May 15, 2006
WEST RALLIES TO WIN EAST-WEST BOWL
QUEBEC CITY (CIS) - Close but no cigars!
Holding a commanding 23-0 lead at halftime, it looked like the East team was finally going to claim its first-ever win at the annual Canadian Interuniversity Sport East West Bowl football all-star game but in the end, the West squad prevailed once again thanks to a furious second half rally in front of 8,590 fans at PEPS Stadium on the campus of Laval University.
Quarterback Adam Archibald connected with McMaster teammate Jon Behie for a six-yard touchdown pass on the West first possession of the overtime shootout session to complete the spectacular comeback and give the West representatives a 34-26 victory, their fourth in as many presentations of the event showcasing third and fourth-year CIS prospects who will be eligible for next year's CFL draft.
The Laval Rouge et Or played host to the East West Bowl for the first of three years, taking over for Wilfrid Laurier which had organized the first three editions of the event. The East team was comprised of the Maritimes and Quebec schools, plus Ottawa, Queen's, Toronto and York. The West squad was comprised of players from the 13 teams west of Toronto.
The East roared out of the gates and took a 6-0 lead six minutes and 26 seconds into the contest on a two-yard run by local favourite Pierre-Luc Yao of Laval. Kicker Warren Kean of Concordia missed the ensuing convert but quickly redeemed himself with a pair of field goals and a rouge to put the score at 13-0 early in the second quarter.
The East added 10 unanswered points before the break, on a 32-yard TD strike from Concordia pivot Scott Syvret to Montreal's Yves Bériault, and a 27-yard field goal by Kean.
The West finally broke the ice 2:09 into the third frame when UBC's Blake Smelser found Saskatchewan's Leighton Heron in the end zone from 18 yards out. Smelser struck again 12 seconds into the fourth quarter reaching Windsor's Glenn MacKay on five yards to bring the West to within nine points.
Archibald then took over at quarterback for the West and quickly operated his magic. Following a West rouge which made it 23-15, Archibald connected with Guelph's Dave McKoy for a spectacular 80-yard pass-and-run play at 3:54, and then made good on the two-point conversion to tie the game at 23 all.
The East regained the lead midway through the period on a 12-yard field goal by Kean, his fourth of the afternoon, but Western's Derek Schiavone tied it again with 4:50 remaining with a 24-yard field goal.
The West could have won the game in regulation but a bad snap prevented them from kicking a 10-yard field goal with four seconds left on the clock.
Trailing 34-26 following Behie's go-ahead touchdown on the West first possession of the extra period, the East was unable to answer and the duel ended when Syvret couldn't connect with Laval's Duane John on a third down attempt.
Archibald earned offensive player-of-the-game honours for the West after completing 14 of 19 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns. Laurier's Justin Philipps, who had four solo tackles and two assisted tackles, was the West defensive MVP.
"This rounds out a fantastic week," said Archibald. "We couldn't have written a better scenario. It's always nice to come through on a big stage like this one."
Yao was the MVP on offense for the East, leading all rushers in the game with 140 yards and one major on 20 carries. Laval teammate Michael Jean-Louis, who tallied one solo tackle and three assisted including a half-sack, was the choice on the defensive side of the ball.
"We were doing a fantastic job against the run, and all of a sudden they started passing the ball with great efficiency," commented Jean-Louis. "This was the turning point. We just couldn't stop them when they started going through the air."
The West completely dominated the passing game, tallying 543 yards through the air to 158 for the East. The East finished with a 260-39 advantage on the ground.
Smelser completed 10 of 12 passes for 157 yards and two majors. For the East, Syvret went 7-for-13 for 108 yards and one touchdown, while York's Bart Zemanek went 5-for-6 for 48 yards.
Alberta's Damon Fraietta caught four passes for 106 yards for the West.
Click here for complete game stats.
-CIS-
(Source: Michel Bélanger, CIS Communications Manager)
(Photo: McMaster quaterback Adam Archibald took offensive player-of-the-game honours after completing 14 of 19 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns to rally the West to a 34-26 comeback win in the fourth annual East West Bowl game Saturday. File photo by Cameron Dunlop.)
