The history of the Vanier Cup dates back to 1965 when George P. Vanier was (then) the Governor General of Canada and granted permission to the Canadian Save the Children Fund to name the trophy.
Prior to this the trophy was called the Canadian College Bowl and was (and still is) awarded to the winners of Canada’s University Football Championship.
The first two years (1965 and 1966) it was an invitational event which featured two teams that were selected by a National panel.
The first winner’s were the University of Toronto Varsity Blues where General Vanier officially presented the Cup and the Banner in the spring of 66.
In 67 the Canadian College Bowl and the Vanier Cup changed and were headed in a new direction.
It was then declared the CIAU (now CIS) national football championship with semi-final winners to meet in the final. In 1982 the name was officially changed from the Canadian College Bowl to the Vanier Cup.
On game day the event held a Championship breakfast in Vancouver and the Federal Government declared support of CIS Sports in Canada. Representing the Federal Government was the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport), who officially announced the Government’s contribution to Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS).
This funding will enable CIS to effectively deliver its national championships for the year. Funding of $679,300 to CIS for 2011-2012 is helping support a variety of projects, including the 2011 Summer Universiade, held in August, as well as travel costs for student-athletes, coaches, event management personnel, and officials participating in the following national championships.
The rest of the day featured game day prep for both teams and following this it was a trip to BC Place, where several players had never seen prior to this trip. In conversation with some, it far exceeded what they thought it would be like.
McMaster University Marauders defeated the Laval Rouge, but were forced to take the game to the final play to pull off the most amazing win in what is called one “of the greatest games played in Vanier Cup history”
The game was played at the newly renovated BC Place Stadium in front of 24,935 (all lower-bowl) fans giving them their first Vanier Championship. An impressive 41-38 O/T win sent the pro-Marauders crowd into shock, delight and amazement.
From the start McMaster looked to have the game “in the bag” in the first half as they took an early 6-0 lead after one quarter of play.
This coming on a pair of field goals from Tyler Crapigna 26 and 37 yards respectively, them managed to extend the lead in the second quarter with TD’s from James Hill on a 3 yd pass from QB Kyle Quinlan.
He finished the opening half with 20 completions on 27 attempts for 265 yards and the lone touchdown pass.
The Marauders TD was marched in by Christopher Pazzetta finding the end zone on a 13 yard run extending the lead to 20-0. Crapigna added another FG before the half ended from 24 yards out giving his team a 23-0 lead at the half.
Marauders quarterback Kyle Quinlan numbers (at half time) were 24 completions on 39 attempts for 315 Yds. the TD pass to James Hill on offence had a combined total for 369 yards with 96 on the ground and 279 through the air.
The “D” allowed 102 yards – 55 rushing and 72 through the air by QB Bruno Prud’homme as he completed 7 of 12 attempts.
The #1 ranked Laval Rouge changed the game in the second half that saw Guillaume Rioux by returning a Marauders punt 62 yards three minutes in to cut the lead to 23-7.
The “D” followed that by picking off Marauders QB Kyle Quinlan as DB Frederic Plesius returned 37 yards. They trailed McMasters 23-14,
kicker Boris Bede split the uprights from 18 yards out to cut the Marauders lead to 23-17 and after three quarters they were within one TD of McMasters. RB Sebastian Leveque gave the Rouge their first lead of the game after a 44 yard run two minutes into the fourth quarter.
The marauders came back to regain the lead on a 7 play 69 yard drive as receiver Matthew Peressini took a 9 yard pass from Kyle Quinlan to put them up 31-24 with 5:43 remaining.
The Rouge came back with a touchdown of their own as Julian Feoli-Gudino make a highlight reel catch from Prud’homme from 9 yards out as the ball was deflected by a Marauders defender and Gudino was able to snag it and hold on with the convert tied the score at 31-31,
McMasters had a great chance to win the game in regulation time as they drove the ball downfield to set up a field goal attempt by Tyler Crapigna with a shot from 30 yards out with 3 seconds left his attempt sailed wide of the left upright which sent the game into overtime for the first time in Vanier Cup history.
In overtime the rules have the teams scrimmage from the 35 yard line and they have to match each other’s attempts in scoring points, in the first series McMaster scored first as Brad Fochesoata took a Quinlan pass 26 yards finding the end zone with the convert went 38-31.
Laval would be forced to match the scoring drive as Adam Thibault received a 33 yard pass from Prud’homme to even the game at 38-38 with the convert.
Laval had possession of the ball next and an interception by the Marauders Defense set them up for the victory s Tyler Crapigna split the uprights from 20 yards out to make for the miss at the end of regulation time to give McMasters the victory and their first Vanier Cup title over the favoured Laval Rouge with a 41-38 victory.
Top offensive player of the game was Kyle Quinlan of the Marauders who finished with 37 completions in 56 attempts for 496 yards and 2 touchdown passes and 2 interceptions.
The top defensive player of the game was Linebacker Aram Eisho for the Marauders and the MVP went to the Marauders Kyle Quinlan with his 496 yard performance giving his team the Championship and well deserved of the selection by the media.
The numbers on the night:
Laval McMasters
First Downs 26 41
Rushing Yards 160 189
Passing Yards 239 496
Team losses 44 10
Total offense 355 675
Total plays 57 90
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-0
Punts-Yards 6-234 5-157
Avg per punt 39.0 31.0
Kickoff return Yards 5-311 4-202
Punt Return Yards 7-118.1 5-22 I
nterception-return yds. 2-39 2-58
