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 Quebec city, November 28, 2009. The 2009 Desjardins Vanier Cup. It was supposed to be a perfect storyline for laval. The host team playing for the CIS National Football title, with all the home town fans cheering. But it wasn't meant to be. Instead we had Queen's playing against Calgary Dinos.
The game was riddled with technical difficulties in the first Quarter. Mind you, some of us here on the west coast got up at 8:00am to watch the game, which was scheduled to start at 12pm et.
All said, this was one of those evenly matched games you’d expect to find in a championship game. Both teams finished the season with a 10-1 record.
Calgary lead the Nation in rushing yards, while Queens was 2nd in passing offense. Statistically the Gaels are a much better team on defense compared to Calgary, a team that has struggled defending against the passing game all season long.
1st quarter, Advantage Calgary
During the 1st half, Queen's offense was having a hard time getting their momentum going, while Calgary looked like the team playing to win. They were the stronger team on both offense and defense. Limiting the Queen's offense to only 7 points in the half. When it came to going in the air, Calgary QB Erik Glavic was not shy at all. Finding his receivers on almost every throw, including a 1st half throw to # 33 Anthony Parker, who rushed for 29 yards, before the queens defense brought him down at the 1 yard line. This set up the Dinos for a 1yard rush into the end zone, on the following play. At the end of the first half Calgary was leading 25 -7.
Queens fighting back
The 2nd half started with an offensive push from the Gaels, trying to avoid a blow out and keep the game close. Their defense also came to life in the 3rd quarter, forcing calgary to commit more turnovers. 6 minutes into the second half they reduced the calgary lead from 18 points to a 6 point difference.
With their lead threatened, Calgary resorted back to what they do best, Rushing the ball. A couple of rushes by their star running back, Matt Walter gave them a much needed confidence boost. Which was quickly shut down by the Gaels as they blocked a field goal from the Dinos kicker, # 6 Aaron Ifield, to stop Calgary from increasing their lead by 3 points.
It looked like the Queen's offense had gone back to sleep again, in the 3rd quarter, unable to gain any yards on 3rd down conversions. Luckily their defense had other ideas. they managed to hold off the Dinos offense, by forcing Glavick to make mistakes on the passing game.
It looked like Queen's QB, Danny Brannagan, was in slow motion mode, but he still managed to overthrow the ball on almost every possession in the 3rd quarter.
Calgary Falling apart
The 4th quarter started with Calgary leading 25 - 16. But it didn't take long before the tables were turned around. A few minutes into the 4th quarter, Queen's took a 1 point lead (26-25) as Brannagan threw a long td pass to # 82 Scott Valberg.
Just like that the momentun shifted.
Advantage Gaels. Danny "boy" came back firing from all cylinders and looked more confident connecting on 2 consecutive passes for over 20yards. a few plays later and the Gaels had extend their lead to 33 - 25.
With 6 minutes left in the game, the Mounties came out onto the field carrying the Covetted university football, Vanier Cup.
But the game was along way from bieng over. an injured Glavic, rallied his troops back into the game. Narrowing the lead margin to just 2 points, with 6:36 minutes left in the 4th, but this was as close as they would get in this game.
Turnovers cost the Dinos key opportunities to win the game, before you know it, the fat lady was already playing her tune and the dance was over.
Queen's came back from behind to win this game 33 - 31. Becoming the 2009 CIS Football, National Champions.
By, Alex Mwendwa
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