McGill slotback Louis Brouillette, collected a game-high 172 all-purpose yards, including a spectacular game-breaking, 33-yard TD pass-and-run play with 4:26 remaining as McGill defeated visiting Bishop's 10-3 in their Quebec conference opener in Montreal on Friday.
It was McGill's first season-opening victory in 15 years — dating back to a 20-15 home-field decision over Concordia on Sept. 9, 2000 — and also snapped an 11-game losing streak in regular season play for the Redmen, since a 53-52 overtime conquest at Concordia on Sept. 28, 2013. Bishop's, which had claimed the last three head-to-head meetings with McGill, leads the all-time series between the two rivals at 45-40-1 dating all the way back to their first rendez-vous in 1885.
BU opened the scoring on a 32-yard field goal by Vincent Dubé at 6:27 of the opening quarter. McGill countered with a field-goal of their own when Justin Lavallee nailed a 14-yarder at 9:46 of the second quarter, setting the stage for Brouillette's late heroics. He hauled in seven catches for 100 yards, to go along with 72 yards on nine punt returns. His game-breaking play was a leaping catch up the middle in triple coverage.
The Redmen, who had an 18-12 edge in first downs, registered 332 yards of net offence, including 127 rushing and 212 in the air. Bishop's collected 237 net yards, 93 of them on the ground and 160 in the air.
Travis Eman started at quarterback for the Gaiters and was 14-for-29 passing, for 160 yards, no TDs and no interceptions. The sophomore from Brampton, Ont., was sacked five times by a voracious McGill defence, including two by linebacker Karl Forgues, who had a monster day at the office. The physical education major was in on 15 tackles, including eight solos and seven assisted. He was also credited with a forced fumble and a knockdown.
Trevor Millings led the Gaiters with 138 all-purpose yards, including 103 on seven punt returns, 31 on three receptions and four rushing yards. Vincent Davignon topped the team in rushing with nine carries for 65 yards. Robby Burke was their leading receiver with 51 yards on three receptions. Jonathan Fortin spearheaded the BU defence with six solos, one assisted tackle and a knockdown.
In the other Quebec match-up on Friday, visiting Sherbrooke shocked Concordia 37-0 before a capacity crowd. The defending national champion Montreal Carabins, ranked No.1 in the CIS, will open their campaign on Saturday when they travel to Quebec City for a 7 p.m. kickoff against No.2 Laval in a game that will be televised on the TVA Sports network.
Bishop's (0-1) plays host to Concordia (0-1) on Sept. 12 at 1 p.m.
Text by Earl Zukerman, McGill Sports Information
SUMMARY
First Quarter
Bish – Dube 32 FG 6:27
Second Quarter
McG – Lavallée 14 FG 9:46
Third Quarter
No scoring
Fourth Quarter
McG – TD Brouillette 33 pass from Houle (Lavallée convert) 10:34
Bishop’s 3 0 0 0 – 3
McGill 0 3 0 7 – 10
Attendance — 972
STATISTICS
BIS MCG
First downs................... 12 18
Yards Rushing................. 18-93 25-127
Yards passing................. 160 212
Total Offence................. 253 339
Team Losses................... 16 7
Net Offence................... 237 332
Passes made-tried............. 14-30 18-38
Return yards.................. 193 166
Intercepts-yards by........... 1-23 0-0
Fumbles-Lost.................. 1-1 0-0
Sacks by...................... 1 5
Punts-average................. 12-37.7 12-38.5
Penalties-yards............... 9-85 10-72
Time of Possession............ 28:02 31:58
Net offence is yards passing, plus yards rushing, minus team losses such as yards lost on broken plays.
Individual
RUSHING: Bish – Davignon 9-65, Bouffard 5-20, Hyman 2-11, Millings 1-4, Demers 1-(-7); McG — Guimont-Mota 14-72, Houle 9-58, Khandar 2-(-3).
PASSING: Bish – Eman 14-29, 160 yards, 0 TD, 0 ints; Bouffard 0-1-0-0-0; McG — Houle 18-38-212-0-1.
RECEIVING: Bish — Burke 3-51, Cleghorn 2-43, Millings 3-31, Gagnon 2-8, Davignon 1-12, Normandin 1-5, Nelson 1-5, Smellie 1-5; McG — Brouillette 7-100, Bertellin 4-56, Mack 3-18, Gaudreault 2-32, Langelier 1-5, Khandar 1-1.
