A young Concordia Stingers football team put up a good battle before finally succumbing to the Montreal Carabins 29-8 before an enthusiastic crowd of 3,187 at Concordia stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Playing without starting quarterback Rob Mackay, a fifth-year all-star from Port Dover, Ont., the Stingers hung tough against a more experienced Montreal squad.
“I’m really happy with our team,” said head coach Gerry McGrath after the game. “We were playing a tougher, older team and it’s early in the season. We played well. The guys were gutsy right to the end. I can’t wait to play Montreal again.”
Montreal established an 11-1 halftime lead on a 31-yard touchdown pass to Frank Bruno, an 18-yard field goal from Alexandre Sy and a rouge.
Sy had the only points of the third quarter with a 27-yard field goal, making the score 14-1.
At 10:24 of the final quarter, Concordia made a real game of it. Terrance Morsink, a second-year pivot from Pierrefonds, Que., hit Sanchez Deschamps (Mississauga, Ont.) with a 55-yard TD strike, narrowing the score to 14-8.
However, the Montreal Carabins capitalized on two late turnovers to seal the victory.
The Carabins were clinging to their six-point lead with just over four minutes to play when Stinger punt returner Kris Robertson fumbled the ball running out of his own end zone. Two plays later Montreal running back Rotrand Sene ran three yards for a touchdown. A two-point covert made the score 22-8 with 3:56 play.
On the Stingers’ next offensive series, Morsink was hit as he began his throwing motion. Montreal defensive lineman Garlins Duclervil picked up the loose ball and rumbled 32 yards for the score. It was 29-8 with 3:02 left.
Montreal rolled up 23 first downs and 491 yards of offence. Concordia countered with 15 first downs and 236 yards of offence.
Montreal’s Alexandre Nadeau-Piuze completed 19 of 31 passes for 235 yards and one touchdown. Morsink, who was starting for the first time in his career, was good on 19 of 30 passes for 236 yards and a TD. On the ground, Montreal rolled up 256 yards, while Concordia rushed for 30 yards.
The Stingers’ win-loss record is now 1-1. Concordia will cross the city to play the 0-2 McGill Redmen on Friday night at Molson Stadium.
