Montréal Carabins Defeat Laval Rouge et Or 31-29 to Win Dussault Cup and Advance to Uteck Bowl
The Montréal Carabins achieved a thrilling 31-29 victory over the Laval Rouge et Or, clinching the Dussault Cup and securing a spot in the Uteck Bowl. The match showcased a back-and-forth contest filled with momentum swings and standout performances.
Laval kicked off the scoring early, with Arnaud Desjardins, recently honored as the conference’s Most Valuable Player, launching a 53-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Gaillardetz. The Rouge et Or extended their lead to 8-0 by virtue of a rouge, concluding the first quarter in commanding fashion.
However, the tide turned in the second quarter as the Carabins unleashed a potent offensive attack. Pepe Gonzalez, celebrated as the conference’s Rookie of the Year, threw touchdown passes to both Enrique Jaimes Leclair and Natan Girouard-Langlois. The Montréal defense also made its mark, contributing two safeties, while Philippe Boyer added a 12-yard field goal. By halftime, the Carabins had flipped the score to 21-8.
The third quarter began with Gonzalez connecting for an 18-yard touchdown pass to Simon Larose, further extending the Carabins’ lead. Yet, Laval responded fiercely. Desjardins orchestrated a comeback by launching a 31-yard touchdown pass to Olivier Cool, followed by a 12-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Carignan, narrowing the gap to 28-22.
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In the fourth quarter, Boyer converted a 23-yard field goal, re-establishing a two-score advantage for the Carabins. Laval, undeterred, managed to score again as Desjardins found Simon Potvin for a five-yard touchdown, pulling the score to 31-29.
With time winding down, the Rouge et Or faced a crucial third down at the Carabins’ 37-yard line. Felipe Forteza attempted a game-winning field goal but came up slightly short and wide. The Carabins seized the moment, kneeling the ball to secure their hard-fought victory.
Gonzalez finished the game completing 27 of 37 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns, alongside four carries for 22 yards. Desjardins had a strong outing as well, completing 29 of 40 attempts for 296 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.
This contest marked the twelfth consecutive Dussault Cup clash between Montréal and Laval—traditional rivals in the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ). The Dussault Cup, renamed this offseason to honor Jacques Dussault, recognizes his significant contributions to Canadian football, having been inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2023 and the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame in 2024.
Historically, Laval had claimed the trophy last year in a close 22-17 game before they advanced to win the Mitchell Bowl and the Vanier Cup. This victory marks the sixth time in the program’s history that the Carabins have hoisted the Dussault Cup, with their last championship win in 2023.
Throughout the regular season, Laval performed admirably with a 7-1 record, with their lone loss coming at the hands of Montréal in a mid-September game (38-28). The Rouge et Or later avenged that defeat by beating the Carabins 16-6 in front of a record-setting crowd of 21,399 at Stade Telus.
Now, the Carabins are set to take on the Saint Mary’s Huskies in the Uteck Bowl, following the latter’s success against the St. FX X-Men in the Loney Bowl on Saturday.
