If it is true that defense wins championships, the players of the Carabins of the University of Montreal can sleep soundly.
For a third straight playoff game, the Carabins did not allow a touchdown and defeated the Western University Mustangs 29-3 on Saturday afternoon in the Uteck Cup final.
After limiting the Vert et Or of the University of Sherbrooke to three points and the Rouge et Or of the University of Laval to six points, the challenge was considerable for the Montrealers.
Still undefeated since the beginning of the year, the Mustangs arrived at CEPSUM with the best attack in the country, 350 points scored in eight games this season. However, they had probably not faced a defense as aggressive as that of the Carabins – the best in Canada.
Overall, Marco Iadeluca’s squad had three interceptions, five sacks and seven tackles for losses on Saturday, in addition to recovering three fumbles. Aided by its noisy fans, the defense regularly manhandled the Mustangs’ offensive front and forced six turnovers in the first half.
“There was a whole offensive line on the other side. We knew our defense was playing great football all season, especially since the playoffs started, but it’s hard to measure some things with video alone. The turnovers early in the game hurt them. I haven’t seen that often, a team that forces six turnovers in the first half, but I’d like to see us do that again next week,” Iadeluca said with a smile.
With this third Uteck Cup victory, and a first since 2019, the Carabins will participate in the Vanier Cup for the fourth time in their history. They have won it only once, in 2014.
Against the Thunderbirds in view of the Vanier Cup
Their opponents next week will be the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, who crushed the St. Francis Xavier University X-Men 47-17 in the Mitchell Bowl.
Nicolas Roy set the tone by intercepting a pass from Mustangs quarterback Evan Hillock on the visitors’ first offensive sequence. He added a sack and a fumble recovery to earn the Uteck Cup Defensive Player of the Year award.
Roy watched the 2022 playoffs in a wheelchair from the sidelines because of a left knee injury.
“It feels good to have the chance to be here next week. With the injury and the rehab from last year, it’s all the hard work that leads to this,” he said.
Following the victory against the Rouge et Or, Iadeluca and quarterback Jonathan Sénécal noted that the attack must also support the defense.
Sénécal, the athlete par excellence of Quebec university football, was more comfortable despite two interceptions. He completed 21 of his 31 passes for 228 yards in the air and he collected 38 yards on the ground.
Beyond the defense, the attack and the special units, we can see a team spirit within the Carabins.
After receiving the Uteck Cup – which was untouched – the players sang the lyrics to Kodak Black’s “Skrilla” on stage while embracing each other. While it’s a locker room “anthem” in the eyes of Sénécal and Kaylyn St-Cyr, the image is a true representation of a united group that still needs one last victory before reaching its goal.
“It’s the fun and the chemistry we have together. We have so much fun when we’re executing plays. In all three phases of the game, we support each other. There’s going to be some bad plays, but in the end, we know the offense is there, the defense is there and the special teams are there for each other,” St-Cyr insisted.
On the wheels of a hat
As it did last week against the Rouge et Or, the Montreal defense started the game strong. After the Mustangs had obtained two first downs, Roy intercepted a pass from Hillock to give his team back possession.
The visitors responded in kind through Jacob Saunders, but Sénécal recovered a few minutes later.
The Carabins quarterback distributed the ball well and put the finishing touch by joining William Legault in the end zone to give his team a 7-0 lead.
The defense came back to life before the end of the first quarter. Bruno Lagacé intercepted a pass from Hillock to set up a 20-yard field goal from Philippe Boyer.
The Mustangs tried to break away on the offensive, but Harold Miessan caused a fumble and Christopher Fontenard recovered it to give the ball back to the “Bleus”.
Although it failed to take advantage immediately, the Montreal attack added three points when Boyer made a 25-yard field goal. Louis-Philippe Gauthier had intercepted the ball a few plays earlier.
Jackson Findlay intercepted a Senecal pass to give Western University some momentum, but Jeremiah Ojo forced a fumble that was once again recovered by Fontenard.
After Carl Chabot gave the Carabins a 20-0 lead when he crossed the only yard separating him from the end zone, Roy got his hands on a loose ball in enemy territory to allow Boyer to make a 19-yard field goal.
Greg Marshall’s men showed signs of life in the third quarter, thanks to a 21-yard field goal by Brian Garrity, but it did not continue in the fourth quarter.
A 42-yard field goal from Boyer and a safety touchdown confirmed the final score in favor of the Carabins.
