FOOTBALL SEMIFINAL: Fast start, tough finish for McGill in Quebec City

(VERSION FRANÇAISE SUIT)

QUEBEC CITY — Olivier Cool's record-setting afternoon powered top-seeded Laval to a 47–25 comeback win over fourth-seeded McGill in an RSEQ semifinal football game before 11,198 fans Saturday at Stade Telus.

Cool caught four touchdown passes — a conference playoff record — as the Rouge et Or (9-1) overcame a 14-0 first-quarter deficit with 32 unanswered points in the second quarter, eventually outgaining McGill 547–441 in total offence and leading 24–13 in first downs. Laval trailed 14–0 after one, then led 32–14 at halftime and 40–17 through three quarters.

McGill, which posted a 3-7 record overll, came out firing, putting Laval on its heels early. Quarterback Eloa Latendresse-Regimbald opened the scoring with a 68-yard keeper on a breakaway run up the middle, then found Antonio Gioffre on a 21-yard touchdown pass to make it 14–0 midway through the first quarter. The veteran pivot completed 14 of 28 passes for 247 yards, with one touchdown and one interception, while also rushing eight times for 107 yards and a score. Running back Jerry Momo added 87 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, helping McGill pile up 194 rushing yards at 9.2 per carry — compared to Laval's 116 on 24 attempts.

The Rouge et Or, however, struck back behind their potent passing game. Arnaud Desjardins threw for 356 yards and four touchdowns on 22-of-28 passing, while backup Jeremy Ouellette added 75 yards and two majors on 5-of-6 efficiency. Cool led all receivers with nine catches for 150 yards and four touchdowns, while Isaac Gaillardetz (82 yards, two TDs) and Emeric Boutin (84 yards) also surpassed the 80-yard mark.

Desjardins threw three touchdowns in the second quarter alone — two to Cool and one to Gaillardetz — turning a 14–0 deficit into a 32–14 halftime advantage. Benoit's interception return late in the third quarter set up another Gaillardetz touchdown, stretching Laval's lead to 40–17. McGill responded with a 75-yard drive capped by Momo's three-yard rush and a two-point convert to narrow it to 40–25, before Ouellette found Cool for his fourth major of the day on a 31-yard strike early in the fourth.

Gioffre led McGill's receivers with 92 yards, while Fabien Turcotte added 70 and Samuel Macieira 62. Despite the loss, the Redbirds' 441 yards of offence showed flashes of what they can build on for next season.

For McGill, Saturday also marked the possible end of the line for 13 graduating seniors. Those with no remaining eligibility include defensive back Ryan McNally, defensive lineman Jonathan Montour, offensive lineman Domenico Piazza, receivers David Kabwe and Josh Campbell, and defensive back Thomas Raphael. Other graduating players who could return for a further year of eligibility include quarterback Eloa Latendresse-Regimbald, linebacker Ilan Barbaras, running back Jeffrey Amisial-Chatelier, defensive back Jahnai Copeland-Lewis, kicker/punter Abdullah Quasem, and offensive linemen Zach Aboud, Félix-Olivier Leclerc and Louis-Gabriel Hallé.

BOXSCORE

RSEQ STATS & STANDINGS

U SPORTS NATIONAL STATS

SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman

Sports Information Officer

Athletics & Recreation

McGill University

CELL:514-983-7012

E-MAIL:earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca

Click here to read article