U SPORTS banners since 1999, the Mustangs' last triumph dates back to November of 1994... a few months before the Laval program was officially launched with an exhibition season the next fall.
The powerhouses have only crossed paths twice in the past in official competition, both Laval wins, including a 44-21 decision in the 2008 Vanier Cup at now-defunct Ivor Wynne Stadium, followed by a 13-11 thriller in the 2010 Uteck Bowl in Quebec City. The Rouge et Or also beat the Mustangs in three straight preseason contests – all in
La Belle Province – in 2007 (20-2), 2008 (37-9) and 2009 (27-0).
Adding to the hype surrounding Saturday's duel is the fact the confrontation promises to be a classic battle between Laval's top-ranked defence (9.6 points allowed per game in conference play) and Western's No. 1-ranked offence (48.3 points & 608.5 yards per game).
Not surprisingly, both head coaches have nothing but the utmost respect for their upcoming opponent.
"Obviously, there's something extra special about playing Western. They have a great football program, especially thanks to their coach
Greg Marshall," says 17-year Laval mentor
Glen Constantin, who has claimed more Vanier Cup titles than any other bench boss in history, with eight, including last November's memorable 31-26 come-from-behind win over Calgary at Tim Hortons Field. "He's someone I respect a lot, a great builder, a great leader and a good friend, and it's a privilege to be able to go up against him."
"Laval's a good football team, and of course they've got a lot of experience in the Vanier Cup that they'll bring with them to this year's game," offers Marshall who, in his 18
th campaign as a university head coach including the last 11 with the Mustangs, is still looking for that elusive first national crown. "We're expecting a hard-fought game, they're going to be the most complete team we've faced all year. There are no holes in their armour. We know that we'll need to play our best football of the season to come out on top, and we're excited to get on the field this Saturday to play for the national title."
While Western has rolled over its playoff competition so far, scoring a ridiculous 222 combined points in three games and setting all-time records for most points in the Yates Cup (75) and in a national semifinal (81), Laval is battle-tested following a narrow 25-22 Dunsmore Cup win over archrival Montreal and a stressful 35-23 Mitchell Bowl victory against Calgary, a contest the Rouge et Or were leading by only five points until the dying moments.
Constantin sees some good in both situations.
"There are advantages in both. When you dominate so early in a game, it gives you the opportunity to rest some key players for the championship match. On the other hand, when you're involved in games that are decided at the very end, you gain the experience of adversity, and that's definitely not negligible. I like having experienced that kind of adversity during our playoff run."
Leading the way for the formidable Laval defence is a foursome of RSEQ conference all-stars comprised of defensive end
Mathieu Betts, tackle
Vincent Desjardins, linebacker
Adam Auclair and halfback
Gabriel Ouellet, all first-time Vanier Cup winners a year ago. In addition to allowing the fewest points in the country during the regular schedule, the stingy unit ranked second in the nation in total yards allowed (304.8 per game), second against the run (99.4) and fourth against the pass (205.4).
Betts, last year's U SPORTS outstanding down lineman who is again up for the award this season, is enjoying a remarkable playoff run with six sacks in three contests, two in each game. Ouellet, who tied a national mark earlier this fall with four interceptions in a single match against Montreal, had a key pick at his own two-yard line in the Mitchell Bowl and scored a game-changing touchdown off a fumble recovery on the first play of the fourth quarter.
On offence, 2016 Vanier Cup MVP
Hugo Richard is a seasoned veteran in his fourth campaign under centre. The now two-time RSEQ player of the year, who completed a national seasonal-high 70.3 per cent of his passes in league play, was named Mitchell Bowl MVP after he went 21-of-32 for 258 yards, no interceptions and a pair of touchdowns against Calgary, including a perfect 54-yard strike to favourite target
Jonathan Breton-Robert late in the first half.
During the regular season, the Rouge et Or were first in Quebec in points scored (33.3) and rushing yards (160.3) per game.
"There's a lot of hype around Western's offence, but their defence is also a big part of their success. They ranked second behind us in points allowed," says Richard, who was 25-of-32 for 339 yards and two majors in last year's Vanier Cup, while also scoring the game-winning touchdown on a one-yard run late in the fourth frame. "To have success against them, we'll need to stick to the same recipe: move the ball well, keep mistakes to a minimum, avoid turnovers and give our team good field position.
