LONDON, Ont. – The Laval Rouge et Or hope the Western Mustangs do not spoit their Vanier Cup party Saturday when they host them in the Uteck Bowl, CIS semifinal on Saturday at 12 p.m. at PEPS Stadium in Ste. Foy, Que., just north of Quebec City.
The Rouge et Or, host of the Vanier Cup for the second straight year, lost to the Queen’s Gaels in last year’s national semifinal Mitchell Bowl game 33-30, and then Queen’s went into PEPS Stadium and defeated the Calgary Dinos to win the Vanier Cup.
Receiver Nick Trevail, who was terrific for Western in their 26-25 Yates Cup win over Ottawa, said he is excited for the opportunity to play spoiler.
“Laval is a great football team, it’s more difficult than most other university to play there. But it does metter, we need to go in there and not be afraid. We have to go in there knowing we can win.”
Trevail said the experience of playing in three exhibition contests over the past four seasons at PEPS Stadium helps with knowing the atmosphere. He has played in two of those three exhibitions.
“Those exhibitions are so important. Greg Marshall does things like that, he’s smart. He’s the coach of the year for a reason. He tries to put us in situations where it will help us down the road and he tries to make sure we are prepared.”
The top-ranked and QUFL champion Rouge et Or (11-0) will have their hands full with Western which has great depth in 2010.
Meanwhile at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, the No. 5 and Canada West champion Dinos (8-2) welcome the No. 9 and AUS champion Saint Mary’s Huskies (6-3) in the Mitchell Bowl at 3:30 p.m. EST.
The winners advance to the Desjardins Vanier Cup on Saturday, Nov. 27, in Quebec City (11:45 a.m., TSN and Radio-Canada).
Laval, the only remaining undefeated team in the nation, captured a CIS-record eighth straight conference title last Saturday thanks to a hard-fought 22-17 Dunsmore Cup win over Sherbrooke.
Western claimed its third Yates Cup in four years (2010, 2008, 2007) under head coach Greg Marshall and a record 29th OUA championship when Lirim Hajrullahu kicked a 34-yard field goal with 2.1 seconds remaining on the clock to lift the Mustangs to a 26-25 road victory over Ottawa.
The No. 1 Rouge et Or go into the CIS Final Four with an all-time Bowl record of 5-4. The Mustangs are 12-6.
“This Laval team is a very well coached team,” said Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall. “It’s going to be a hostile environment and fortunately I will not be able to understand most of what is going to be yelled at me, which is probably a good thing. We will have to play our best.”
The Mustangs will have to put an end a pair of impressive Laval sequences on Saturday if they hope to add to their CIS mark with a 13th Vanier Cup appearance two weeks from now.
The Rouge et Or are 4-0 at home in CIS semifinals and are currently riding a CIS-record streak of 42 consecutive overall wins in front of their PEPS Stadium fans, dating back to a 14-13 regular-season loss to Montreal on Sept. 19, 2004.
“Our team will be up to the challenge, we’re a very scrappy team,” Marshall said.
The two storied programs have met only once in the past in official competition, in the 2008 Vanier Cup at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, with Laval prevailing 44-21 to complete the only perfect campaign in team history (12-0). The rivals have also squared off in pre-season action in 2007, 2008 and 2009, with the Rouge et Or winning all three contests in Quebec City.
Statistically, Laval outscored its opponents 411 to 58 over nine regular season contests this fall to become the first team since the 2003 Rouge et Or to lead the country in both points scored (45.7 ppg) and allowed (6.4 ppg). The Rouge et Or have now led the nation for fewest points against three years running and five of the past seven seasons.
Western, second only to Laval with 12.0 points allowed per match in conference play, has dominated the ground game on both sides of the ball. The Mustangs racked up a CIS-best 254.2 rushing yards per contest this season, while holding their rivals to an average of 107.3 yards on the ground, tops in the OUA and fourth in the nation.
“We wanted to create a balanced offence at the start of the season. With Michael Faulds we were pass heavy and now with Donnie, able to be a little bit more mobile, we’ve developed more of a running style offence,” Marshall added.
Nov. 20: UTECK BOWL – #2 Western at #1 Laval, 12 p.m.
