Quarterback Trenton Miller and punt returner James Tyrrell had career days in leading the Concordia Stingers to a one-sided 63-0 victory over the Bishop’s Gaiters on Saturday.
Miller completed 29 of 41 passes for 388 yards including five touchdowns and also ran nine times for 93 yards. Tyrrell returned nine kicks for 215 yards including a 55-yard TD return. The loss officially ended the Gaiters’ slim playoff hopes as their record fell to 1-5.
The Stingers scored on the opening possession of the game when Jean-Guy Rimpel ran 24 yards for the major to cap an eight-play, 68-yard drive that gave the home team a 7-0 lead. The score remained that way until late in the quarter when Concordia scored two touchdowns in a 72-second span and the rout was on. They led 37-0 at the half and 53-0 after three quarters as the Stingers showed no mercy.
The Concordia defence was just as dominant as their offence as they held the Gaiters to just 149 yards in total offence.
It won’t get any easier this coming weekend as Bishop’s will host the defending national champion Montreal Carabins on Saturday. The Carabins are coming off a 22-16 victory over first-place Laval.
It was a different story with the Sherbrooke Vert et Or who solidified their playoff aspirations with a 45-10 win over the McGill Redmen on a day when quarterback Jérémi Roch continued to rewrite the CIS football record book as he became the all-time leader in career passing yards. Roch entered the contest with 10,748 career yards, only 63 behind Michael Faulds, who had 10,811 during his brilliant five-year run with Western (Ont.).
Roch racked up 216 yards through the air in less than three quarters of action against the Redmen to push the new national standard to 10,964. He completed 11 of 16 passes for three touchdowns and no interceptions
He set the new record in style, connecting with Carl Gagnon-Bisaillon for a 47-yard score in the second quarter one of three TD passes he tossed. Roch is now the all-time CIS leader in passing yards, attempts (1,400) and completions (828). He established the new national marks for career attempts and completions in Sherbrooke’s last contest, two weeks ago against Montreal.
With 65 touchdown passes in his career, Roch is one shy of the Quebec conference record held by former Laval standout Benoit Groulx. He ranks ninth on the all-time CIS list, 22 behind the standard set by ex-Champlain Cougar Chris Flynn of Saint Mary’s (1987-1990).
Sherbrooke wraps up their season with a road game against Laval Saturday and will host the Gaiters on Oct. 31 in the annual Mayor’s Cup.