"They have a great offence but we also have a solid defence that showed lots of character against Calgary last Saturday. If our defence contains Western the same way and our offence puts points on the board, I think we'll put ourselves in a good position to win."
Defensive end
Edward Godin, one of only two fifth-year seniors – along with offensive lineman
Louis-Gabriel Beaudet - who were also part of Laval's 2013 Vanier Cup triumph, hopes his final university game will also end in celebrations.
"They run the ball very well and their offensive line is outstanding. They're big, so we'll have to be physical at the point of attack," says Godin, who also had two sacks in the Mitchell Bowl win. "We'll have to find our keys, stay disciplined, and make our tackles."
On the other side of the field, Western's domination this season has been well documented.
After leading the country with 48.3 points per game and prevailing by an average of 35.2 points in league play, the Mustangs have somehow managed to turn it up a notch in the playoffs, crushing Guelph 66-12 and Laurier 75-32 to capture their first conference banner since 2013, before pulverizing Acadia 81-3 last weekend to book their ticket for the Vanier Cup.
Western's offensive performance in the Uteck Bowl was nothing short of mind-boggling, especially in the opening 30 minutes. Before resting a number of starters in the second half, the OUA champions scored touchdowns on each of their first eight possessions of the contest, before taking a knee as time expired on their ninth and final series before the break.
The nation's best rushing attack in the regular season (309.9 yards per game) racked up an astounding 454 against the Axemen, including a game-high 172 yards on 15 carries by
Trey Humes, 100 on 13 runs by
Cedric Joseph and 98 on 15 carries by
Yannick Harou.
Despite being taken out of the game early for the third straight post-season contest, Joseph found the end zone three times and now has a remarkable 10 rushing touchdowns in the playoffs, after topping U SPORTS with 10 during the regular schedule.
Quarterback
Chris Merchant, in his second campaign with the team after transferring from the University of Buffalo, completed 10 of 11 passes for 200 yards, two TDs and no interceptions in two quarters of work, which was enough to merit game-MVP honours. The all-conference pivot also added a pair of majors on the ground and 54 yards on only six carries.
Joseph, a junior from Montreal, and Harou, a fifth-year senior from Gatineau, are two of 11 Quebec-born players on the Western roster, a group that also includes linebacker
Jean-Gabriel Poulin of St. Nicolas and guard
Grégoire Bouchard of Chicoutimi, both named OUA all-stars this fall.
Poulin, a fourth-year veteran who was a teammate of Laval QB Hugo Richard at Vanier College in Montreal, is the leader of a defensive unit that is often overshadowed by the Mustangs' offensive brilliance, but finished first in the country in total yards allowed (288.0 per game), second in points (13.1) and against the pass (188.4), and third against the run (99.6).
"Overall, I think it's a result of the team being prepared and doing the work during the week leading up to a game," says Joseph, who has been Western's number one ball-carrier since a knee injury suffered by standout
Alex Taylor late in the regular season. "And for me specifically, I have to give it up to my o-line, they make my job a heck of a lot easier and are one of the most dominant lines in the country."
The last word goes to Greg Marshall, himself a former standout running back who won the Hec Crighton Trophy with Western back in 1980. The long-time mentor was the Mustangs offensive coordinator when they last popped the champagne 23 years ago.
"Bringing a Vanier Cup back to London would be very special," says Marshall, who had head coaching stints with a pair of Hamilton-based teams -- the McMaster Marauders (1997-2003) and the CFL's Tiger-Cats (2004-2006) – before returning to his alma mater in the fall of 2006. "I've been involved with the program for a long time and I remember what it was like when we won the title back in 1994. This is a special group we've got here and it would be great for them to have the experience of winning the Vanier Cup and bringing that trophy back to campus."
53rd VANIER CUP: A LOOK AT THE CONTENDERS
When: Saturday, Nov. 25, 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT
Where: Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton, Ont.
