BLOG: RSEQ Award Predictions

Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy (RSEQ MVP):
It is a two man race for the MVP. The RSEQ All-star team came out last week which established how difficult it will be decided between Laval Rouge et Or pivot, Hugo Richard or Montreal Carabins quarterback, Gabriel Cousineau. Both pivots led their teams to a 7-1 record in the RSEQ this season. Also both QBs lead their team to victory against one another. So what this two man horse race will come down to is who has the better stats. Hugo Richard this season was nearly perfect except for the last game of the season where the Carabins figured out a way to stop him. The Carabins defense force him to fumble twice and threw one interception. The defense also sacked him three times. Richard led the CIS in passing all year, he had 22 touchdowns (CIS best) and only four interceptions for 2578 yards (CIS best). He also averaged 322.3 yards per a game. Richard only weakness was his passing completions which was 65.4% which put him in fourth in the CIS. Richard magic season had him break all sort of Laval and RSEQ records. He broke the Laval record for most touchdowns in a season also most passing yards in a season which was owned by Benoît Groulx. Richard broke the RSEQ for most passing touchdown in a season and also in a game as well. The RSEQ touchdown season was only a year old as Jordan Heather, last season Hec Crighton and RSEQ threw 20 touchdowns.

Gabriel Cousineau had a great year even through the numbers do not show it.He led the CIS completion percentage with 71.9 of his passes were completed this season which is remarkable number and was a CIS best. Cousineau threw for 2311 yards (3rd in CIS) and added 14 touchdowns (8th in CIS) and 3 picks. Cousineau did come up big in the last game of the year against Laval where they pulled the biggest upset of the last five years. He threw for 219 yards and completed 20 out of 30 pass attempts. If Richard ends up winning the MVP he has a pretty good chance of also clinching the Hec Crighton. Last season, Jordan Heather from Bishops won both awards.
FYI: Jordan Heather pass for remarkable 3,132 yards and added 20 touchdowns in 8 games. He also had a passing completions percent of 60.3%. I believe Heather passing yard mark likely will never be broken.
My pick for RSEQ MVP: Hugo Rocket,missile Richard.

Defender of the year: This will also be an interesting race between four players. Those four are McGill Redmen linebacker Karl Forgues,Concordia Stingers defensive half- back Kris Robertson, Montreal Carabins linebacker Byron Archambault and last but not least Laval Rouge et Or defensive lineman,Vincent Desloges. Karl Forgues was snubbed from the RSEQ All-Star team last week. He had remarkable season as he had 74.5 tackles. Out of his 74.5 tackles, 59 of them were solo tackles in eight games this year which place him second in the CIS for tackles. He also had eight sacks, one interception and two force fumbles. Forgues was the only bright spot for the McGill Redmen this season as they finished the year with 0-8 record. Kris Robertson who was an RSEQ All-Star for the third time in his career. He was selected by the Winnipeg Blue-Bombers in the second round of the 2013 draft however he suffered a torn ACL before the season started and was out for the whole year. This year he decided to come back to Concordia Stingers for his fifth and final year. His 2014 season was a great one as he had five interceptions which place him in second place in the CIS for that category. Three of his five interceptions were returned for touchdowns. He also had 15 tackles and 13 assists. The Stingers defense established itself as the defense that knows how to grab picks. They led the CIS in interceptions with 17. They also led the CIS in interceptions return for touchdowns with 5.

Carabins linebacker Byron Archambault was a force to be reckoned this season as he helped lead the Carabins to a 7-1 record. Archambault had nine QB sacks this season which place him second in the CIS in that category. He also had 49.5 tackles and 21 assists in 8 games this season. The Carabins defense was very good at stopping quarterbacks from passing as opposing QB only threw on average 183.4 yards against them in the eight games. The defense also knew how to throw down the QB on the ground quite often as they had 29 team sacks which put them tied for first in the CIS with Laval. Last but not least Laval Rouge et Or defensive lineman, Vincent Desloges who had one of the greatest RSEQ defensive season ever. Desloges had 12 sacks which was a CIS best and also was second in the CIS in sack yards with 64 yards. He also had two fumble recoveries. He only had 23.5 tackles which ranked him 154th in the CIS in the tackles category. The Laval Rouge et Or on defense was great all year as they led the CIS in least amount of rushing yards with 50% per a game. They were also first in least amount of yards allowed. The defense was also second in least amount of points scored.
My pick for defender of the year: Carabins linebacker, Byron Archambault. Two straight years a Carabins defender has won it. I would also love for Kris Robertson to win it but that is pretty unlikely.

Rookie of the year: Unanimous Laval Rouge et Or pivot, Hugo Richard. Hugo Richard electrified the CIS this season. Richard with the Rouge et Or brought back memories of when Groulx was their QB. The last couple of the seasons they have depended on their running game however with Hugo Richard they have become a pass first team.
MY pick Lineman of the year: Laval Rouge et Or defensive lineman, Vincent Desloges.

Coach of the year: This is three man race between Laval Rouge et Or coach, Glen Constantin,Montreal Carabins coach, Danny Maciocia and Concordia Stingers head coach, Mickey Donovan. The Rouge et Or posted a 7-1 record under Constantin this season and dominated every opponent they face except for their last game against Maciocia’s Carabins. The Rouge et Or were at the top of the CIS top ten every week this year. They also likely going to advance to the Vanier Cup unless something dramatic happens in the Dunsmore Cup or Uteck Bowl. The Montreal Carabins under Maciocia were also 7-1. They last lose occurred at the hands of the Rouge et Or in the first game of the season. As mention before they beat Laval in the last game of the year. Danny Maciocia has been the Carabins head coach since 2011 and has yet to win coach of the year in the RSEQ will this be the year he finally does win one? Mickey Donovan in his first year as a CIS coach lead the Concordia Stingers to a 5-3 record which saw them win their first four games of the year. Donovan approach of family was a main focus of the year as it was something was missing from last year team which finished 0-8. The Stingers lost to Laval last Saturday in the first round of the playoffs.
My pick for Coach of the Year: Concordia Stingers head coach, Mickey Donovan. Stingers turnaround was remarkable to watch and cover as a journalist. I would not be shocked if Glen Constantin did win it again for the millionth time (would be his 6th time).
Congratulations to all of the RSEQ award winners tomorrow and to those do end up losing keep your head held high because you still had an incredible 2014 RSEQ season.

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