John Kelsey

At the annual McGill Homecoming, the Redmen failed to impress the alumni with a 34-8 loss to the Sherbrooke Vert et Or.

The match was televised live by CBC and was attended by over 1500 fans, many of whom were sporting McGill gear.

Almost every pass made early in the game by Vert et Or quarterback Jean-Phillipe Shoiry went to Simon Charbonneau-Campeau, who set a school record with 223 yards on nine receptions. However, the Vert et Or missed their first field goal, resulting in a rouge and only a 1-0 lead.

Though they were outshone, McGill’s distinguished wide receivers, Charles-Antoine Sinotte and Justene Edwards, were impressive in their own rights. Edwards, a freshman, has 267 yards over 16 receptions thus far this season. However, despite opportunities, the Redmen passing attack failed to score.

Sherbrooke’s offence dominated the game. With two minutes left in the first quarter, Charbonneau-Campeau caught a 78-yard pass from Shoiry for the game’s first touchdown. William Dion, the Vert et Or’s punter, converted the extra point and Sherbrooke advanced to the second quarter with an 8-0 lead.

Sherbrooke widened their lead at the start of the second quarter with two field goals by Dion. Undeterred by the scoring difference, the Redmen defensive line solidified. Senior defenders Patrick Bourgon and Ben Thompson broke up plays and slowed down the Vert et Or attack. Freshman linebacker Jesse Briggs completed crucial sacks, inhibiting the Sherbrooke offense. Junior defensive back, Matthew Quigley, also performed well. Though he’s been on the roster for three years, this season is his first on the field and off the DL.

 Kicker Austin Anderson put McGill on the scoreboard with a field goal.

With five minutes left in the second quarter, Shoiry went down due with an injury, bringing in backup James Goulet. The Vert et Or responded with an 83-yard punt return touchdown from Raphael Gagné. The second quarter concluded with Sherbrooke leading 24-3.

“We were a little flat coming out and we got down early and just couldn’t crawl back” said a disappointed defensive end Ben Thompson.

The Redmen couldn’t make up the difference in the third quarter. Junior running back Taylor Kuprowski was efficient rushing throughout the game but was not able to find a path to the end zone. He registered 89 yards on 12 carries with four receptions for 47 yards. Despite Kuprowski’s solid efforts the offence was unable to get to the end zone. “We can drive the ball, but once we get inside the 30 we stall as an offence” said quarterback Ryne Bondy.

The Vert et Or even contained star kick returner JT Thompson, though he showed flashes of brilliance.

Early in the fourth quarter, Sherbrooke’s backup quarterback, James Goulet registered the team’s third touchdown of the game. Goulet’s stellar performance insured that there no decline in the Vert et Or passing game after Shoiry’s exit.

The Vert et Or scored a final point with an attempted field goal that resulted in a rouge before the match concluded with the score 34-8. As the players exited the field, the alumni continued celebrating with undampered spirit, despite the lopsided loss.

Although the score doesn’t show it, the McGill defence performed respectably. However, Sherbooke’s big, early lead rendered their efforts moot.

“If there is one thing to take away, it’s that Sherbrooke made more big plays than we did,” said former star player and Defensive Back Assistant Coach Anthony Lukca. “That was the determining factor in this game. Sherbrooke came out and made the plays, caught the balls, made the interceptions … and it ended up killing us in the end.”

McGill (0-5) will travel to Concordia next Saturday hoping to avenge their 34-29 loss on September 17.