Visiting team: Laval Rouge et Or (10-1)
Home team: Western Mustangs (11-0)
TV (English): Sportsnet 360 & Sportsnet ONE (pre-game show at 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT)
TV (French): TVA Sports (pre-game show at 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT)
Web (English): Sportsnet NOW
Web (French): TVASports.ca
Radio (English): CHML AM 900 (Hamilton) & CHRW FM 94.9 (London)
Radio (French): CHYZ FM 94.3 (Quebec City)
LAVAL UNIVERSITY ROUGE ET OR (RSEQ & Mitchell Bowl champions)
2017 season summary
Overall record (regular season & playoffs): 10-1
Regular season record: 7-1
Regular season standing: 1
st
Playoff record: 3-0
Top 10 final ranking (Nov. 7): No. 1
Top 10 best ranking: No. 1 (4 weeks)
Top 10 lowest ranking: No. 3 (4 weeks)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (11 polls): 11
Regular season offence points (33.3 / game): 1
st RSEQ / 8
th U SPORTS
Regular season offence total yards (439.5 / game): 2
nd RSEQ / 15
th U SPORTS
Regular season offence passing (279.3 / game): 2
nd RSEQ / 14
th U SPORTS
Regular season offence rushing (160.3 / game): 1
st RSEQ / 10
th U SPORTS
Regular season defence points (9.6 / game): 1
st RSEQ / 1
st U SPORTS
Regular season defence total yards (304.8 / game): 1
st RSEQ / 2
nd U SPORTS
Regular season defence passing (205.4 / game): 1
st RSEQ / 4
th U SPORTS
Regular season defence rushing (99.4 / game): 2
nd RSEQ / 2
nd U SPORTS
2017 results
Aug. 19 (home): Laval 46, Carleton 2 (preseason)
Aug. 26 (home): Laval 40, Sherbrooke 5
Sept. 1 (away): Laval 50, McGill 14
Sept. 9 (away): Montreal 21, Laval 16
Sept. 24 (home): Laval 12, Concordia 8
Oct. 1 (home): Laval 34, McGill 0
Oct. 7 (away): Laval 46, Sherbrooke 15
Oct. 21 (home): Laval 22, Montreal 0
Oct. 27 (away): Laval 46, Concordia 14
Nov. 4 (home): Laval 45, Sherbrooke 0 (RSEQ semifinal)
Nov. 11 (home): Laval 25, Montreal 22 (Dunsmore Cup)
Nov. 18 (away): Laval 35, Calgary 23 (Mitchell Bowl)
2017 RSEQ individual honours
Major awards: Hugo Richard (MVP), Adam Auclair (defensive MVP), Mathieu Betts (outstanding down lineman), Kean Harelimana (rookie of the year), Glen Constantin (coach of the year)
All-stars offence: Hugo Richard (QB), Simon Gingras-Gagnon (FB), Jonathan Breton-Robert (IR), Samuel Thomassin (G)
All-stars defence: Mathieu Betts (DE), Vincent Desjardins (DT), Adam Auclair (LB), Gabriel Ouellet (DB)
All-stars special teams: David Côté (K), Antony Dufour (RET)
All-time head-to-head vs. Western
Overall: 2-0
Home: 1-0
Away: 0-0
Neutral site: 1-0
2010 (home): 13-11 win (Uteck Bowl)
2008 (neutral): 44-21 win (Vanier Cup)
Not included in official head-to-head record:
2009 (home): 27-0 win (preseason)
2008 (home): 37-9 win (preseason)
2007 (home): 20-2 win (preseason)
Vanier Cup history
All-time record: 9-1
2016 (Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton): 31-26 win vs. Calgary
2013 (TELUS-UL Stadium, Quebec City): 25-14 win vs. Calgary
2012 (Rogers Centre, Toronto): 37-14 win vs. McMaster
2011 (BC Place Stadium, Vancouver): 41-38 OT loss vs. McMaster
2010 (PEPS Stadium, Quebec City): 29-2 win vs. Calgary
2008 (Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton): 44-21 win vs. Western
2006 (Griffiths Stadium, Saskatoon): 13-8 win vs. Saskatchewan
2004 (Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton): 7-1 win vs. Saskatchewan
2003 (SkyDome, Toronto): 14-7 win vs. Saint Mary's
1999 (SkyDome, Toronto): 14-10 win vs. Saint Mary's
Head coach: Glen Constantin
Season: 17
th
Career regular season record: 119-20 (.856)
Career playoff record: 46-10 (.821)
Career overall record (season and playoffs): 165-30 (.846)
Career overall record vs. Western: 2-0
Vanier Cup record: 8-1
Vanier Cup wins: 2016, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2003
Vanier Cup losses: 2011
