Laval hegemony

It was entitled to a final between two of the finest organizations of Canadian university football. But with a 44-21 victory at the expense of Mustangs from the University of Western Ontario, the Rouge et Or left no doubt. If there are several very good teams in the country, there is only one superpower. Now we can even talk of hegemony Laval. The players have shown Glen Constantin, in rewriting the record books in the Vanier Cup. As a result, they won the fifth championship in their short history, and their fourth in six years! Too strong Multiplying the big games, the offensive was far too volatile for the Mustangs, who have granted affected 63, 74, 82 and 92 yards! Meanwhile, the defense has created its share of reversals, limiting the offensive in white and purple at its second worst performance of the season. If the offensive and defensive played an excellent match, is on special teams that the party has played. While the mark was 13-0 and that nothing had yet been played, Julian Feoli-Gudino has returned an punt of 74 yards to register a superb hit, which gave an advance of 20 points his team. After this game, the Mustangs have never been in the coup and, after a pair of touchdowns over 80 yards, registered by Feoli-Gudino and Mathieu Bouvette, the score was 34-7 in favor of Red Or Can , A race of 63 yards to the revelation of the year, Sébastien Lévesque, and it was really finished Troopers Greg Marshall. Final score: 44-21. We must talk about the defensive, that even if it gave its highest total of points of the season, once again played a strong game. Against an excellent offensive, led skilfully by his watch Michael Faulds, the unit has once again drawn its own game defensive line was able to put much pressure on Faulds, the downwash on the ground behind the line four times. In addition, it has completely stopped the game ground Mustangs, who have therefore turned to a completely one-dimensional offensive and, therefore, much easier to stop. Especially with a service like Red and Gold, a unit that did not so much talk about it this season, but played football at the highest quality. It was particularly loved the work of Alex Surprenant, Jonathan Laliberté, and Dominique Christmas, all of which have changed the look of the game in their own way. Surprising with an interception returned deep into enemy area, with Laliberté caused one fumble when he arrived at full speed with his helmet on the ball, and Christmas with his many solid tackles. Small details Oddly, the biggest difference between the two teams did not seem to be at the level of raw talent, template, or the strategy deployed by the coaches. Rather, the basic details, that Laval had the advantage over the net. Sign of a team extremely well run, the players seemed to always perform their responsibility, rather than trying constantly pass the big game they seemed to always take the proper angle of pursuit, so that the ball carrier is left with a sea of red players around him. Mustangs side, we saw a lot of missed tackles by players who tried to wrest the head of opponent rather than go for a plate. That all things that are taught from high school, and it often takes for granted that the university level, all this is well integrated. But often it is these small details that make the difference. This was proof, Saturday. After seeing the defensive Calgary be cut into pieces when playing man coverage-to-man, half-final, it was believed that coaches Mustangs took notes. But again, the two longest affected by the pass, Benoît Groulx recognized that the coverage man to man, and he paid his opponents. The first time, on a double feint Julian Feoli-Gudino who easily outpaced penny roofer, ending his run 82 yards farther in the area of goals. The second, on a pass from 92 yards which Bouvette Mathieu managed to break many tackles, and then spinning into the pay zone. That was the longest game of the history of the Vanier Cup. Laval hegemony The victory of Red and Gold raises several questions about the health of the football league Canadian university. It is nice that the caliber of play is increasing year by year, but if we know in advance who will win, as is almost the case now, the show loses its interest. That was the case in Forumul 1, a few years ago, when Michael Schumacher and his Ferrari were simply in a league apart. This was the case, too, when we did not even have to wonder if Roger Federer would win, while chain victories in Grand Slam with the regularity of a Swiss watch set with quarter turn. It is not normal to see the same team win six times in a row on the championship conference. It is still less than normal during this period, she was crowned Canadian champion four times. It certainly can not blame the Rouge et Or for that dominance. The team continuously wins, but wins with class, each year increasing its level of play Indeed, it forces other teams to continually improve, expect to reduce the gap that separates them from Laval. But the problem is precisely that impression that the Red and Gold continues to improve faster than other teams, digging a little more the gap each year. The rich get richer, as they say ... Domination Quebec Gerry McGrath, head coach of Concordia Sitngers, said that if his team had beaten the Red and Gold Cup at Dunsmore, she managed to get his hands on the Vanier Cup. To see the opposition that Laval has received, against Calgary and Western, one can not help but think like him. We must admit that the game more difficult than the champions will have to play this season, against the Stingers. This proves once again that the best football is played at home in our beautiful province. Of course there are good teams elsewhere in Canada. But there is no conference now, where size is as strong in Quebec. That is unfortunate for teams like Concordia, Montreal or Sherbrooke, which would probably have to win their conference a few times in recent years, they played elsewhere. It is said that as there are more good players coming out of college ranks, the talent will eventually be divided, and a beautiful parity will eventually settle in the Quebec league. But for now, the best players want to play the best team, with the results we know. Can we really blame them? Even better next year? The most épeurant in all this is that the Rouge et Or lose very few players during the season. Indeed, the 2009 edition could be even better than just win the Vanier Cup with ease. Players like Matt Leblanc, Steve Landry, Mathieu Parent, Luc Brodeur-Jourdain, Vincent Turgeon and Laurent Lavigne-Masse have completed their academic careers, and their departure will be felt, but none are irreplaceable. The offensive line will surely not as dominant this season, while three of its members met on the first team All-Canadian, and two of them will not be back (Brodeur-Jourdain and Turgeon) . But with the player in the country, Benoît Groulx, back for a fifth year, the offensive should once again turning many heads. It was especially eager to see if the holders Sebastien Levesque and Maxime Béland will be able to take ground attack on their shoulders for a full season. In defense, if Stephen Légaré returns for a fifth season, the line will once again be one of the strengths of the team, while the tertiary sector, which remains virtually unchanged, will continue his excellent work. And what is most important is that as long as Glen Constantine and his coaching team will return, faithful to the position. It says you might review the Rouge et Or in the final Canadian quite often.