KINGSTON, ON – After a long nine years, Montreal finally has their crown again.
The University of Montreal Carabins defeated the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds 16-9 to win the 58th Vanier Cup.
With seconds to play, UBC had one last chance to tie the game inside their own 20-yard line. Thunderbirds defensive back Jason Soriano was sent out with their offence to catch a short lateral pass from quarterback Garrett Rooker. Not finding any teammates downfield, he pulled the ball down and ran. Soriano made it just short of midfield before getting tackled.
Game over.
Montreal finally rejoiced after almost a decade of disappointment.
“I just fell to the ground,” Carabins defensive back Kaylyn St-Cyr said, recalling his celebration following the final whistle. “After all this work … we’ve had one objective, one mission, and it finally pays. So, I just fell to the ground and started crying because it finally happened. We always believed.”
Carabins quarterback Jonathan Senecal and receiver Iraghi Muganda scored touchdowns for Montreal, and the defence forced a first-quarter safety. UBC struggled to find an answer for Senecal and Chabot on the ground.
Montreal’s defence held UBC to three field goals and no touchdowns, keeping the Thunderbirds’ Garrett Rooker and Sam Davenport connection at bay.
This was Montreal’s fourth appearance in the Vanier Cup since last winning in 2014, while this was UBC’s first time back since their 2015 championship. Senecal said it’s been a tough two years after losing the 2021 Uteck Bowl and 2022 Dunsmore Cup. But he said today, the team proved themselves.
“We were really resilient and we were able to prove today that we’re the best in the nation,” Senecal said.
Montreal head coach Marco Iadeluca was with the team the last time the Carabins won in 2014, and explained the two Vanier Cup losses since have been tough. He said he believed the group this season deserved to be crowned champions.
“It was important for us to get redemption,” Iadeluca said.
Heading into the playoffs, Montreal was coming off a 16-14 loss to the Concordia University Stingers — their only loss this season. The Carabins went on to win out, all the way to a Vanier Cup, which Iadeluca said was because of the loss.
The coach said the Concordia game was the best thing that happened to them all year.
“We started to feel a little too good about ourselves,” he recalled. “That loss brought everybody back down to earth and it was perfect timing.”
With the dust settled at Richardson Stadium, Montreal is on their way back home with U SPORTS football’s biggest prize.
Iadeluca said he’ll be enjoying a cigar with the rest of his coaching staff as the boys in blue prepare for celebrations in Quebec’s capital city.
