September 12, 2009

LENNOXVILLE - Sébastien Lévesque’s two touchdowns led the No. 1-ranked Laval Rouge et Or to a 45-6 victory over the Bishop’s Gaiters in Quebec University Football League action today at Coulter Field. A crowd of 2,188 saw Lévesque run 11 times for 171 yards, including a 64-yard scoring run late in the first quarter.

The Gaiters’ hopes of causing an early upset were lifted when Steven Turner’s (Brampton, Ont.) 62-yard punt return at 2:56 of the first quarter put the home side up 6-2. However, they were quickly dashed as Laval responded with three touchdowns in the opening period, as Lévesque’s 64-yard rush was sandwiched by a four-yard run from César Sanchez-Hernandez and a Mathieu Bouvette 28-yard reception from Benoit Groulx.

The Gaiter touchdown was the first points scored on Laval this season, ending an 86:57 shutout streak that extended back to the 2008 Vanier Cup. It was also the first time Laval had as much as trailed in a game since Nov. 1, 2008 – when Montreal led Laval 7-0 in second quarter of the 2008 Dunsmore Cup semi-final.

After taking a 25-6 lead into the halftime interval, Laval put the game beyond all doubt at 1:39 when Mathieu Picard scored on a 66-yard pass from Groulx. The Rouge et Or’s final touchdown was a 26-yard run by Levesque late in the third quarter. Two Christopher Milo field goals and a pair of safety touches rounded out the Laval scoring.

Laval outgained Bishop’s 525 to 146, and had 26 first downs to the Gaiters’ 15. Laval’s ground game was particularly strong, as they gained 263 yards rushing, led by Lévesque’s 171. In the air, Groulx finished 15-for-24 for 234 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game at the end of the third quarter.

Offensively, the Gaiters were led by Shawn Gore (Don Mills, Ont.), who caught five passes for 71 yards. Starting quarterback Jesse Andrews (Pickering, Ont.) was 12-for-17 for 114 yards, while Jake Ruddy (Ottawa, Ont.) was 3-for-6 for 32 yards in just over a quarter of relief work. The completions are the first in Ruddy’s career. Defensively, the Gaiters were led by Nick Rigg (Markham, Ont.), who had five tackles and an interception, and Zak Buis (Delta, B.C.) who had 4.5 tackles, a sack and knocked down a pass.

The Gaiters (0-2) hit the road next Friday to face the McGill Redmen (1-1) at Molson Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Laval (2-0) will host the Montreal Carabins (1-0) on Saturday, September 19 at 1 p.m.

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NOTES: Jesse Andrews crossed the 4,000-yard plateau early in the second quarter. He now has 4,039 career passing yards … The win continues Laval’s eight-game winning streak in the series, which they now lead 16-6 … Former Gaiters Dan McCullough and James Yurichuk attended today’s game. They will play for the B.C. Lions tomorrow against the Montreal Alouettes … Olivier Mongeau has now caught a pass in his last 14 games played … Shawn Gore is on a 17-game pass-catching streak.

SUMMARY
First Quarter
   Lav – Safety Maveety concedes 1:21
   Bish – TD S. Turner 62 punt return (Maveety convert blocked), 2:56
   Lav – TD Sanchez-Hernandez 4 run (Milo convert) 9:34
   Lav – TD Lévesque 64 run (Milo convert 12:59
   Lav – TD Bouvette 28 yd pass from Groulx (Milo convert) 14:29
Second Quarter
   Lav – Safety Maveety concedes 8:21
   Lav – FG Milo 9 12:40
Third Quarter
   Lav – TD Picard 66 pass from Groulx (Milo convert) 1:39
   Lav – TD Lévesque 26 run (Milo convert) 14:48
Fourth Quarter
   Lav – FG Milo 26 6:21

Laval............... 23  5 14  3  - 45
BISHOP'S............  6  0  0  0  -  6
   Attendance – 2,188

YARDSTICKS