A head-to-head look at the 47th Vanier cup

VANCOUVER (CIS) – They met three months ago in miserable conditions with nothing on the line. Four days from now, the Laval Rouge et Or and McMaster Marauders will meet again, this time for CIS football supremacy in the comfort of newly-renovated B.C. Place Stadium.

The 47th Vanier Cup championship, Friday at 6 p.m. Pacific Time (TSN & RDS), doesn’t lack storylines.

In the red corner, usual suspect Laval. In only their 16th year of existence, the defending national champion Rouge et Or hope to set a new record on Friday with a seventh Vanier Cup title, one more than Western Ontario. Their 29-2 triumph against Calgary a year ago in Quebec City improved their all-time record in the CIS final to 6-0, and helped Glen Constantin become the first sideline boss in history to capture five Vanier Cups as a head coach.

A win on Friday would also give the Rouge et Or a third CIS title in four seasons. Only two programs have accomplished the feat in the past, Western (1974, 1976, 1977) and Laval (2003, 2004, 2006).

In the maroon corner, new kid on the block McMaster. Thanks to a 45-21 win over Acadia in the Uteck Bowl, the Marauders advanced to the CIS championship game for only the second time in school history and for the first time since 1967. In that lone previous Vanier Cup appearance, they dropped a heartbreaking 10-9 decision to Alberta. Since then, Mac had gone 0-4 in CIS Bowl games, losing four straight national semifinals from 2000 to 2003.

The 47th Vanier Cup also promises to be a classic battle between one of the most explosive offences in the country and one of the stingiest defensive units.

After leading CIS in total offensive yards (530.5) and passing yards (329.9) per game in the regular season, while placing fifth in points (34.6 ppg), the OUA champion Marauders have scored at least 40 points in each of their three playoff matches and in six of their last seven games overall.

For their part, the Rouge et Or finished first in the country in least points allowed (12.0 ppg) for the fourth consecutive year and for the sixth time in the past eight campaigns. They had the best run defence in the nation (53.7) in conference play and proved their worth once again in a 41-10 Mitchell Bowl win over Calgary, holding the three-headed monster of Steven Lumbala, Matt Walter and Anthony Woodson to 33 yards combined on the ground. Laval has allowed 24 points (17 on defence) in three post-season duels and only once in 12 overall games have their opponents managed to score more than 15 points.

Laval and McMaster have met twice in the past in official competition, with the Rouge et Or claiming both matchups in Hamilton. Both victories, 49-6 in interlock play in 1999 and 36-32 in the Mitchell Bowl in 2003, were followed a few weeks later by Vanier Cup triumphs.

The two teams squared off for the third time three months ago, on August 28, with Laval prevailing 24-10 in hurricane-like conditions in Quebec City. Friday’s rematch will mark the third time in their last four Vanier Cup appearances that the Rouge et Or competes for the CIS title against the opponent they hosted in the pre-season. They ended up hoisting the coveted trophy the previous two times, in 2006 against Saskatchewan and in 2008 versus Western.

Here’s a closer look at the last two teams standing in CIS football.

47th VANIER CUP

When: Friday, Nov. 25, 6 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (9 p.m. Eastern)
Where: B.C. Place Stadium, Vancouver, B.C.
Who: No. 1 Laval Rouge et Or (visiting team) vs. No. 4 McMaster Marauders (home team)
TV: TSN & RDS

LAVAL UNIVERSITY ROUGE ET OR (Mitchell Bowl champions)

2011 season summary
Overall record: 11-1
Regular season record: 8-1
Regular season standing: 1st
Playoff record: 3-0
Final Top 10 ranking (Nov. 1): No. 1
Best Top 10 ranking (10 weeks): No. 1 (7 weeks)
Lowest Top 10 ranking (10 weeks): No. 3 (2 weeks)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (10 weeks): 10
Regular season offence points (32.8 ppg): 1st RSEQ / 6th CIS
Regular season offence total yards (407.7 ypg): 1st RSEQ / 12th CIS
Regular season offence passing (224.8 ypg): 6th RSEQ / 19th CIS
Regular season offence rushing (182.9 ypg): 1st RSEQ / 7th CIS
Regular season defence points (12.0 ppg): 1st RSEQ / 1st CIS
Regular season defence total yards (286.2 ypg): 1st RSEQ / 2nd CIS
Regular season defence passing (232.6 ypg): 2nd RSEQ / 10th CIS
Regular season defence rushing (53.7 ypg): 1st RSEQ / 1st CIS

