Redmen lose, make playoffs (video)

SHERBROOKE – Quarterback Jeremi Roch passed for three touchdowns and 420 yards as the Vert & Or came away with a 30-17 victory over McGill in the final weekend of regular season play in the RSEQ football conference, Saturday.  But it wasn’t all bad news for the Redmen, who appeared to finish another difficult season out of the playoffs with a 2-7 record.

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Source: McGill Sports Info

When the dust cleared, they learned on the bus ride home that they had in fact made the playoffs -for the first time since 2006 – as fourth-place Bishop’s (3-6) had self-disclosed that they played with an ineligible player earlier this season. As a result, the Gaiters had to forfeit a game that they already won (via forfeit!), over the Concordia Stingers. The end result: Bishop’s record is now an identical 2-7, which meant that McGill advances based on the head-to-head point differential.

Now back to the game.

Sherbrooke, which generated a whopping 527 yards of net offence, led 16-3 after the opening quarter, 18-10 at the half and 28-10 after three.

Roch, who completed 24 of 40 pass attempts, including a 56-yard TD toss to Carl Gagnon, a 28-yarder to Jean Lacasse and an 11-yard effort to Gabriel Goulet.

A national record was established when Sherbrooke kicker William Dion registered one field goal to finish his five-year university with 82 in league play. The senior from Drummondville, Que., became the all-time CIS leader back on Oct. 6 when he split the uprights for the 72nd time, one more than Calgary’s Aaron Ifield (2006-10).
McGill’s offence was sparked by receiver Shaquille Johnson, a freshman from Toronto, who hauled in 18 receptions for 176 yards and one TD. He equaled McGill and RSEQ conference records for most receptions in a game, matching the mark set in 2009 by former McGill star Charles-Antoine Sinotte. It was also one shy of the CIS record held since 2007 by Laurier’s Andre Talbot.

Johnson was joined in the century club by teammate Dallon Kuprowski of Kanata, who racked up 122 yards on six catches. Kuprowski began the season as McGill’s starting quarterback but was converted into a receiver in Week 3.

Also scoring for McGill was rookie Louis Brouillette, a 19-year-old native of Sherbrooke, who caught two for 87 yards, including a 32-yard TD reception from Ryne Bondy, who was making his last regular season start. Bondy, a fifth-year senior completed 17 of 28 for 213 yards and an interception. He gave way in the final quarter to Jonathan Collin of Greenfield Park, Que., who surpassed Bondy’s total with 233 yards, completing 17 of 25. One of those was a seven-yard scoring strike to Johnson.

“We got off to a bad start and had some problems running the ball with three rookies on the offensive line and had to abandon our running game at halftime,” said McGill head coach Clint Uttley. “Our defence played tough but gave up a few big plays. I thought our young lineup fought hard but just made too many mistakes.”

Kicker Samy Rassy of Montreal rounded out the scoring for the Redmen with five points, including a 25-yard field-goal.

Sherbrooke, which ended up third in the six-team Quebec conference with a 6-3 record, will play travel to Montreal next Saturday in one semifinal. The other Quebec playoff matchup will feature first-place Laval (8-1) hosting McGill (2-7). Both games are scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff.