With the playoffs kicking off last weekend, the “do-or-die” time of year is upon us and as we learn every year at playoff time…. anything is possible. Just ask Lévis-Lauzon or Garneau. When the season ended two weeks ago, Garneau had all the looks of a “one and done” team stumbling to the finish line, losing big in their final two games and getting in the backdoor for the 2015 playoffs. Lévis-Lauzon on the other hand, went into the final week of the regular season with a chance to finish second and looking every bit the contender for the 2015 Bol d’Or. Even though they fell in their season finale to second ranked CNDF, les Faucons showed that they were worthy of being in the conversation with CNDF and Champlain-Lennoxville. The first time these two met, Lévis-Lauzon cruised to a 69-30 win, so their quarterfinal game seemed a formality. But that’s why they play the games.
With their 61-39 reversal of fortunes, les Élans shook up the Cegep ‘Power 5” and set themselves up with a date with top ranked Champlain. Did they crack the top 5, who landed where? Let’s take a look at the Week Ten CEGEP “POWER 5”.
WEEK TEN CFC CEGEP POWER 5 (Last week’s “Power 5” ranking in parenthesis):
1) CHAMPLAIN-LENNOXVILLE COUGARS (1) 9-0 (FIRST ROUND BYE)
The Cougars enjoyed the bye week that went with their first place finish. Don’t expect any rust though as this is a hungry, well coached squad, out to avenge last year’s Bol d’Or loss (Next Up: SEMI-FINAL vs. Garneau)
2) LES SPARTIATES DU VIEUX MONTRÉAL (4) 6-4 (won 21-19 vs. André-Grasset)
The defending champs will not go softly into the night and for good reason. Very talented, les Spartiates seem to be regaining their form and have the talent to play with anyone. Edouard Montemiglio makes a HUGE difference, evidenced by his 153 yards rushing on four carries in the quarterfinal win against Grasset. Defensively les Spartiates are as good it gets holding Grasset to only 55 yards rushing. If you want to be the best you got to beat the best, and until someone knocks them off when it counts, they’re still the defending champs. (Next Up: SEMI-FINAL @ #3 CNDF)
3) LE NOTRE DAME DE COLLEGE NOTRE DAME-DE-FOY (CNDF) (2) 8-2 (won 31-13 vs. Limoilou) Dominant for the first two-thirds of the 2015 season, CNDF seems like a different team after their week seven loss to Champlain. CNDF fell to Vieux the next week and barely got by Lévis-Lauzon to close out the season. I’m sure some are crying foul, but right now Vieux Montréal is the better team…..barely (Next Up: SEMI-FINAL vs. #2 Vieux Montréal)
4) LES PHÉNIX D’ANDRÉ GRASSET (5) 5-5 (lost 21-19 @ Vieux Montréal)
Although it didn’t finish the way they would have wanted, the inaugural D1 season for les Phénix has to be seen as a success. (Season Finished)
5) LES ÉLANS DE GARNEAU (NR) 4-6 (won 61-39 vs.Lévis-Lauzon) Nice win, but let’s see more from Garneau before we move them higher than fifth. (Next Up: SEMI-FINAL @ #1 Champlain-Lennoxville)
HONOURABLE MENTION: LÉVIS-LAUZON, SAINT-JEAN (D2), VALLEYFIELD (D2)
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