WESTERN UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS (OUA & Uteck Bowl champions)
2017 season summary
Overall record (regular season & playoffs): 11-0
Regular season record: 8-0
Regular season standing: 1
st
Playoff record: 3-0
Top 10 final ranking (Nov. 7): No. 2
Top 10 best ranking: No. 2 (2 weeks)
Top 10 lowest ranking: No. 4 (7 weeks)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (11 polls): 11
Regular season offence points (48.3 / game): 1
st OUA / 1
st U SPORTS
Regular season offence total yards (608.5 / game): 1
st OUA / 1
st U SPORTS
Regular season offence passing (298.6 / game): 3
rd OUA / 9
th U SPORTS
Regular season offence rushing (309.9 / game): 1
st OUA / 1
st U SPORTS
Regular season defence points (13.1 / game): 1
st OUA / 2
nd U SPORTS
Regular season defence total yards (288.0 / game): 1
st OUA / 1
st U SPORTS
Regular season defence passing (188.4 / game): 2
nd OUA / 2
nd U SPORTS
Regular season defence rushing (99.6 / game): 1
st OUA / 3
rd U SPORTS
2017 results
Aug. 27 (away): Western 66, York 3
Sept. 4 (home): Western 41, Guelph 34 (OT)
Sept. 9 (away): Western 29, McMaster 14
Sept. 16 (away): Western 59, Windsor 7
Sept. 23 (home): Western 48, Queen's 10
Sept. 30 (away): Western 29, Laurier 13
Oct. 6 (home): Western 51, Carleton 14
Oct. 21 (home): Western 63, Ottawa 10
Nov. 4 (home): Western 66, Guelph 12 (OUA semifinal)
Nov. 11 (home): Western 75, Laurier 32 (Yates Cup)
Nov. 18 (away): Western 81, Acadia 3 (Uteck Bowl)
2017 OUA individual honours
Major awards: Nicolas Vanin (Russ Jackson Award nominee)
All-stars offence (first team): Chris Merchant (QB), Alex Taylor (RB), David Mackie (FB), David Brown (T), Matt Bettencourt (G)
All-stars defence (first team): Jean-Gabriel Poulin (LB), Nicolas Vanin (LB)
All-stars special teams (first team): Fraser Sopik (RUSH)
All-stars offence (second team): Harry McMaster (IR), Mark Wheatley (C), Grégoire Bouchard (G)
All-stars defence (second team): Jimmy Hawley (DT), Fraser Sopik (LB), Jesse McNair (FS), Bleska Kambamba (DB), Hakeem Johnson (CB)
All-stars special teams (second team): Marc Liegghio (K)
All-time head-to-head vs. Laval
Overall: 0-2
Home: 0-0
Away: 0-1
Neutral site: 0-1
2010 (away): 13-11 loss (Uteck Bowl)
2008 (neutral): 44-21 loss (Vanier Cup)
Not included in official head-to-head record:
2009 (away): 27-0 loss (preseason)
2008 (away): 37-9 loss (preseason)
2007 (away): 20-2 loss (preseason)
Vanier Cup history
All-time record: 6-6
2008 (Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton): 44-21 loss vs. Laval
1995 (SkyDome, Toronto): 54-24 loss vs. Calgary
1994 (SkyDome, Toronto): 50-40 OT win vs. Saskatchewan
1989 (SkyDome, Toronto): 35-10 win vs. Saskatchewan
1986 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 25-23 loss vs. UBC
1985 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 25-6 loss vs. Calgary
1982 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 39-14 loss vs. UBC
1979 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 34-12 loss vs. Acadia
1977 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 48-15 win vs. Acadia
1976 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 29-13 win vs. Acadia
1974 (CNE Stadium, Toronto): 19-15 win vs. Toronto
1971 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 15-14 win vs. Alberta
Head coach: Greg Marshall
Season: 18
th (11
th with Western / 7 with McMaster 1997-2003)
Career regular season record: 115-27-2 (.806) / 73-15 with Western (.830)
Career playoff record: 31-16 (.660) / 20-10 with Western (.667)
Career overall record (season and playoffs): 146-43-2 (.770) / 93-25 with Western (.788)
Career overall record vs. Laval: 0-4 / 0-2 with Western
Vanier Cup record: 0-1 / 0-1 with Western
Vanier Cup wins: None
Vanier Cup losses: 2008
ALL-TIME VANIER CUP RESULTS
