Photo credit Craig Glover / Laval running back Sébastien Lévesque scores game winning touchdown in overtime.

LONDON, Ont. (CIS) – Laval running back Sébastien Lévesque scored on an 10-yard run on his team's first possession in overtime to lift the East to a 34-27 victory in the ninth annual East West Bowl, presented by Under Armour, on Saturday afternoon at TD Waterhouse Stadium on the campus of The University of Western Ontario.

BOXSCORE

Official website (including complete stats): http://english.cis-sic.ca/eastwestbowl/2011/index

It marked the second straight win for the East at the all-star classic showcasing CIS football players who will be eligible for next year's CFL Canadian draft. After losing the first five contests from 2003 to 2007, the East has now won three of the last four head-to-head meetings.

The 61 combined points eclipsed the previous record of 60 set in 2006 when the West prevailed 34-26 in OT in Quebec City. In addition to the 2011 and 2006 games, the 2007 East West Bowl also required extra time (West 22, East 19).

In today’s affair, the East jumped out to an 11-0 lead after the first quarter thanks to a pair of safeties and a seven-yard TD run by Laval quarterback Bruno Prud’homme of Lasalle, Que., a scoring play which was set up by a 43-yard diving catch from Concordia receiver Sanchez Deschamps of Mississauga, Ont.

The West dominated the second frame 17-3 however to take a 17-14 advantage into the halftime break.

Western pivot Donnie Marshall of London first scored on a one-yard run to cut the West deficit to 11-7.

After McGill kicker Austin Anderson of Canmore, Alta., restored a seven-point cushion for the East with a nine-yard field goal, Marshall connected with Wilfrid Laurier receiver Shamawd Chambers of Markham, Ont., for a 25-yard TD pass to tie it at 14 all. Western kicker Lirim Hajrullahu of St.Catharines, Ont., then booted a 46-yard field goal with 30 seconds left to give the West a three-point lead at the break.

In the third quarter, Anderson split the uprights from 40 yards out eight minutes in to make it 17-17 but McMaster quarterback Kyle Quinlan of South Woodslee, Ont., restored the West advantage four minutes later with a one-yard TD run.

Montreal linebacker Jonathan Beaulieu-Richard of Trois-Rivières, Que., tied the affair for the third time midway through the fourth when he recovered a fumble in the West end zone to make it 24-24. Toronto defensive lineman Everton Williams of Toronto had set the ball loose.
A 15-yard field goal from Anderson with 3:21 remaining in regulation sent the East ahead by three but Hajrullahu responded with a 30-yarder with 1:49 on the clock to force overtime.
Anderson had one last chance to win it in regulation for the East but missed from 41 yards out with seven seconds left.

Using the shootout format in overtime, the East went first and Lévesque took charge.
The 2010 Vanier Cup MVP from Brossard, Que., who was held to 13 yards on six carries in the first 60 minutes of play, opened the extra period with runs of nine, two and four yards to take the ball to the West 20-yard line. After a 10-yard completion from Prud'homme to Deschamps, Lévesque took it home for the winning score.

The West got the ball back but couldn't muster any offence. Marshall's first two passes fell incomplete and his third attempt from the East 35 was intercepted in the end zone by Sherbrooke defensive back Philippe Dubuisson-Lebon of Montreal.

The East racked up 372 yards of total offence and 20 first downs compared to 349 yards and 17 first downs for the West. The East had a 182-111 advantage on the ground but was outgained 238-190 through the air.

Prud'homme, who led Laval to the Vanier Cup title and a perfect 13-0 overall record last fall in his first season as a CIS starter, completed 10 of 15 passes for 132 yards and rushed three times for 14 yards and a score.

He split quarterbacking duties with Acadia's Kyle Graves of Barrie, Ont., who finished 8-of-15 for 73 yards.

Bishop's John Jean-Baptiste of Ottawa paced the winners on the ground with 62 yards on nine carries, while Deschamps was the top receiver with 92 yards on four catches.
Leading the East defensive effort was Concordia defensive back Christian Walcott of Markham, Ont., with 4.5 tackles.

For the West, Marshall, Quinlan and UBC's Billy Greene of Surrey, B.C, all saw action behind centre.

Marshall went 6-of-16 for 127 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Quinlan completed seven of 11 attempts for 94 yards. Greene was 2-of-4 for 17 yards.

Marshall was also the West's top rusher with 49 yards on five carries. Chambers had a game-high five receptions for 84 yards and a major while Windsor's Jordan Brescacin of Tecumseh, Ont., racked up 79 yards on four catches.

Laurier linebacker Daniel Bishop of Mississauga, Ont., led all players on the field with 8.5 tackles. York defensive lineman Patrick Russell of Brampton, Ont., and Alberta linebacker Ryan Dean of Edmonton had the game's only sacks.

NOTES: Western was hosting the event for the third straight year. The contest was previously held at McMaster (2008), Laval (2007, 2006) and Wilfrid Laurier (2005, 2004, 2003)... The East team was comprised of players representing schools from the Atlantic and Quebec conferences, as well as from Queen's, Ottawa and Toronto, while the West squad was made up of players from Canada West and from the remaining OUA universities... Glen Constantin from reigning Vanier Cup champion Laval and Blake Nill from 2010 CIS finalist Calgary were the East and West head coaches, respectively...

All-time East West Bowl results:

2011 (at Western): East 34, West 27 (OT)
2010 (at Western): East 12, West 9
2009 (at Western): West 16, East 7
2008 (at McMaster): East 25, West 12
2007 (at Laval): West 22, East 19 (OT)
2006 (at Laval): West 34, East 26 (OT)
2005 (at Laurier): West 34, East 16
2004 (at Laurier): West 21, East 12
2003 (at Laurier): West 10, East 5

SCORING SUMMARY: 2011 EAST WEST BOWL

East – 11-3-3-10-7: 34
West – 0-17-7-3-0: 27

First Quarter
East – Safety Team (Hajrullahu conceded in end zone) 1:10
East – Safety Team (Hajrullahu conceded in end zone) 9:58
East – TD Bruno Prud'homme 7 run (Austin Anderson kick) 14:45

Second Quarter
West – TD Donnie Marshall 1 run (Lirim Hajrullahu kick) 2:59
East – FG Austin Anderson 9 11:52
West – TD Shamawd Chambers 25 pass from Donnie Marshall (Lirim Hajrullahu kick) 13:04
West – FG Lirim Hajrullahu 46 14:30

Third Quarter
East – FG Austin Anderson 40 7:49
West – TD Kyle Quinlan 1 run (Lirim Hajrullahu kick) 12:04

Fourth Quarter
East – TD Jonathan Beaulieu-Richard 0 fumble return (Austin Anderson kick) 6:08
East – FG Austin Anderson 15 11:39
West – FG Lirim Hajrullahu 30 13:11

Overtime (shootout)
East (first possession) – TD Sébastien Lévesque 10 run (Austin Anderson kick)
West (first possession) – 3-and-out

-CIS-