Box Score SHERBROOKE, Que. – Expectations were high for the Bishop's Gaiters as they hosted their first home playoff game in 19 years on Coulter Field on Saturday. However, the No. 7 Montreal Carabins spoiled the party and ended the purple and silver's magnificent season. They beat the No. 6 Gaiters 51-8 in one of the two RSEQ University Football semi-finals.
 
After a quiet first quarter during which Montreal took a 3-0 lead on a 31-yard field goal by Felix Menard-Briere (Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Que.), the second quarter saw the Carabins take a considerable advantage over the home team. They scored 30 unanswered points. Manuel Crisi-Lauzon (Montreal) scored a major on a 12-yard run in the first minute of the quarter. His teammate Sean Thomas-Erlington (Montreal) tacked on a pair of his own majors of one and 11 yards respectively. Quarterback Pierre-Luc Varhegyi (Montreal) found the end zone on a 1-yard run and the Carabins added a safety and to take a 33-0 halftime lead.
 
Things did not improve for the Gaiters in the second half. Alexandre Doucet (Montreal) picked off a Jordan Heather (Oromocto, N.B.) pass and returned it all the way to the end zone for the touchdown on the opening drive of the frame. Two other team safeties for the Carabins increased the visitors' lead to 42-0. The Gaiters managed to get on the board when a 32-yard field goal missed wide and earned them a rouge. Montreal was conceded another safety and led 44-1 after the third stanza.
 
The last frame of the game saw both teams exchange touchdowns. Vincent Davignon (Granby, Que.) scored on a one-yard run for the Gaiters only to have Gabriel Cousineau (Montreal) answer with a  two-yard plunge of his own. The Carabins will travel to Quebec City next week to face the Laval Rouge & Or with the Dunsmore Cup at stake.
 
"We have to give Montreal credit for the way they played during this game," said Gaiters head coach Kevin Mackey as he highlighted the fact that his team turned the ball over too often. "After the game, I told the guys that even with this disappointing result they did great this season. Many critics did not see us hosting a playoff game, not even making the playoffs. It is only the beginning; we are going to be better next year."
 
The Gaiters season now comes to a close. They hope to have more attention as the RSEQ individual awards are announced on Tuesday.  Their three all-stars, Heather, Alexander Fox (Montreal) and Geoff Coventry (Orleans, Ont.) are also hoping for national recognition by earning all-Canadian status. That will be unveiled the week of the Vanier Cup.
 
Get all of your Bishop's Gaiters news anytime at www.gaiters.ca.
 
Game notes: Heather was 12-20 for 92 yards and three interceptions and his replacement Shane McDonald (Uxbridge, Ont.) was 13-23 for 161 yards and an interception…Alexander Fox capped off a remarkable university career with another strong game, he caught 9 balls for 124 yards.
 
-30-
 
Felix Tremblay
Sports Information Writer