A couple of hours after the 37-19 loss to the Montréal Carabins in the RSEQ football season opener at Concordia stadium, Stingers head coach Mickey Donovan was still processing the events of the night.
He was disappointed in the outcome of the football game, but he saw some things he liked and some things to build on.The Stingers found themselves in a big hole, down 37-6 after three quarters. But it turned into a defining moment.
“In the past, some people would’ve folded and quit,” he said. “That didn’t happen tonight. Our guys didn’t get down. They kept fighting.”
In the fourth quarter, Concordia put together back-to-back drives (66 yards and 73 yards) for touchdowns, both one-yard plunges by running back Jean-Guy Rimpel.
Senior quarterback Trenton Miller was impressive, drawing comparisons to his play in the 2015 season when he was the RSEQ MVP. He completed 24 of 39 passes for 368 yards with no interceptions.
Several receivers stepped up. Predictably, Vince Alessandrini, the 2016 RSEQ Offensive Rookie of the Year, caught eight passes for 91 yards, and third-year receiver Yanic Lessard hauled in eight passes for 60 yards. Jarryd Taylor, the youngest receiver on the Stingers, made a statement with five catches for 112 yards. He led all receivers in the game in yards gained.
Overall, Concordia rolled up 24 first downs and 335 yards of offence. Montreal had 26 first downs and 465 yards of offence.
Next up, the Stingers travel to Sherbrooke to play the Vert & Or on Thursday, Aug. 31. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
