PREVIEW: “We are now focused on ourselves and on our desire to be better every day”

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SHERBROOKE VERT ET OR (RSEQ – SHERBROOKE, QUEBEC):

David Lessard’s team drew a line after a difficult 2013 season and this fall will present a capability to launch and run the ball with the same efficiency.  Additionally, they will have an animated defense led by a group of veterans that are resourceful and possess tremendous depth. Motivated by an early schedule that offers several home games in the first half of the season, the Vert et Or is determined to start the 2014 campaign strong, something which was lacking last year. In his fourth season with the Vert et Or, Jeremi Roch is the dean of the Quebec university circuit quarterback position and fully intends to exploit his experience for the benefit of his teammates. Jérémi had the chance to spend more than a week in the Montreal Alouettes training camp and has garnered valuable experience. In addition, a new Assistant Head Coach gives the team renewed energy with a new plan. They have quickly formed a cohesive group and are pumped for the upcoming challenges ahead.

“We had a huge winter in terms of physical, technical and tactical preparation,” commented Vert et Or Head Coach David Lessard.  “I am very pleased in recent months and the dynamics within the team is extremely interesting.”

“We are all passionate about football. I also like our internal leadership from our veteran group.  Our approach is much more pragmatic and we are now focused on ourselves and on our desire to be better every day. I like what I see now at the dawn of this next season and things are in place for an exciting season for our fans.”

david lessard 2

OFFENSE:

RETURNING:

The best offensive guns for the Vert & Or are all back in the lineup:

Quarterback Jeremi Roch (171 completions in 295 attempts for 2,045 yards)

Wide receivers Sébastien Blanchard (49 receptions for 630 yards) and Francis Lapointe (37 passes totaling 397 yards caught).

Running backs Alexander Aubé (70 carries and 474 net yards) and Isaac Lauzon (66 carries and 408 net yards)

Versatile David Dumas -Goulet (8 carries totaling 39 yards and two receptions for 11 yards)

Offensive linemen Renauld Lafrance-Longtin (who briefly attended the Alouettes camp as a guest), Dominic Paquette and Francis Lapointe.

Roch and Blanchard were two of the three Vert et Or representatives at the 2014 East-West Bowl. The Vert et Or can challenge opposing defenses both on the ground and through the air. Last year, the Vert et Or achieved its highest total in three years in rushing yards gained, in addition to obtaining the highest aggregate in history for the number of rushing first downs obtained by race, and continued its reputation for its air attack. The team will also look for contributions from veteran wide receivers Vincent Cleroux-Gaudreau (4 catches for 57 yards gains) and Antoine Pinkos (8 receptions good for 72 yards in 2012) as well as tight ends Omar Toure and Martin Maheu . This will provide interesting options for quarterback Jeremi Roch on both short and intermediate routes.

NEW ADDITIONS:

A speedster will align for the Vert et Or in the backfield in 2014 and could make many heads turn. This is CFC 100 freshman running back freshman Felix Marquis-Chevrier (Andre-Grasset Phenix), who raked in 1,077 rushing yards in 162 carries and scored nine touchdowns. Young receiver Guillaume Paquet from Lanaudiere Triads (18 receptions totaling 310 yards and two touchdowns) will also contribute to the Vert et Or’s offensive attack.

Sherbrooke victory

DEFENSE:

RETURNING:

The defensive front from last season is virtually intact and is now developing under the leadership of new Vert et Or Defensive Coordinator Guillaume Boucher. The trio of linebackers – Dempsey Jutras (43 tackles including 36 solo, 1.5 tackles for loss and one interception), Olivier Goulet-Veilleux (36 tackles including 31 solo, six tackles for loss and two interceptions) and Maxime St -Onge (4 tackles) as well as linemen Louis-Simon Nadeau (24 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 quarterback drawdowns), Francis Guay (10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 2 5 drawdowns quarterback) and Rami Saintus will be the main warriors.