2016 Laval 31, Calgary 26 (Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton)
2015 UBC 26, Montreal 23 (TELUS-UL Stadium, Quebec City)
2014 Montreal 20, McMaster 19 (Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, Montreal)
2013 Laval 25, Calgary 14 (TELUS-UL Stadium, Quebec City)
2012 Laval 37, McMaster 14 (Rogers Centre, Toronto)
2011 McMaster 41, Laval 38 OT (BC Place Stadium, Vancouver)
2010 Laval 29, Calgary 2 (PEPS Stadium, Quebec City)
2009 Queen's 33, Calgary 31 (PEPS Stadium, Quebec City)
2008 Laval 44, Western 21 (Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton)
2007 Manitoba 28, Saint Mary's14 (Rogers Centre, Toronto)
2006 Laval 13, Saskatchewan 8 (Griffiths Stadium, Saskatoon)
2005 Wilfrid Laurier 24, Saskatchewan 23 (Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton)
2004 Laval 7, Saskatchewan 1 (Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton)
2003 Laval 14, Saint Mary's 7 (SkyDome, Toronto)
2002 Saint Mary's 33, Saskatchewan 21 (SkyDome, Toronto)
2001 Saint Mary's 42, Manitoba 16 (SkyDome, Toronto)
2000 Ottawa 42, Regina 39 (SkyDome, Toronto)
1999 Laval 14, Saint Mary's 10 (SkyDome, Toronto)
1998 Saskatchewan 24, Concordia 17 (SkyDome, Toronto)
1997 UBC 39, Ottawa 23 (SkyDome, Toronto)
1996 Saskatchewan 31, StFX 12 (SkyDome, Toronto)
1995 Calgary 54, Western 24 (SkyDome, Toronto)
1994 Western 50, Saskatchewan 40 OT (SkyDome, Toronto)
1993 Toronto 37, Calgary 34 (SkyDome, Toronto)
1992 Queen's 31, Saint Mary's 0 (SkyDome, Toronto)
1991 Wilfrid Laurier 25, Mount Allison 18 (SkyDome, Toronto)
1990 Saskatchewan 24, Saint Mary's 21 (SkyDome, Toronto)
1989 Western 35, Saskatchewan 10 (SkyDome, Toronto)
1988 Calgary 52, Saint Mary's 23 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1987 McGill 47, UBC 11 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1986 UBC 25, Western 23 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1985 Calgary 25, Western 6 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1984 Guelph 22, Mount Allison 13 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1983 Calgary 31, Queen's 21 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1982 UBC 39, Western 14 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1981 Acadia 18, Alberta 12 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1980 Alberta 40, Ottawa 21 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1979 Acadia 34, Western 12 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1978 Queen's 16, UBC 3 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1977 Western 48, Acadia 15 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1976 Western 29, Acadia 13 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1975 Ottawa 14, Calgary 9 (CNE Stadium, Toronto)
1974 Western 19, Toronto 15 (CNE Stadium, Toronto)
1973 Saint Mary's 14, McGill 6 (CNE Stadium, Toronto)
1972 Alberta 20, Waterloo Lutheran 7 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1971 Western 15, Alberta 14 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1970 Manitoba 38, Ottawa 11 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1969 Manitoba 24, McGill 15 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1968 Queen's 42, Waterloo Lutheran 14 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1967 Alberta 10, McMaster 9 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1966 StFX 40, Waterloo Lutheran 14 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1965 Toronto 14, Alberta 7 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
NOTE 1: Rogers Centre was formerly called SkyDome (1989-2003 Vanier Cups)
NOTE 2: TELUS-UL Stadium was formerly called PEPS Stadium (2009-2010 Vanier Cups)
NOTE 3: Wilfrid Laurier was formerly called Waterloo Lutheran (1966, 1968, 1972 Vanier Cups)
