44th Vanier Cup
Encyclopedia
The 44th Vanier Cup
was played on November 22, 2008, at Ivor Wynne Stadium
in Hamilton, Ontario
, and decided the CIS Football
champion for the 2008
season. The Laval Rouge et Or dominated the Western Ontario Mustangs
to win the championship 44-21, en route to a perfect 12-0 season. The win gave Laval its fifth Vanier Cup in school history and its fourth in the last six years.
Laval receiver Julian Feoli Gudino
was awarded the Ted Morris Memorial Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the game after scoring a 74-yard punt return touchdown and an 82-yard touchdown reception. He finished the game with four receptions for 112 yards and three punt returns for 95 yards. Laval defensive lineman Marc-Antoine Fortin
received the Bruce Coulter Award as the Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the game. Fortin had five solo tackles, three tackles for losses and one sack.
Laval Rouge et Or (44) - TDs, Cesar-Roberto Hernandez-Sanchez, Julian Feoli Gudino
(2), Mathieu Bouvette, Sébastien Lévesque; FGs Christopher Milo
(3); cons., Christopher Milo (5).
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
The game started slowly at a snowy Ivor Wynne Stadium with only a 33-yard Laval field goal scored by kicker Christopher Milo
in the first quarter. Milo scored another field goal at 3:18 of the second quarter and then Laval heated up with first a two-yard touchdown scored by a quarterback sneak by back-up Ceaser Hernandez-Sanchez and then, only a minute and half later, receiver Julian Feoli Gudino
scored a 74-yard punt return touchdown, the third longest in Vanier history, to put the Rouge et Or up 20-0 midway through the second quarter. The Mustangs did respond quickly, however, when Ryan Tremblay returned the kickoff 62 yards, the longest kickoff return in Vanier history, and Western's possession ended with a 14-yard touchdown reception by Nick Trevail. Only 51 seconds later, that was nullified by Feoli Gudino again with an 82-yard pass reception from Laval QB Benoit Groulx
, the fourth-longest TD catch in game history and the first half ended with Laval leading 27–7.
Laval continued in the third quarter with Mathieu Bouvette making a 92-yard touchdown reception, the longest ever in a Vanier Cup. Western responded with a 23-yard touchdown catch by Jesse Bellamy and Laval answered back with a 63 rushing touchdown by Sebastien Levesque making the score 41-14 at the end of the third quarter. Western scored a touchdown on a 9-yard pass to Nathan Riva to open the fourth quarter but that would be their final scoring play and Laval kicker Milo made the final score 44-21 with a field goal with just over three minutes left in the game.
and the Uteck Bowl
, the national semi-final games. In 2008, according to the rotating schedule, the winners of the Atlantic conference Loney Bowl meet the Ontario conference's Yates Cup
champion for the Mitchell Bowl. The winners of the Canada West conference Hardy Trophy
travel to the Dunsmore Cup
Quebec championship team for the Uteck Bowl.
The Canada West play-offs start with the top four placed teams from the regular season, with the top placed team hosting the fourth place and the second place team hosting the third placed. The winners of those semi-finals then compete for the Hardy Cup championship who then travels to the Quebec champion for a national semi-final game.
The Quebec play-offs similarly play-off the top four placed teams with the Dunsmore Cup champions moving on to host the Uteck Bowl against the Canada West champions.
The Ontario conference started out with the top six placed teams from the regular season. The third placed team hosted the sixth place team and the fourth placed team hosted the team in fifth place. The winners then took on the top two placed teams in the conference semi-finals and the semi-final champions compete for the Yates Cup. According to the rotating CIS Bowl schedule, the Ontario champions, in 2008, host the Atlantic conference champions for the Mitchell Bowl national semi-final game.
In the Atlantic conference play-offs, the second place St. Francis Xavier X-Men
defeated the third placed Mount Allison Mounties
to move on to face the first place Saint Mary's Huskies at the Loney Bowl for the Jewett Trophy
. Saint Mary's victory means that they then travel to the Ontario champion Western Ontario Mustangs to meet in the Mitchell Bowl.
The 2008 Uteck Bowl saw the number one ranked Laval Rouge-et-Or dominate the sixth-ranked Calgary Dinos with a 59 to 10 win. With the win, Laval continues their streak of winning all four Bowl games played at PEPS
Stadium and hope to continue their record of being undefeated in all four previous appearances at the Vanier Cup.
