There’s only one undefeated university football team in Montreal – the Concordia Stingers are 1-0 after an exciting 33-25 victory over the McGill Redmen in the 37th annual Shaughnessy Cup at Molson Stadium on Thursday night.
Meanwhile across town in their season opener, the No. 5-ranked Montreal Carabins suffered a 24-12 loss to the top ranked Laval Rouge et Or.
The Concordia-McGill game was a dramatic encounter that brought the boisterous crowd of 3,000 to its feet several times.
The Stingers established leads of 12-0 and 22-11 at various points, but the scrappy Redmen kept coming back and held a 25-23 lead for most of the fourth quarter. With 6:01 left to play, Concordia kicker Warren Kean connected on an 11-yard field goal to give the Stingers a 26-25 lead. It was his third field goal of the night.
McGill persevered until Stinger middle linebacker Patrick Donovan shut down a third-and-one attempt at mid-field from the Redmen with 1:01 left to play. From there the Stingers were able to drive the field and seal the victory with a one-yard touchdown run from running back Otis Armstrong.
Concordia quarterback Scott Syvret was in fine form, completing 23 of 37 passes for 296 yards, two TDs and three interceptions. His favorite target was slotback Nick Scissons who caught the two touchdown passes. The Stingers will host the Bishop’s Gaiters in their home opener on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. It will be the annual Bobblehead giveaway game as well as Homecoming.