2011 results
Sept. 3 (away): Laval 36, Concordia 8
Sept. 10 (home): Laval 24, Montreal 14
Sept. 17 (away): Laval 40, Sherbrooke 27
Sept. 25 (home): Laval 12, McGill 4
Oct. 2 (home): Laval 37, Concordia 4
Oct. 8 (away): Montreal 17, Laval 12
Oct. 16 (home): Laval 57, Bishop’s 9
Oct. 23 (home): Laval 40, Sherbrooke 10
Oct. 29 (away): Laval 37, Bishop’s 15
Nov. 5 (home): Laval 33, Concordia 7 (RSEQ semifinal)
Nov. 12 (home): Laval 30, Montreal 7 (Dunsmore cup)
Nov. 18 (away): Laval 41, Calgary 10 (Mitchell Bowl)

2011 RSEQ individual honours
Major awards: Arnaud Gascon-Nadon (outstanding down lineman)
All-stars offence: Bruno Prud’homme (QB), Sébastien Lévesque (RB), Julian Feoli-Gudino (WR), Pierre Lavertu (C), Karl Lavoie (T)
All-stars defence: Arnaud Gascon-Nadon (DE), Jean-Alexandre Bernier (DT), Dominique Noël (CB), Jonathan Laliberté (S)
All-stars special team: none

All-time head-to-head vs. McMaster
Overall record: 2-0 *
2003 (away): 36-32 win (Mitchell Bowl)
1999 (away): 49-6 win (regular season - interlock)

* Laval and McMaster also played a pre-season game on Aug. 28, 2011 in Quebec City (24-10 Laval)

Vanier Cup history
All-time record: 6-0

2010 (PEPS Stadium, Quebec City): 29-2 win vs. Calgary
2008 (Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton): 44-21 win vs. Western
2006 (Griffiths Stadium, Saskatoon): 13-8 win vs. Saskatchewan
2004 (Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton): 7-1 win vs. Saskatchewan
2003 (SkyDome, Toronto): 14-7 win vs. Saint Mary's
1999 (SkyDome, Toronto): 14-10 win vs. Saint Mary's

Head coach: Glen Constantin
Season: 11th
Career regular season record: 75-15 (.833)
Career playoff record: 29-7 (.806)
Career overall record (season and playoffs): 104-22 (.825)
Career overall record vs. McMaster: 1-0
Vanier Cup record: 5-0
Vanier Cup wins: 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2003
Vanier Cup losses: None
Laval Vanier Cup head coaches
Glen Constantin: 2011, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2003
Jacques Chapdelaine: 1999

McMASTER UNIVERSITY MARAUDERS (Uteck Bowl champions)

2011 season summary
Overall record: 10-1
Regular season record: 7-1
Regular season standing: 2nd
Playoff record: 3-0
Final Top 10 ranking (Nov. 1): No. 4
Best Top 10 ranking (10 weeks): No. 3 (3 weeks)
Lowest Top 10 ranking (10 weeks): No. 7 (1 week)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (10 weeks): 10
Regular season offence points (34.6 ppg): 3rd OUA / 5th CIS
Regular season offence total yards (530.5 ypg): 1st OUA / 1st CIS
Regular season offence passing (329.9 ypg): 1st OUA / 1st CIS
Regular season offence rushing (200.6 ypg): 2nd OUA / 4th CIS
Regular season defence points (18.2 ppg): 2nd OUA / 6th CIS
Regular season defence total yards (357.9 ypg): 3rd OUA / 10th CIS
Regular season defence passing (235.6 ypg): 3rd OUA / 11th CIS
Regular season defence rushing (122.2 ypg): 4th OUA / 12th CIS