At home at TD Waterhouse Stadium
, the number three ranked Western Ontario Mustangs defeated the number five ranked Saint Mary's Huskies to win the Mitchell Bowl with a score of 28 to 12. Western lost in the 2007 Mitchell Bowl to Manitoba Bisons
and last won a Vanier Cup in 1994.
Vanier Cup
The Vanier Cup is the name of the championship of Canadian Interuniversity Sport football and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is currently played between the winners of the Uteck Bowl and the Mitchell Bowl...
was played on November 22, 2008, at Ivor Wynne Stadium
Ivor Wynne Stadium
Ivor Wynne Stadium is a Canadian football stadium located at the corner of Balsam and Beechwood Avenues, two blocks west of Gage Avenue North in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada...
in Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, and decided the CIS Football
CIS football
Twenty-six universities across Canada compete in football under the auspices of Canadian Interuniversity Sport . The teams are divided into four conferences, drawing from the four regional associations of the CIS: Canada West Universities Athletic Association, Ontario University Athletics, Quebec...
champion for the 2008
2008 CIS football season
The 2008 CIS football season began on August 23, 2008, and concluded with the 44th Vanier Cup national championship on November 22 at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario, with the Laval Rouge et Or winning their fifth championship...
season. The Laval Rouge et Or dominated the Western Ontario Mustangs
Western Ontario Mustangs
The Western Ontario Mustangs are the athletic teams that represent the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada...
to win the championship 44-21, en route to a perfect 12-0 season. The win gave Laval its fifth Vanier Cup in school history and its fourth in the last six years.
Laval receiver Julian Feoli Gudino
Julian Feoli Gudino
Julian Feoli Gudino is a Canadian football wide receiver currently playing CIS football for the Laval Rouge et Or. He was drafted 38th overall by the Toronto Argonauts in the 2011 CFL Draft, but elected to play out his final year of college eligibility at Laval.- References :...
was awarded the Ted Morris Memorial Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the game after scoring a 74-yard punt return touchdown and an 82-yard touchdown reception. He finished the game with four receptions for 112 yards and three punt returns for 95 yards. Laval defensive lineman Marc-Antoine Fortin
Marc-Antoine Fortin
Marc-Antoine Labbé-Fortin is a Canadian football defensive lineman currently playing CIS football for the Laval Rouge et Or. He was drafted 20th overall by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 2011 CFL Draft, but elected to play out his final year of college eligibility at Laval and finish his...
received the Bruce Coulter Award as the Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the game. Fortin had five solo tackles, three tackles for losses and one sack.
Game summary
Western Ontario Mustangs (21) - TDs, Nick Trevail, Jesse Bellamy, Nathan Riva; cons., Darryl Wheeler (3).Laval Rouge et Or (44) - TDs, Cesar-Roberto Hernandez-Sanchez, Julian Feoli Gudino
Julian Feoli Gudino
Julian Feoli Gudino is a Canadian football wide receiver currently playing CIS football for the Laval Rouge et Or. He was drafted 38th overall by the Toronto Argonauts in the 2011 CFL Draft, but elected to play out his final year of college eligibility at Laval.- References :...
(2), Mathieu Bouvette, Sébastien Lévesque; FGs Christopher Milo
Christopher Milo
Christopher Milo is a professional Canadian football placekicker in the Canadian Football League for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He was drafted 30th overall by the Roughriders in the 2011 CFL Draft and signed with the team on June 1, 2011. He played CIS football for the Laval Rouge et Or...
(3); cons., Christopher Milo (5).
Scoring summary
First Quarter- LAV - FG Milo 33 (12:25)
Second Quarter
- LAV - FG Milo 27 (3:18)
- LAV - TD Hernandez-Sanchez 2 run (Milo convert) (7:17)
- LAV - TD Feoli Gudino 74 punt return (Milo convert) (8:50)
- UWO - TD Trevail 14 pass from Faulds (Wheeler convert) (11:36)
- LAV - TD Feoli Gudino 82 pass from Groulx (Milo convert) (12:27)
Third Quarter
- LAV - TD Bouvette 92 pass from Groulx (Milo convert) (4:05)
- UWO - TD Bellamy 23 pass from Faulds (Wheeler convert) (6:58)
- LAV - TD Lévesque 63 rush (Milo kick) (12:01)
Fourth Quarter
- UWO - TD Riva 9 pass from Faulds (Wheeler convert) (0:17)
- LAV - FG Milo 37 (11:50)
The game started slowly at a snowy Ivor Wynne Stadium with only a 33-yard Laval field goal scored by kicker Christopher Milo
Christopher Milo
Christopher Milo is a professional Canadian football placekicker in the Canadian Football League for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He was drafted 30th overall by the Roughriders in the 2011 CFL Draft and signed with the team on June 1, 2011. He played CIS football for the Laval Rouge et Or...
in the first quarter. Milo scored another field goal at 3:18 of the second quarter and then Laval heated up with first a two-yard touchdown scored by a quarterback sneak by back-up Ceaser Hernandez-Sanchez and then, only a minute and half later, receiver Julian Feoli Gudino
Julian Feoli Gudino
Julian Feoli Gudino is a Canadian football wide receiver currently playing CIS football for the Laval Rouge et Or. He was drafted 38th overall by the Toronto Argonauts in the 2011 CFL Draft, but elected to play out his final year of college eligibility at Laval.- References :...
scored a 74-yard punt return touchdown, the third longest in Vanier history, to put the Rouge et Or up 20-0 midway through the second quarter. The Mustangs did respond quickly, however, when Ryan Tremblay returned the kickoff 62 yards, the longest kickoff return in Vanier history, and Western's possession ended with a 14-yard touchdown reception by Nick Trevail. Only 51 seconds later, that was nullified by Feoli Gudino again with an 82-yard pass reception from Laval QB Benoit Groulx
Benoit Groulx
Benoit Groulx is a former Canadian football quarterback and current offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for the Bishop's Gaiters of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport. He played five years as a quarterback in CIS football for the Laval Rouge et Or....
, the fourth-longest TD catch in game history and the first half ended with Laval leading 27–7.
Laval continued in the third quarter with Mathieu Bouvette making a 92-yard touchdown reception, the longest ever in a Vanier Cup. Western responded with a 23-yard touchdown catch by Jesse Bellamy and Laval answered back with a 63 rushing touchdown by Sebastien Levesque making the score 41-14 at the end of the third quarter. Western scored a touchdown on a 9-yard pass to Nathan Riva to open the fourth quarter but that would be their final scoring play and Laval kicker Milo made the final score 44-21 with a field goal with just over three minutes left in the game.
Notable game facts
- Laval Rouge et Or became the 12th team in CIS history to claim the Vanier Cup after an undefeated season.
- Laval scored an impressive total of 4 TD of more than 60 yards during that game. The 92 yards TD pass from Groulx to Mathieu Bouvette was the longest in Vanier Cup history.
- Laval Quarterback Benoit GroulxBenoit GroulxBenoit Groulx is a former Canadian football quarterback and current offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for the Bishop's Gaiters of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport. He played five years as a quarterback in CIS football for the Laval Rouge et Or....
became the fourth player in CIS history to win the Hec Crighton Trophy and Vanier CupVanier CupThe Vanier Cup is the name of the championship of Canadian Interuniversity Sport football and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is currently played between the winners of the Uteck Bowl and the Mitchell Bowl...
in the same season. Previous ones are Mark Nohra (UBC, 1997), Don Blair (Calgary, 1995) and Greg Vavra (Calgary, 1983). - Mustangs kick returner Ryan Tremblay (London, Ont.), established single-game marks in kickoff returns (6), kickoff return yardage (204) and longest kickoff return (62 yards) in a Vanier Cup game.
- Mustang quarterback Michael FauldsMichael FauldsMichael Faulds is Canadian football quarterback who is currently the offensive coordinator for the York University Lions, having completed his five year playing career in CIS football with the Western Ontario Mustangs. Faulds is the all-time CIS passing yards leader with 10,811 yards and is one of...
completed 37 of 65 pass attempts for 403 yards, which ranked first all-time in Vanier Cup completions, and his attempts and yardage numbers are the highest in a regulation-length Vanier Cup. - The Rouge & Or defence held the Mustangs to 30 net rush yards (0 in first half), establishing a new Vanier Cup record. They also tied the Vanier Cup record for most sacks with five.
- Western has the most Vanier Cup wins with six and Laval now has the second most Vanier Cup wins with five.
- With this title, Laval head coach Glen Constantin (2003, 2004, 2006, 2008) joined Peter Connellan (1983, 1985, 1988, 1995), former Calgary head coach, for the most Vanier Cup titles by a head coach with 4.
Championships
The Vanier Cup is played between the champions of the Mitchell BowlMitchell Bowl
The Mitchell Bowl is one of the two semifinal bowls of Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's football, and is the semifinal held in the westernmost location of the two semifinal venues. The winner of this game goes on to play against the Uteck Bowl champions for the Vanier Cup...
and the Uteck Bowl
Uteck Bowl
The Uteck Bowl is one of the two semifinals in Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's football, held in the easternmost of the two semifinal venues. The Uteck Bowl champion moves on to face the Mitchell Bowl champion for the Vanier Cup...
, the national semi-final games. In 2008, according to the rotating schedule, the winners of the Atlantic conference Loney Bowl meet the Ontario conference's Yates Cup
Yates Cup
The Yates Cup is a Canadian sports trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Ontario University Athletics football conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation. It is the oldest still-existing football trophy in North America, dating back to 1898 and surpassing both the Grey...
champion for the Mitchell Bowl. The winners of the Canada West conference Hardy Trophy
Hardy Trophy
The Hardy Trophy is a Canadian sport trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Canada West Universities Athletic Association Football Conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation...
travel to the Dunsmore Cup
Dunsmore Cup
The Dunsmore Cup is a Canadian sports trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Quebec University Football League of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation...
Quebec championship team for the Uteck Bowl.
The Canada West play-offs start with the top four placed teams from the regular season, with the top placed team hosting the fourth place and the second place team hosting the third placed. The winners of those semi-finals then compete for the Hardy Cup championship who then travels to the Quebec champion for a national semi-final game.
The Quebec play-offs similarly play-off the top four placed teams with the Dunsmore Cup champions moving on to host the Uteck Bowl against the Canada West champions.
The Ontario conference started out with the top six placed teams from the regular season. The third placed team hosted the sixth place team and the fourth placed team hosted the team in fifth place. The winners then took on the top two placed teams in the conference semi-finals and the semi-final champions compete for the Yates Cup. According to the rotating CIS Bowl schedule, the Ontario champions, in 2008, host the Atlantic conference champions for the Mitchell Bowl national semi-final game.
In the Atlantic conference play-offs, the second place St. Francis Xavier X-Men
St. Francis Xavier X-Men
The St. Francis Xavier X-Men and X-Women are the men's and women's athletic teams that represent St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada. Their primary home turf is Oland Stadium located at the University's campus.-History:...
defeated the third placed Mount Allison Mounties
Mount Allison Mounties
The Mount Allison Mounties is the name given to varsity athletic teams that represent Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada.The Mounties sports teams play their matches at MacAuley field which seats 2,500.-Athletics & Recreations:...
to move on to face the first place Saint Mary's Huskies at the Loney Bowl for the Jewett Trophy
Jewett Trophy
The Jewett Trophy is a Canadian sports trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Atlantic University Sport Football Conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation....
. Saint Mary's victory means that they then travel to the Ontario champion Western Ontario Mustangs to meet in the Mitchell Bowl.
The 2008 Uteck Bowl saw the number one ranked Laval Rouge-et-Or dominate the sixth-ranked Calgary Dinos with a 59 to 10 win. With the win, Laval continues their streak of winning all four Bowl games played at PEPS
PEPS
The ' , usually called PEPS for short, is a sports complex located in Quebec City, Quebec, on the campus of the Université Laval...
Stadium and hope to continue their record of being undefeated in all four previous appearances at the Vanier Cup.
At home at TD Waterhouse Stadium
TD Waterhouse Stadium
TD Waterhouse Stadium is an 8,000-seat Canadian football stadium located at 100 Philip Aziz Avenue on the campus of the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada. It was built in 2000 at a cost of approximately $10.5-million and replaced J.W...
, the number three ranked Western Ontario Mustangs defeated the number five ranked Saint Mary's Huskies to win the Mitchell Bowl with a score of 28 to 12. Western lost in the 2007 Mitchell Bowl to Manitoba Bisons
Manitoba Bisons
The Manitoba Bisons are the athletic teams that represent the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The football and soccer teams play their games at University Stadium, which also serves as the location of track & field events...
and last won a Vanier Cup in 1994.