PEPS, Quebec City– The Laval Rouge et Or put an end to the Concordia Stingers playoff hopes once again with a convincing 35-10 victory on Saturday afternoon. Playing in front of 12,501 fans at Peps Stadium, Laval defeated the Stingers in the QUFL final, for the third time in the last five seasons.
For the defending Vanier Cup champions, this is their fifth consecutive Dunsmore Cup, and 14th consecutive victory- dating back to a regular season loss to the Universite de Montreal Carabins in 2006.
The top ranked Laval team was led by fifth year running back Pierre Luc Yao, who is looking for a record fourth Vanier Cup ring in five seasons at the university level. Playing with a purpose, Yao rushed for 128 yards on 22 carries, scoring two touchdowns on the ground and one in the air.
Laval struck first at the five minute mark of the first quarter when Yao scored on a one yard run. He followed this up with another one-yard scamper in the middle of the second frame to put his team ahead 17-0.
Down 17-3 at halftime, Concordia running back Cedric Ferdinand brought his team within seven after scoring on short run, but that was as close as the Stingers would get. The powerhouse Laval Rouge et Or answered with 11 points in the third quarter that put the game entirely out of reach.
Laval pivot Cesar Sanchez Hernandez had the other Laval touchdown on a one-yard run early in the fourth quarter. Sanchez-Hernandez had a solid outing, hooking up with eight different receivers and completing 19 of 24 for 241 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
Stinger quarterback Liam Mahoney on the other hand, who has served as a sparkplug for his team’s offence, completed 10-21 passes for 115 yards and two interceptions. He did make his mark with his running game, leading all Concordia rushers with 94 yards on 12 carries.
Laval brings their show to Halifax next weekend in the national semi-final, where they will square off against the No.4 ranked Saint Mary’s Huskies (8-1) in the Uteck Bowl. Saint Mary’s narrowly got by St. FX in the Atlantic Conference Final on Saturday with a 25-24 victory. The last time the Rouge et Or and the Huskies met in a CIS semifinal, the Huskies embarrassed Laval 48-8 in 2001.
The match will be broadcast live on RDS and The Score at 11 am on Saturday morning.
