Concordia Stingers quarterback Reid Quest had an exceptional performance in his first university football start, but he didn’t get a win.
Despite Quest’s best efforts, the No. 5-ranked Sherbrooke Vert & Or eked out a last second 33-26 victory over the Stingers at Concordia stadium in Montreal on Friday night.
Quest, starting in the Quebec university conference after a stellar career with the Regina Thunder, completed 34 of 51 passes (67 per cent) for 434 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Under his leadership, the Stinger offence rolled up 27 first downs and 472 yards overall.
Quest had a couple of prime targets. Second-year slotback Kris Bastien hauled in 11 balls for 189 yards and two majors. Fourth-year wide receiver Sanchez Deschamps caught six passes for 104 yards.
The teams traded punches throughout the game, but Sherbrooke rookie pivot Jérémi Roch-Doyon found veteran receiver Simon Campeau-Charbonneau for a TD strike with 28 seconds left to play, sealing the victory.
Roch-Doyon completed 27 of 45 passes (60 per cent) for 328 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He orchestrated an offence that had 23 first downs and 437 yards overall. He relied heavily on Campeau-Charbonneau who caught 10 passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, Concordia linebacker Max Caron was the leading tackler in the game with 13 solo tackles, three assists and a 64-yard interception return for a touchdown.
The Vert & Or improve their win-loss record to 3-1, while the Stingers fall to 2-2. The teams will play a rematch on Saturday, Oct. 15 in Sherbrooke.