Holding a commanding 23-0 lead at halftime, it looked like the East team was finally going to claim its first-ever win at the annual Canadian Interuniversity Sport East West Bowl football all-star game but in the end, the West squad prevailed once again thanks to a furious second half rally in front of 8,590 fans at PEPS Stadium on the campus of Laval University.
Quarterback Adam Archibald connected with McMaster teammate Jon Behie for a six-yard touchdown pass on the West first possession of the overtime shootout session to complete the spectacular comeback and give the West representatives a 34-26 victory, their fourth in as many presentations of the event showcasing third and fourth-year CIS prospects who will be eligible for next year's CFL draft.
The Laval Rouge et Or played host to the East West Bowl for the first of three years, taking over for Wilfrid Laurier which had organized the first three editions of the event. The East team was comprised of the Maritimes and Quebec schools, plus Ottawa, Queen's, Toronto and York. The West squad was comprised of players from the 13 teams west of Toronto.
The East roared out of the gates and took a 6-0 lead six minutes and 26 seconds into the contest on a two-yard run by local favourite Pierre-Luc Yao of Laval. Kicker Warren Kean of Concordia missed the ensuing convert but quickly redeemed himself with a pair of field goals and a rouge to put the score at 13-0 early in the second quarter.
The East added 10 unanswered points before the break, on a 32-yard TD strike from Concordia pivot Scott Syvret to Montreal's Yves Bériault, and a 27-yard field goal by Kean.
The West finally broke the ice 2:09 into the third frame when UBC's Blake Smelser found Saskatchewan's Leighton Heron in the end zone from 18 yards out. Smelser struck again 12 seconds into the fourth quarter reaching Windsor's Glenn MacKay on five yards to bring the West to within nine points.
Archibald then took over at quarterback for the West and quickly operated his magic. Following a West rouge which made it 23-15, Archibald connected with Guelph's Dave McKoy for a spectacular 80-yard pass-and-run play at 3:54, and then made good on the two-point conversion to tie the game at 23 all.
The East regained the lead midway through the period on a 12-yard field goal by Kean, his fourth of the afternoon, but Western's Derek Schiavone tied it again with 4:50 remaining with a 24-yard field goal.
The West could have won the game in regulation but a bad snap prevented them from kicking a 10-yard field goal with four seconds left on the clock.
Trailing 34-26 following Behie's go-ahead touchdown on the West first possession of the extra period, the East was unable to answer and the duel ended when Syvret couldn't connect with Laval's Duane John on a third down attempt.
Archibald earned offensive player-of-the-game honours for the West after completing 14 of 19 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns. Laurier's Justin Philipps, who had four solo tackles and two assisted tackles, was the West defensive MVP.
"This rounds out a fantastic week," said Archibald. "We couldn't have written a better scenario. It's always nice to come through on a big stage like this one."
Yao was the MVP on offense for the East, leading all rushers in the game with 140 yards and one major on 20 carries. Laval teammate Michael Jean-Louis, who tallied one solo tackle and three assisted including a half-sack, was the choice on the defensive side of the ball.
"We were doing a fantastic job against the run, and all of a sudden they started passing the ball with great efficiency," commented Jean-Louis. "This was the turning point. We just couldn't stop them when they started going through the air."
The West completely dominated the passing game, tallying 543 yards through the air to 158 for the East. The East finished with a 260-39 advantage on the ground.
Smelser completed 10 of 12 passes for 157 yards and two majors. For the East, Syvret went 7-for-13 for 108 yards and one touchdown, while York's Bart Zemanek went 5-for-6 for 48 yards.
Alberta's Damon Fraietta caught four passes for 106 yards for the West.
Click here for complete game stats.
-CIS-
(Source: Michel Bélanger, CIS Communications Manager)
(Photo: McMaster quaterback Adam Archibald took offensive player-of-the-game honours after completing 14 of 19 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns to rally the West to a 34-26 comeback win in the fourth annual East West Bowl game Saturday. File photo by Cameron Dunlop.)