By Andy Watson, with files from CIS
Follow the action on a live blog at www.westernmustangs.ca
UTECK BOWL
TICKETS: 418-656-FOOT
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 20, 12 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
WHERE: PEPS Stadium, Quebec City
WHO: No. 2 Western Ontario Mustangs (9-1) at No. 1 Laval Rouge et Or (11-0)
TV: Live on TSN & Radio-Canada
RADIO: CJBK, AM 1290 in London (www.cjbk.com) and CHRW Radio, 94.9 FM in London (www.chrwradio.com/listen)
STREAM: www.radio-canada.ca/sports or www.tsn.ca (tape delay)
WESTERN MUSTANGS (OUA champions)
2010 season summary
Overall record: 9-1
Regular season record: 7-1
Regular season standing: 2nd
Playoff record: 2-0
Final Top 10 ranking (Nov. 2): No. 2
Best Top 10 ranking (10 weeks): No. 2 (3 weeks: last 3 polls)
Lowest Top 10 ranking (10 weeks): No. 9 (1 week: first poll)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (10 weeks): 10
Regular season offence points (39.6 ppg): 1st OUA / 2nd CIS
Regular season offence total yards (464.5 ypg): 3rd OUA / 5th CIS
Regular season offence passing (210.2 ypg): 6th OUA / 16th CIS
Regular season offence rushing (254.2 ypg): 1st OUA / 1st CIS
Regular season defence points (12.0 ppg): 1st OUA / 2nd CIS
Regular season defence total yards (336.1 ypg): 2nd OUA / 5th CIS
Regular season defence passing (228.8 ypg): 4th OUA / 10th CIS
Regular season defence rushing (107.3 ypg): 1st OUA / 4th CIS
2010 results
Sept. 1 (home): Western 46, Laurier 1
Sept. 6 (away): Ottawa 20, Western 19
Sept. 11 (home): Western 50, McMaster 19
Sept. 18 (away): Western 30, Windsor 15
Sept. 25 (away): Western 15, Guelph 8
Oct. 2 (home): Western 46, Queen’s 10
Oct. 16 (away): Western 76, York 0
Oct. 23 (home): Western 35, Toronto 23
Nov. 6 (home): Western 34, McMaster 28 (OUA semifinal)
Nov. 13 (away): Western 26, Ottawa 25 (OUA final)
2010 OUA individual honours
Major awards: Greg Marshall (coach of the year)
All-stars offence (First Team): Jerimy Hipperson (RB), Matt Norman (G), Josh Buttrill (T)
All-stars offence (Second Team): –
All-stars defence (First team): Mike Van Praet (T), Zander Robinson (DE), John Surla (LB), Craig Butler (HB)
All-stars defence (Second Team): Jason Kosec (LB), Jamie Symianick (CB)
All-stars special teams (First Team): Darryl Wheeler (P), Craig Butler (rush/cover)
All-stars special teams (Second Team): Craig Butler (RET)
All-time head-to-head vs. Laval
Overall record: 0-1
2008 (neutral site: Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton): 44-21 loss (Vanier Cup)
Note: Western lost pre-season contests to Laval in 2007 (20-2), 2008 (37-9) and 2009 (27-0).
Bowl history (since inception of national semi-finals in 1967)
All-time Bowl record: 12-6
All-time Bowl record on the road: 6-5
Uteck Bowl record: 0-0
Uteck Bowl record on the road: 0-0
2008 (home): 28-12 win vs. Saint Mary’s (Mitchell Bowl)
2007 (away): 52-20 loss vs. Manitoba (Mitchell Bowl)
1998 (away): 33-17 loss vs. Saskatchewan (Churchill Bowl)
1995 (away): 55-45 OT win vs. Acadia (Atlantic Bowl)
1994 (away): 41-24 win vs. Bishop’s (Churchill Bowl)
1990 (away): 31-30 loss vs. Saint Mary’s (Atlantic Bowl)
1989 (away): 38-33 win vs. Saint Mary’s (Atlantic Bowl)
1988 (home): 34-15 loss vs. Calgary (Western Bowl)
1986 (away): 29-22 win vs. Acadia (Atlantic Bowl)
1985 (away): 34-3 win vs. Mount Allison (Atlantic Bowl)
1982 (home): 17-7 win vs. Concordia (Western Bowl)
1981 (away): 32-31 loss vs. Alberta (Western Bowl)
1980 (away): 14-4 loss vs. Alberta (Western Bowl)
1979 (home): 32-14 win vs. Queen’s (Yates Cup)
1977 (home): 24-22 win vs. Calgary (Forest City Bowl)
1976 (home): 30-8 win vs. UBC (Forest City Bowl)
1974 (home): 41-17 win vs. Saskatchewan (Central Bowl)
1971 (away): 44-13 win vs. Saint Mary’s (Atlantic Bowl)
Vanier Cup history
All-time record: 6-6
2008 (Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton): 44-21 loss vs. Laval
1995 (SkyDome, Toronto): 54-24 loss vs. Calgary
1994 (SkyDome, Toronto): 50-40 OT win vs. Saskatchewan
1989 (SkyDome, Toronto): 35-10 win vs. Saskatchewan
1986 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 25-23 loss vs. UBC
1985 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 25-6 loss vs. Calgary
1982 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 39-14 loss vs. UBC
1979 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 34-12 loss vs. Acadia
1977 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 48-15 win vs. Acadia
1976 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 29-13 win vs. Acadia
