The No. 10-ranked Concordia Stingers scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes of play to push the No. 1-ranked Laval Rouge et Or to the limit, but they could not knock out the top team in the CIS.
Laval won 26-21 to finish the regular season with a perfect 8-0 record in the Quebec conference. The Stingers fall to 5-3 and finish in second place.
The Rouge et Or steadily piled up points in the first half. Christopher Milo connected on four field goals and Laurent Lavigne-Masse caught a 34-yard pass for a touchdown to make the score 19-0 at halftime.
In the second half Concordia rookie quarterback Liam Mahoney overcame a slow start, running for two touchdowns and throwing a 15-yard strike to Cory Watson with six seconds left to play. It was not quite enough to slay the giant.
Mahoney had another strong outing. He carried the ball 11 times for 106 yards and two touchdowns. He also completed 12 of 20 passes for 133 yards, one interception and one touchdown.
Overall Concordia rolled up 314 yards of offence and 16 first downs. The Rouge et Or had a total offence of 323 yards and 19 first downs. Lavigne-Masse was the top threat with five receptions for 78 yards and the major.
Defensively, Concordia middle linebacker Cory Greenwood had another great game with seven solo tackles. He led all tacklers in the game. Laval lineman Marc-Antoine Beaudoin-Cloutier was exceptional with six solo tackles, including two sacks.
Next Saturday the Quebec conference playoffs begin. Laval will host the fourth-place Montreal Carabins in semifinal action. The Stingers will host the Bishop’s Gaiters.
