For the second straight year, Richardson Stadium hosted the 59th Vanier Cup on Nov. 23.
Each year, the Vanier Cup pits the winners of the Mitchell and Uteck Bowls against each other for the title of U SPORTS football national champion. This year, the Laurier Golden Hawks, representing the OUA, took on the Atlantic University Sport champion Bishop’s Gaiters in the Uteck Bowl. Entering the postseason as one of the nation’s best offenses, the Golden Hawks showcased their firepower with a dominant 48–24 victory, securing their place in the national championship.
On the other side of the bracket, the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec champion Laval Rouge et Or faced the Canada West champion Regina Rams in the Mitchell Bowl. Unlike Laurier, Laval relied on their stellar defense, solidifying their reputation as one of the best defensive teams in the country. They pulled out all the stops to secure a closely contested 17–14 win over the Rams.
With the championship set, fans from both sides travelled to Kingston, filling Richardson Stadium to capacity. Despite the four-degree weather, hopes were high as ers cheered and jeered in anticipation of the 1 p.m. kickoff.
In the first quarter, Laval capitalized on key plays to reach field goal range twice, with kicker Felipe Forteza converting from 15 and 18 yards. In the second quarter, a Forteza punt pinned Laurier deep in their half, leading to a safety and a subsequent 35-yard field goal.
Laurier managed to respond, with quarterback Taylor Elgersma connecting on a 5-yard touchdown to Ryan Hughes, narrowing the gap to four points. However, Laval’s dominance on special teams continued, as two more Forteza field goals extended the Rouge et Or’s lead to 17–7 at halftime.
Laurier fought back in the third quarter, with Elgersma finding Jaxon Stebbings for another touchdown. Still, Laval’s defense proved impenetrable, forcing a crucial safety in the fourth quarter. Despite their efforts, Laurier could only add a final field goal before the game’s end.
Forteza sealed the victory with his record-breaking sixth field goal of the game, cementing a 22–17 Laval national championship win.
With both teams’ strengths on opposite ends of the ball, Laval knew that they had to prepare to beat Laurier at their own game. A sentiment Laval defensive lineman Yoann Miangué shared in an interview with the Journal.
“We knew the offense from Laurier was the best in the country. […] You’re just doing a lot of film study, and trust your players,“ Miangué said.
Laval’s defensive prowess gave their offense confidence, even without scoring a touchdown.
“We got the best defense in the country, so that’s easy for us to rely on them. They did an outstanding job today,” Bruce Coulter Award recipient and Laval quarterback, Arnaud Desjardins added in an interview with The Journal.
The difference-maker was special teams, as Felipe Forteza converted six of seven field goal attempts and executed two punts inside the 20-yard line, setting up both safeties.
His performance earned him the Ted Morris Memorial Trophy, awarded to the game’s MVP.
“There was pressure, but I think it’s part of the part of the job. The team helped me to handle that pressure. They put in me in the position where I was really trusting myself,” Forteza stated in an interview with The Journal.
It takes a true team effort to win, and Laval’s no stranger to this outcome. Their victory is the 12th in program history and further cements their dynasty, holding the record for the most Vanier Cups won by any program.
Tags
All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s) in Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be ed, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to [email protected].