1974 (CNE Stadium, Toronto): 19-15 win vs. Toronto
1971 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 15-14 win vs. Alberta
Head coach: Greg Marshall
Year: 11th (4th at Western / 7 at McMaster 1997-2003)
Career regular season record: 66-20-2 (24-8 with Western)
Career playoff record: 21-9 (10-3 with Western)
Career overall record (season and playoffs): 87-29-2 (34-11 with Western)
Career overall record vs. Laval: 0-3 (0-1 with Western)
Bowl record: 1-5 (1-1 with Western)
Bowl wins: 2008 (with Western)
Bowl losses: 2007 (with Western), 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000
Vanier Cup record: 0-1 (with Western)
Vanier Cup wins: None
Vanier Cup losses: 2008 (with Western)
LAVAL ROUGE ET OR (QUFL champions)
2010 season summary
Overall record: 11-0
Regular season record: 9-0
Regular season standing: 1st
Playoff record: 2-0
Final Top 10 ranking (Nov. 2): No. 1
Best Top 10 ranking (10 weeks): No. 1 (9 weeks: last 9 polls)
Lowest Top 10 ranking (10 weeks): No. 2 (1 week: first poll)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (10 weeks): 10
Regular season offence points (45.7 ppg): 1st QUFL / 1st CIS
Regular season offence total yards (460.8 ypg): 1st QUFL / 6th CIS
Regular season offence passing (253.8 ypg): 2nd QUFL / 8th CIS
Regular season offence rushing (207.0 ypg): 1st QUFL / 3rd CIS
Regular season defence points (6.4 ppg): 1st QUFL / 1st CIS
Regular season defence total yards (221.3 ypg): 1st QUFL / 1st CIS
Regular season defence passing (175.7 ypg): 1st QUFL / 3rd CIS
Regular season defence rushing (45.7 ypg): 1st QUFL / 1st CIS
2010 results
Sept. 5 (home): Laval 50, McGill 9
Sept. 11 (away): Laval 36, Sherbrooke 6
Sept. 18 (away): Laval 45, Saint Mary’s 7
Sept. 26 (home): Laval 23, Sherbrooke 7
Oct. 3 (home): Laval 46, Concordia 10
Oct. 9 (away): Laval 19, Montreal 12
Oct. 17 (home): Laval 62, Bishop’s 0
Oct. 23 (away): Laval 68, McGill 0
Oct. 30 (away): Laval 62, Concordia 7
Nov. 6 (home): Laval 56, Bishop’s 1 (QUFL semifinal)
Nov. 13 (home): Laval 22, Sherbrooke 17 (QUFL final)
2010 QUFL individual honours
Major awards: Frédérick Plesius (defensive MVP), Arnaud Gascon-Nadon (outstanding down lineman), Glen Constantin (coach of the year)
All-stars offence: Bruno Prud’homme (QB), Sébastien Lévesque (RB), Julian Feoli Gudino (WR), Pierre Lavertu (C), Pascal Baillargeon (G)
All-stars defence: Arnaud Gascon-Nadon (DE), Frédérick Plesius (LB), Maxime Bérubé (DB), Olivier Turcotte-Létourneau (CB)
All-stars special team: Christopher Milo (P & PK)
All-time head-to-head vs. Western
Overall record: 1-0
2008 (neutral site: Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton): 44-21 win (Vanier Cup)
Note: Laval won pre-season contests over Western in 2007 (20-2), 2008 (37-9) and 2009 (27-0).
Bowl history (since inception of national semi-finals in 1967)
All-time Bowl record: 5-4
All-time Bowl record at home: 4-0
Uteck Bowl record: 3-1
Uteck Bowl record at home: 3-0
2009 (away): 33-30 loss vs. Queen’s (Mitchell Bowl)
2008 (home): 59-10 win vs. Calgary (Uteck Bowl)
2007 (away): 24-2 loss vs. Saint Mary’s (Uteck Bowl)
2006 (home): 57-10 win vs. Acadia (Uteck Bowl)
2005 (away): 29-27 loss vs. Saskatchewan (Mitchell Bowl)
2004 (home): 30-11 win vs. Laurier (Uteck Bowl)
2003 (away): 36-32 win vs. McMaster (Mitchell Bowl)
2001 (away): 48-8 loss vs. Saint Mary’s (Atlantic Bowl) *
1999 (home): 27-21 win vs. Saskatchewan (Churchill Bowl)
* Following the 2001 season, Laval forfeited all its games due to the use of an ineligible player.
Vanier Cup history
All-time record: 5-0
2008 (Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton): 44-21 win vs. Western
2006 (Griffiths Stadium, Saskatoon): 13-8 win vs. Saskatchewan
2004 (Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton): 7-1 win vs. Saskatchewan
2003 (SkyDome, Toronto): 14-7 win vs. Saint Mary’s
1999 (SkyDome, Toronto): 14-10 win vs. Saint Mary’s
Head coach: Glen Constantin
Year: 10th
Career regular season record: 67-14 *
Career playoff record: 24-7 *
Career overall record (season and playoffs): 91-21 *
Career overall record vs. Western: 1-0
Bowl record: 4-4
Bowl wins: 2008, 2006, 2004, 2003
Bowl losses: 2009, 2007, 2005, 2001
Vanier Cup record: 4-0
Vanier Cup wins: 2008, 2006, 2004, 2003
Vanier Cup losses: None
* In 2001, Laval finished with a 5-3 regular season record and a 2-1 playoff record but forfeited all 7 wins due to the use of an ineligible player.
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