Saintus will attempt to ward off bad luck the past two seasons, as a serious injury in the first game sidelined him. Francis Bibeau-Casavant, who is entering his second season, is progressing well and could also give a boost to the defensive line. Samuel Bibeault (East West Bowl participant, 2013 Vert et Or Defensive Player of the Year registered 22 solo tackles, two tackles for loss and an interception leading to a touchdown), Alexandra Branco (17 tackles, one interception and five knockdowns) and Felix Bouthillier (17 solo tackles and an interception) will be the pillars at the back of the defense, while Anthony Tanguay is expected to continue his development. A great battle is shaping up to replace Jean-Philippe Dupuis, who completed his eligibility as many are eyeing this critical position.

NEW ADDITIONS:

Defensive linemen Remi Deschamps (CFC 100) and Guillaume Paradis (Notre-Dame-de-Foy), linebackers Sébastien Chénier-Dionne (Outaouais Griffons), David Fortier (Drummondville Voltigeurs) and Karl-Anthony Huot (Notre-Dame-de-Foy), as well as defensive backs Olivier Langlois (Laval transfer) and Jean-Philippe Huot (FX- Garneau Elans) will battle to secure starting positions on the Vert et Or from September to November.

SPECIAL TEAMS:

RETURNING:

The return to healthy kicker Mathieu Hébert (28 punts for 1066 yards, ten kickoffs for 616 yards and two field goals in three attempts) is great news for the Vert et Or. In 2013, he battled mononucleosis that took him away from action for more than half of the season. According to former Vert et Or star kicker William Dion, Hebert is progressing ahead of schedule and he had shown himself to be one of the top kickers in RSEQ. For punt/kickoff returns, the Vert et Or will have a good group of veterans consisting of Felix Bouthillier, Sebastien Blanchard, Francis Lapointe and Frederic Caron. The four student-athletes have accumulated 748 yards on kickoff returns during the last academic year.

NEW ADDITIONS:

CFC 100 and talented young running back Marquis Felix Chevrier (Andre-Grasset) and rookie wide receiver William Paquet are nice insurance policy for kickoff return situations. Additionally, several recruits or some young veterans who do not get regular positions in the offensive and defensive units will compete for playing time.

sherbrooke helmet

SHERBROOKE VERT ET OR (RSEQ – SHERBROOKE, QUEBEC):

2013 SEASON: 3-5 regular season, lost to Laval Rouge et Or 32-11 in RSEQ Semi-Final

HEAD COACH: David Lessard (third season)

KEY RETURNEES: Jérémi Roch (quarterback), Sébastien Blanchard (receiver), Francis Lapointe (receiver), Alexander Aubé (running back), Isaac Lauzon (running back), David Dumas -Goulet (running back/receiver), Renauld Lafrance-Longtin (offensive line), Dominic Paquette (offensive line), Francis Lapointe (offensive line), Vincent Cleroux-Gaudreau (receiver),  Antoine Pinkos (receiver), Omar Toure (tight end), Martin Maheu (tight end), Dempsey Jutras (linebacker), Olivier Goulet-Veilleux (linebacker),  Maxime St -Onge (linebacker),  Louis-Simon Nadeau (defensive line), Francis Guay (defensive line), Rami Saintus (defensive line),  Francis Bibeau-Casavant (defensive line), Samuel Bibeault (defense),  Felix Bouthillier (defense),  Alexandra Branco (defense), Anthony Tanguay (defense), Mathieu Hebert (kicker)

KEY LOSSES: Jean-Christophe Beaulieu (running back), Kevin Croft (offensive line), Marc-Olivier Plante (offensive line), Alexandre Corriveau-Gagnon (receiver), Gabriel Goulet (receiver), James Goulet (quarterback), Paul Braisaz-Latille (receiver),  Alexandre Piché (receiver), Beni-Ngunza Djock (running back), Jean-Christophe Gagnon (defensive line), Jean-Philippe Dupuis (defense), Dave Boucher (defensive back), Stéphane Rivard (defensive back), Simon Morissat-Bellavance (defensive back),  Frederic Verville (defensive line)

NEW ADDITIONS: Felix Marquis-Chevrier (running back/special teams – CFC 100), Guillaume Paquet (receiver), Remi Deschamps (defensive line – CFC 100), Guillaume Paradis (defensive line), Sébastien Chénier-Dionne (linebacker), David Fortier (linebacker), Karl-Anthony Huot (linebacker), Olivier Langlois (defensive back – Laval transfer), Jean-Philippe Huot (defensive back)

With files from Rene Roy

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