Vanier Cup Preview

By Wray Morrison

What do we know about the Rouge et Or?

Sizing up the opposition

Nov 23, 2022 | 12:36 PM

The three time Vanier Cup champion Saskatchewan Huskies have a formidable opponent for Saturday’s Vanier Cup game in London, Ontario. The Rouge et Or were not only strong in the 2022 season, but have a long history when it comes to the Canadian University football championship.

No school has won more Vanier Cup championships (10). Laval’s first championship came in 1999 when they defeated St. Mary’s 14-10. The most recent championship was in 2018 when the Rouge et Or beat the Western Mustangs 34-20. Laval has only lost two of the Vanier Cup games they have competed in. (2011, 2017)

Two of the ten Vanier Cup championships came at the expense of the U of S Huskies. The Rouge et Or downed the Huskies 7-1 at Hamilton’s Ivor Wynne Stadium in 2004. In 2006, Laval defeated Saskatchewan 13-8 at Griffiths Stadium. There were two other playoff meetings between the schools of note. In 1999 Laval defeated the Huskies 27-21 in the Churchill Bowl. In 2005 Saskatchewan defeated the Rouge et Or 29-27 in the Mitchell Bowl.

Earlier this season Laval coach Glen Constantin passed Brian Towriss as USports’ winningest football coach of all time with his 197^th win. Constantin has since reached the 200 victory milestone.

Laval finished the 2022 regular season with a 7 and 1 record. The only loss came on September 10^th when Montreal pulled out a 21-18 win over the Rouge et Or. Quarterback Arnaud Desjardins led the nation with 20 touchdown passes this season. Desjardins was also second in passing yards in the country at 319.4 per game, second only to the Huskies’ Mason Nyhus.

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Running back Kalenga Muganda had 173 yards in rushing for Laval in Saturday’s 27-20 win over the defending Vanier Cup champion Western Mustangs in the Mitchell Bowl. Receiver Kevin Mital led USports in receiving majors this season, hauling in 20 touchdown passes. Mital had six catches for 77 yards on Saturday as Laval overcame a 17-0 deficit for the win.

One of the Rouge et Or’s defensive leaders is 4^th year linebacker Alex Poirier. The 2022 RSEQ all-star has amazing range for a player that weighs in at 250 pounds. Poirier led Laval with 12 tackles (7 solo) in Saturday’s Mitchell Bowl win. Poirier was named the USports defensive player of the week for his efforts.

Laval’s 3^rd year kicker, Vincent Blanchard, was named the USports special teams player of the week kicking three field goals, and scoring 11 of the Rouge et Or’s 24 second half points in the victory over the Mustangs.

You can hear Saturday’s Canada Life Vanier Cup, with Rich Gabruch and Wray Morrison, starting at 11:50 on 900 CKBI, 1050 CJNB, 750 Beach Radio and on the free HuskieFAN app.

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wray.morrison@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @wraymorrison