Cheetahs brave sloppy conditions for win

The Cheetahs got off to a slow start as Garneau drove the field and scored first on a 22-yard field goal in the first quarter, but the defending Bol d'Or champions caught a break late in the first half when defensive end Jesse Joseph blocked a Garneau punt and recovered the ball at the Élans' 5-yard line.

Running back Remi Biakabutuka took it in from five yards out on the team's next offensive play after the turnover to give the Cheetahs a 7-3 lead that lasted into the third quarter.

The Cheetahs' offence, though, was hamstrung by its inability to get moving in the soggy field conditions, which made the Cheetahs look more like turtles.

The field was so bad the team's next home game, against CEGEP Beauce-Appalaches, was moved to Concordia University in N.D.G.

Players were having trouble changing directions so much that at one point, a Cheetahs receiver turned in two separate directions after catching a pass in order to get a foothold on the field, and couldn't cut in either direction.

“The field was certainly a factor today, but we also didn't execute nearly as well as we're capable. This team has more potential than it showed here,” said head coach Peter Chryssomalis.

The second half was inconsistent for the Cheetahs. Vanier conceded a safety touch, but also managed to score two second-half touchdowns and a two-point conversion to take a 22-8 lead with about 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Myles Gibbon hit Sanchez Deschamps with a 12-yard touchdown pass and Chris Campbell hauled in a 22-yard Gibbon pass for the eventual winning score.

Gibbon also ran in the two-point conversion. Gibbon was 9 of 26 for 117 yards on the day while rushing for 27 more.

St. Laurent resident Duraney White was the team's leading receiver with 7 catches for 95 yards, while defensive end Ameet Pall, who had an outstanding game with 14 tackles, set the CEGEPAAA league record for quarterback sacks in a career by notching his 24th career sack, breaking the record held by Miguel Robede, who had 23 sacks in three seasons from 1999 to 2001.

Pall, a Pierrefonds resident, was then league's defensive player of the year last year and figures to be among the favourites for the award again this season.

(Photo: Martin Alarie)