Cedric Joseph of the Western University Mustangs moves the football during the Mustangs 34-20 loss to Laval in the 2018 Vanier Cup, November 24, 2018. Photo courtesy of Western University Athletics/Twitter.Cedric Joseph of the Western University Mustangs moves the football during the Mustangs 34-20 loss to Laval in the 2018 Vanier Cup, November 24, 2018. Photo courtesy of Western University Athletics/Twitter.
London

Mustangs miss repeat, lose 34-20 in Vanier Cup

A chance to repeat as Vanier Cup champions was stuffed Saturday afternoon.

The Western University Mustangs were evenly matched statistics-wise with the Laval Rouge et Or, but it was Laval who prevailed 34-20 in the Vanier Cup in Quebec City. The Mustangs were looking for a repeat of their 2017 Cup win, the highest prize in Canadian university football. Western beat Laval 39-17 in the 2017 contest.

The Mustangs, ranked first in the country, were appearing in their 14th Vanier Cup final and now finish with an 11-1 overall record. The Rouge et Or was ranked second. Western led in total offence with 503 yards, compared to Laval's 470 yards.

Laval took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, thanks to a 46-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Hugo Richard to wide receiver Vinc Mombleau. David Cote then kicked a field goal for the Rouge et Or.

Cedric Joseph got the Mustangs on the board with a one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to cut the Laval lead to 10-7, but Laval responded with another touchdown pass from Richard, this time to Benoit Gagnon-Brosseau for 22 yards. Marc Liegghio kicked a 38-yard field goal to trim the Laval lead to 17-13 at halftime.

Laval added ten points in the third quarter with a six-yard quarterback keeper from Richard and another David Cote field goal. The two teams exchanged touchdowns in the fourth. Alexis Cote ran seven yards for a score to put the Rouge et Or up for good. Cole Majoros caught a Western touchdown pass from quarterback Chris Merchant.

The Mustangs' Vanier Cup total remains at seven, having won in 1971, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1989, 1994 and last season.

Read More Local Stories