On a cloudless day in Hamilton that was warm for the end of November, two teams from opposite ends of the country came together to challenge each other for the top prize in Canadian university sports. In the end, the squad that tried to lose less came out the victor in one of the sloppiest championship games ever played.
The Mitchell Bowl champion Saskatchewan Huskies and the Uteck Bowl victor Laval Rouge et Or traveled to Ivor Wynn Stadium in Ontario’s steel town to compete for the 92nd Vanier Cup, the trophy awarded to Canada’s best university football team. Both teams brought with them buses full of supporters, who were quite visible in the stands; but the devoted Rouge et Or faithful made a ruckus with which Huskies fans could not contend.
The game was touted as one pitting the incredibly potent offence of the Saskatchewan Huskies, led by quarterback Steve Bilan and running back Chad Nunweiler, against Laval’s stringent defence, led by Philippe Audet, Yves Hercule, and Matthieu Proulx.
The first half saw a number of good scoring chances by Saskatchewan squandered, as they were not able to capitalize in the red zone. Steve Bilan was 8 for 18, tallying 98 yards in the air, but his passes were twice intercepted and once fumbled close to the Laval endzone.
The Huskies were, however, able to move the ball on the ground, as star running back Chad Nunweiler ran for 81 yards on 17 carries, but this did not lead to any touchdowns or field goals either. Saskatchewan scored one point in the first half, which came in the form of a rouge after a punt went through the Laval endzone.
Laval could not get anything going on offence whatsoever in the first 30 minutes. Quarterback William Leclerc threw for a total of 47 yards on 11 pass attempts and Jeronimo Huerta-Flores rushed for a whopping total of 5 yards.
Laval did not score at all in the first half, which meant the score after two quarters was 1-0 in favor of the Huskies. The score was not low because of extremely good defensive play, but because of a terrible lack of offensive execution.
The second half saw a slight rebound in the Laval offence, leading to seven points on a field goal, a safety, and a rouge. Saskatchewan’s lack of ability to finish drives was only worsened, though, as they still could not find the endzone. By the end of the third quarter Bilan had thrown four interceptions and his team had fumbled the ball twice.
The third quarter was by far the most exciting of the game. Matthew Leblanc kicked an 18-yard field goal, which gave his team a 3-1 lead, and was the only offensive score in the game.
There was also a comical period in the quarter where it seemed there was a fumble or interception on every play. Jean-Phillipe Lanthier and Phillip Gauthier each picked off Bilan and on another promising drive, receiver Scott Stevens fumbled the ball after a big completion.
Leclerc of the Rouge et Or was also intercepted and was forced to watch a teammate fumble during that ridiculous 15 minutes. Both teams were playing like the ball was a hot potato that was a danger to anyone who possessed it.
In the fourth quarter the Laval defence clamped down on the Huskies and showed that it was deserving of being the best in the country. They smothered Bilan and Nunweiler, and forced kicker Brian Ollen to concede a safety midway through the frame.
The struggles of the Huskies offence were summed up in one possession in the fourth. Bilan handed the ball off to Stevens in the backfield, but Stevens slipped just after he was given the ball, and lost four yards on the play. On the very next play the ball slipped out of Bilan’s hand when he attempted a pass and landed harmlessly on the turf. At this point it looked clear that Saskatchewan’s offence was not going to score any points on this day.
Proulx, who intercepted a Bilan pass with four seconds left on the clock to seal the deal for Laval, put the exclamation point on the game. The pass was nowhere near a Huskies receiver.
Laval held on to win the 2004 Vanier Cup by a score of 7-1, the lowest scoring final since the inaugural game in 1965. The Rouge et Or flag-bearer led the charge onto the field as the celebrations began. The crowd could be heard giving a rousing rendition of “Ole’, ole'”.
Leblanc was named player of the game, while Proulx was given MVP honors for his efforts in the victory. A crowd of 14, 227 spectators witnessed the Laval Rouge et Or capture their second straight national championship.
