ZOË BEDARD
The Varsity

Laval’s quarterback Tristan Grenon airs out a pass during the 48th Vanier Cup in Toronto Nov. 23.

A record crowd more than 37,000 strong saw the Laval Rouge et Or exact Vanier Cup revenge over the McMaster Marauders Nov. 23 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

McMaster defeated Laval 41-38 in double overtime in last year’s Vanier Cup.

“I don’t think it’s a secret that we’re two teams that don’t like one another,” Laval quarterback Tristan Grenon said. “It’s a good thing that we only meet once a year if we see each other in the Vanier Cup.”

Laval took control of this year’s game and simply outduelled the Marauders en route to a 37–14 victory.

Fans expecting an immediately entertaining and offence-powered rematch were forced to wait until the waning minutes of the first half. For the first time since Laval defeated the Saskatchewan Huskies in 2000, the first quarter of a Vanier Cup game ended scoreless.

With just over three minutes remaining in the first half Laval was up by 12 points. McMaster quarterback Kyle Quinlan strung together two quick scoring drives, ending the half with a 59-yard pass to Dahlin Brooks to rip the lead from the Rouge et Or. At the half the Marauders were up 14-12.

Laval received the ball to start the third quarter and, following a fake punt on third down to keep the drive alive, moved inside the McMaster 20-yard line. Tailback Maxime Boutin punched the ball in from 11 yards out.

Boutin carried the ball 24 times for 258 yards to earn game MVP honours. He ran the ball over the goal line twice including once off an 84-yard run, the third-longest run from the line of scrimmage in Vanier Cup history.

McMaster, whose defence allowed an average of only 15 points-per-game during this year’s previous playoff games, was unable to hold Boutin. Furthermore, the Marauders’ offensive line were unable to protect Quinlan, who was sacked seven times.

Laval took control of the game easily, rolling on offence and defensively not allowing McMaster to score a single point in the second half.

Grenon threw 11-for-25 and totalled 234 passing yards and one touchdown for Laval. Quinlan completed 25 of 40 pass attempts for 335 yards for two touchdowns, but was picked off twice.

“We were just ready. We’ve been ready for a year,” Laval offensive lineman Danny Groulx said after the win.

With Laval standing with the trophy in hand under the bright lights of the dome, there was no question who the best team in the country was this year. McMaster saw their 21-game win streak snapped while the Rouge et Or captured its record-setting seventh championship.

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Photo: Sam Brooks