For the first time in Vanier Cup history, this year’s football national championship was decided in Kingston this past weekend on Nov. 25.
The Vanier Cup serves as the final step in a grueling season for two teams, who must win a conference championship and a semi-final matchup against the other two conference champions before taking the field.
In the Uteck Bowl, the RSEQ champion Montreal Carabins dominated the OUA champion Western Mustangs 29-3. The Mitchell Bowl hosted a similar blowout, with the Canada West champion UBC Thunderbirds winning with a score of 47-17 against the AUS champion StFX X-Men.
“We’ve been working for this since January,” Montreal Carabins receiver Carl Chabot said in an interview with The Journal.
With a matchup set and the tension palpable, 7,109 fans packed into Richardson Stadium on a cold Saturday afternoon to watch a champion be crowned.
“We have a crazy fan base honestly, either in Montreal or anywhere we travel they’re always there to us and that’s a big thing for us.” Montreal Carabins Quarterback Jonathan Sénécal said in an interview with The Journal.
The Montreal crowd’s cheers were deafening as the Carabins took the early lead in the first quarter, forcing the Thunderbirds to concede a safety, followed by an 18-yard touchdown run from receiver Iraghi Muganda.
UBC found some momentum of their own with a pair of field goals by Kieran Flannery-Fleck from 32 and 41 yards, cutting Montreal’s lead to three points ahead, and going into half down 6-9.
In the second half, the Carabins built on their lead with a drive capped off by a seven yard touchdown run from Sénécal. This would prove to be the nail in the coffin. The Carabin’s defence would hold the Thunderbirds to a single field goal in the fourth as UBC would fail to find the back of the endzone in their final game of the season.
With one final tackle, Montreal capped off their incredible season with their second national championship in program history.
Their victory has been several years in the making, with the program finding success within the RSEQ, but unable to fit all the pieces together until this year. One major factor was the effort from Ted Morris Memorial Trophy winner (Vanier Cup MVP) Jonathan Sénécal.
“It’s been two years that we lost against a team in the Uteck or the Dunsmore. But we’re really a resilient team. And this year, we just proved we’re the best in the nation,” Sénécal said.
What every Carabin emphasized most was their teamwork, and the connection that allowed each member to perform at their best.
“I would say it was the effort of all the special units that made sure we were able to position the defense well and then, as a result our offense was able to get to the ball,” Montreal Carabins kicker Philippe Boyer said in an interview with The Journal.
“I’d say it was really a team effort and it’s thanks to everyone, […] shout out to all my boys, we f—ing made it, man.”
This being the first time Queen’s has ever hosted the Vanier Cup, they looked to make a lasting impression on the teams and fans that attended.
“Honestly, I’d say the organising that Kingston did was incredible, Queen’s University, shout out to them, they really made us feel welcome since Wednesday. We really felt at home as if it was every week. Thanks to them we had an incredible experience and right now I’m speechless I’d say,” Boyer emphasized.
With Kingston hosting next year, the Queen’s Gaels look to build on their successes and experience the same feeling, celebrating a national champion in front of their home fans.
“We’ll definitely celebrate it like we do after each part and honestly, we’ll celebrate hard. But look, we’ll celebrate as a family because we’re a big family since the beginning.”
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