The Rouge et Or Shuts Out Concordia, but the Victory Is Already Raising Questions

Laval University's Rouge et Or got off to a strong start to the season in terms of results, but certainly not in terms of entertainment. In front of a crowd of 17,130 at PEPS, the Quebec City team shut out the Concordia Stingers 14-0 in a game where both offenses struggled immensely.

This victory nonetheless marks the Rouge et Or's first home shutout since 2019—an interesting statistic for Glen Constantin's squad, even though the head coach was far from ready to claim victory too soon.

Laval University, in particular, had to wait until the third quarter before truly finding its rhythm. After a particularly difficult first half, the Rouge et Or finally got the ball rolling with a trick play on a field goal attempt.

Jérémy Ouellette then took advantage of a handoff to slip behind his offensive line before racing nine yards into the end zone. It was a pivotal moment, as this drive also marked the first time in the game that either team had reached the opponent's 20-yard line.

Victor Charland Learns in His First Start

The game was also a significant moment for Victor Charland, who was making his very first collegiate start. The Montmorency Nomades quarterback completed 16 of 28 passes for 140 yards.

Charland acknowledged, however, that the team lacked rhythm and made things difficult for itself on several occasions. Glen Constantin, for his part, believes that nerves played a role in his tougher start to the game, particularly in front of a large crowd.

The defense ultimately allowed the Rouge et Or to hold onto their lead. Jacob Jinchereau recorded a sack and celebrated the shutout, while acknowledging that several areas need improvement.

For the Stingers, Glenn Valentine stepped in for quarterback Antoine Ouimet, who will miss the season due to a fracture. Valentine completed 14 of 26 passes for 162 yards, with one interception.

Despite a limited offensive performance, the Rouge et Or came away with a convincing victory thanks to their defense. However, the team will need to quickly raise its level of play if it hopes to live up to the high expectations placed on it this season.

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