Overlooked Sherbrooke counting on defence

Vert et Or takes on powerhouse Laval in Quebec university football final

Coach David Lessard says some people might be surprised to see Sherbrooke Vert et Or battling for the CIS Quebec conference football title against Laval this weekend.

But if they are, he suggests they haven’t been watching closely enough.

“Two years ago, it was totally a surprise for the team to be in the final,” he admitted. “Now, even though it might be a surprise to the media or to the outside world, from within we feel like we deserve to be there and we feel like we have a decent chance to compete.”

Being overlooked is nothing new. Sherbrooke was shut out in Canadian Interuniversity Sport’s Quebec conference all-star team voting this season.

Laval Rouge et Or, with a record of 6-1 in its seven Vanier Cup appearances, placed nine players on the all-star squad.

“If you don’t agree with the voting, just go out there and prove you’re the best,” he says he told the players.

One of those overlooked players, sophomore quarter- back Jeremi Roch-Doyon, is first in the league with his 204 completions out of 331 attempted passes, second with his 18 touchdown passes and second in passing yards at 2,635. Laval has the pedigree. “They’ve been winning the Quebec conference for the last nine years,” Lessard said.

“They have the money backing, they have the stadium, they have the fans, they kind of have it all.”

The key to winning the game will be Sherbrooke’s defence, he said.

“Laval offers that dual threat ... if you play the pass they’ll run over you and if you play the run they’ll pass over you.”

Led by former coach-of-theyear winner Glen Constantin, Laval more resembles the kind of high-profile football program run by American universities than it does some of its competition in Canada.