2011 results
Sept. 5 (away): McMaster 26, Queen’s 2
Sept. 10 (home): Western 48, McMaster 21
Sept. 17 (away): McMaster 21, Windsor 19
Sept. 24 (away): McMaster 37, Guelph 13
Oct. 1 (home): McMaster 46, Waterloo 20
Oct. 6 (home): McMaster 50, Toronto 14
Oct. 15 (away): McMaster 25, Laurier 6
Oct. 22 (home): McMaster 51, Ottawa 24
Nov. 5 (home): McMaster 40, Queen’s 13 (OUA semifinal)
Nov. 12 (away): McMaster 41, Western 19 (Yates Cup)
Nov. 18 (away): McMaster 45, Acadia 21 (Uteck Bowl)

2011 OUA individual honours
Major awards: Michael DiCroce (MVP), Ryan Chmielewski (defensive MVP)
All-stars offence (First Team): Kyle Quinlan (QB), Michael DiCroce (WR), Matt Sewell (T), Jason Medeiros (G)
All-stars defence (First team): Ryan Chmielewski (LB), Mike Daly (S)
All-stars special teams (First Team): Tyler Crapigna (PK)
All-stars offence (Second Team): Matt Peressini (IR), Elliott Montag (G)
All-stars defence (Second Team): Scott Caterine (DE), Steven Ventresca (CB)
All-stars special teams (Second Team): none

All-time head-to-head vs. Laval
Overall record: 0-2 *
2003 (home): 36-32 loss (Mitchell Bowl)
1999 (home): 49-6 loss (regular season - interlock)
* McMaster and Laval also played a pre-season game on Aug. 28, 2011 in Quebec City (24-10 Laval)

Vanier Cup history
All-time record: 0-1
1967 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 10-9 loss vs. Alberta

Head coach: Stefan Ptaszek
Season: 6th
Career regular season record: 34-14 (.708)
Career playoff record: 5-5 (.500)
Career overall record (season and playoffs): 39-19 (.672)
Career overall record vs. Laval: 0-0
Vanier Cup record: 0-0
Vanier Cup wins: none
Vanier Cup losses: none

