November Football Looms

Playoff-Bound Stingers to Face Laval in Semi-Final

SportsBoris Degas — Published November 2, 2011

Both teams were desperate for a victory in their last regular-season game, though for different reasons. The 0-8 Redmen were starving for victory. A loss would result in another winless season, after failing to win a game last year as well.

At the same time, a ConU loss would mean that they would have to depend on the top-ranked Laval Rouge et Or to knock off the Bishop’s University Gaiters, who were tied with the Stingers, sporting a 3-5 record.

With that in mind, Stingers head coach Gerry McGrath and his boys knew that a win would translate into November football—and they were eager to control their own destiny.

The first quarter featured even play from both teams, and the scoreboard reflected this when the first half came to a close with the Stingers leading 20-17.

Quarterback Reid Quest and the Stingers, fueled by their post-season hopes, turned up the heat in the second half, stretching out their lead with 37 straight unanswered points.

Quest, who started the season as the second-string quarterback, recorded five touchdowns for zero interceptions, with four of his scoring passes dished out in the third quarter.

Stingers running back and punt returner specialist Raul Thompson led the charge on the ground with five carries for 62 yards, while Quest spread his 356 passing yards amongst his offense, as six Stingers players compiled more than 30 yards.

The contest’s Most Valuable Player wasn’t part of the offensive squat, however; the player of the game was undoubtedly Stingers linebacker Max Caron, who recorded six solo tackles.

Driving Redmen to the ground wasn’t enough for Caron, though. He also picked up two floating passes from McGill quarterback Ryne Bondy. One of those interceptions came three minutes into the fourth quarter, and Caron showed great speed and vision to successfully run the ball coast to coast for 96 yards and a touchdown.

This nearly-flawless game secured Caron’s place as the Canadian Interuniversity Sport regular season leader in tackles, tackles per game, and interceptions returned for a touchdown.