It took 15 years, but the Concordia Stingers football team finally broke the dreaded curse of Stade de l’Université de Sherbrooke on Thursday night.
Second-year kicker Andrew Stevens connected on a 23-yard field goal on the last play of the game to give the Stingers a 23-22 victory over the Sherbrooke Vert & Or in their stadium.
Sherbrooke came into the RSEQ football conference in 2003 and has had a perfect record when hosting Concordia ever since. The teams battled in Eastern Townships nine times over the years with the home team winning all nine games.
But all that ended on Thursday when Stevens delivered the victory. The Port Stanley, Ont. native had the best game of his university career. He had a perfect night, going five for five on field goal attempts. He was good from 14, 23, 24, 35 and 44 yards. With a kickoff single to open the game and a convert, Andrews accounted for 17 of Concordia’s 23 points in the game.
The Stingers’ offence rolled up 30 first downs and 466 yards of offence. Third-year running back Jean-Guy Rimpel accounted for a big chunk of it. He carried the ball 28 times for 171 yards and a touchdown.
The Vert & Or were limited to 301 yards of offence and 14 first downs. Linebacker Sam Brodrique topped the defensive stats for the Stingers with 5.5 tackles. Defensive backs Quaid Johnson and Khadeem Pierre were instrumental in the game, each coming up with a key interception.
Concordia’s win-loss record improves to 1-1 heading into a bye week. Sherbrooke falls to 0-2 and will host the McGill Redmen on Saturday night.