McMaster Vanier Cup head coaches
Stefan Ptaszek: 2011
Jack Kennedy: 1967

ALL-TIME VANIER CUP RESULTS

Year - Date - Winning Team - Losing Team - Winning Coach - Losing Coach - Attend.
2010 27 Nov. Laval 29 Calgary 2 Glen Constantin Blake Nill 16,237
2009 28 Nov. Queen’s 33 Calgary 31 Pat Sheahan Blake Nill 18,628
2008 22 Nov. Laval 44 Western 21 Glen Constantin Greg Marshall 13,873
2007 23 Nov. Manitoba 28 Saint Mary’s 14 Brian Dobie Steve Sumarah 26,787
2006 25 Nov. Laval 13 Saskatchewan 8 Glen Constantin Brian Towriss 12,567
2005 3 Dec. Laurier 24 Saskatchewan 23 Gary Jeffries Brian Towriss 16,827
2004 27 Nov. Laval 7 Saskatchewan 1 Glen Constantin Brian Towriss 14,227
2003 22 Nov. Laval 14 Saint Mary’s 7 Glen Constantin Blake Nill 17,828
2002 23 Nov. Saint Mary's 33 Saskatchewan 21 Blake Nill Brian Towriss 17,179
2001 1 Dec. Saint Mary’s 42 Manitoba 16 Blake Nill Brian Dobie 19,138
2000 2 Dec. Ottawa 42 Regina 39 M. Bellefeuille Frank McCrystal 18,209
1999 27 Nov. Laval 14 Saint Mary’s 10 J. Chapdelaine Blake Nill 12,595
1998 28 Nov. Saskatchewan 24 Concordia 17 Brian Towriss Pat Sheahan 15,157
1997 22 Nov. UBC 39 Ottawa 23 Casey Smith Larry Ring 8,184
1996 30 Nov. Saskatchewan 31 StFX 12 Brian Towriss John Stevens 14,577
1995 25 Nov. Calgary 54 Western 24 Peter Connellan Larry Haylor 29,178
1994 19 Nov. Western 50 Saskatchewan 40 (OT) Larry Haylor Brian Towriss 28,652
1993 20 Nov. Toronto 37 Calgary 34 Bob Laycoe Peter Connellan 20,211
1992 21 Nov. Queen’s 31 Saint Mary’s 0 Doug Hargreaves Larry Uteck 28,645
1991 30 Nov. Laurier 25 Mt. Allison 18 Rich Newbrough Marc Loranger 30,191
1990 24 Nov. Saskatchewan 24 Saint Mary’s 21 Brian Towriss Larry Uteck 26,846
1989 18 Nov. Western 35 Saskatchewan 10 Larry Haylor Brian Towriss 32,847
1988 19 Nov. Calgary 52 Saint Mary’s 23 Peter Connellan Larry Uteck 13,127
1987 21 Nov. McGill 47 UBC 11 Charlie Baillie Frank Smith 14,326
1986 22 Nov. UBC 25 Western 23 Frank Smith Larry Haylor 17,847
1985 30 Nov. Calgary 25 Western 6 Peter Connellan Larry Haylor 16,321
1984 24 Nov. Guelph 22 Mt. Allison 13 John Musselman Steve Bruno 19,842
1983 19 Nov. Calgary 31 Queen’s 21 Peter Connellan Doug Hargreaves 18,324
1982 20 Nov. UBC 39 Western 14 Frank Smith Darwin Semotiuk 14,759
1981 28 Nov. Acadia 18 Alberta 12 John Huard Jim Donlevy 11,875
1980 29 Nov. Alberta 40 Ottawa 21 Jim Donlevy Cam Innes 11,000
1979 17 Nov. Acadia 34 Western 12 John Huard Darwin Semotiuk 19,397
1978 18 Nov. Queen’s 16 UBC 3 Doug Hargreaves Frank Smith 19,124
1977 19 Nov. Western 48 Acadia 15 Darwin Semotiuk Bob Vespaziani 19,514
1976 19 Nov. Western 29 Acadia 13 Darwin Semotiuk Bob Vespaziani 20,300
1975 21 Nov. Ottawa 14 Calgary 9 Don Gilbert Mike Lashuk 17,800
1974 22 Nov. Western 19 Toronto 15 Frank Cosentino Ron Murphy 24,777
1973 24 Nov. Saint Mary’s 14 McGill 6 Al Keith Charlie Baillie 17,000
1972 25 Nov. Alberta 20 Wat.Lutheran 7 Jim Donlevy David Knight 10,192
1971 20 Nov. Western 15 Alberta 14 Frank Cosentino Jim Donlevy 13,041
1970 21 Nov. Manitoba 38 Ottawa 11 Henry Janzen Bob O'Billovich 10,550
1969 21 Nov. Manitoba 24 McGill 15 Henry Janzen Tom Mooney 9,347
1968 22 Nov. Queen’s 42 Waterloo 14 Frank Tindall David Knight 16,051
1967 25 Nov. Alberta 10 McMaster 9 Clare Drake Jack Kennedy 16,167
1966 19 Nov. StFX 40 Wat.Lutheran 14 Don Loney David Knight 13,678
1965 20 Nov. Toronto 14 Alberta 7 Dalt White Gino Fracas 3,488

Vanier Cup Venues:

Varsity Stadium, Toronto: 1965-1972, 1976-1988
CNE Stadium, Toronto: 1973-1975
Rogers Centre, Toronto: 1989-2003, 2007
Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton: 2004-2005, 2008
Griffiths Stadium, Saskatoon: 2006
PEPS Stadium, Quebec City: 2009, 2010

-CIS-