Gaiters down McGill 26-19 in double overtime (with VIDEO)

MONTREAL, Que. – A 10-yard catch by Quincy Van De Cruize (Etobicoke, Ont.) in the second period of overtime lifted the Bishop's Gaiters to a 26-19 victory over the McGill Redmen in Quebec University Football League action at Molson Stadium. Van De Cruize caught a screen pass from Jesse Andrews (Pickering, Ont.) and dove into the left corner of the end zone to put the Gaiters in front. The Gaiters' defence held on the next three plays to preserve the victory.

"The only thing that was going through my mind was not to let the team down," said Van De Cruize, a rookie running back out of Champlain College. "If it wasn't for the (offensive) line, if it wasn't for the coach calling the right play, and everybody getting where they needed to be, I wouldn't have got the touchdown. Jesse put the ball exactly where it needed to be – it was the perfect ball and the perfect play, the o-line did their job, and all the other receivers were where they were supposed to be."

The game was the Gaiters' first overtime game since October 24, 1998, a 28-25 loss to the Ottawa Gee-Gees, and their first win in extra time since a 17-14 victory over Laval on October 25, 1997. It marked the QUFL's first overtime game since a 31-28 Sherbrooke victory over McGill on October 13, 2007.

After the teams traded field goals in the opening overtime period, Andrews led the Gaiters on a four-play drive, completing passes to Geoff Coventry (Ottawa, Ont.) and Olivier Mongeau (Sorel, Que.) to give Bishop's first and goal from the McGill 10.

McGill had forced overtime with 25 seconds left in regulation, as Thomas Fortin caught an eight-yard pass from Ryne Bondy, who was making his first start of the season for the Redmen, to tie the game up at 16-16.

The Gaiters' only touchdown in regulation time came on a fake field goal in the third quarter, as Mongeau, the holder, threw a 19-yard pass to Matt Burke to put the Gaiters up 10-7. McGill had opened the scoring in the second quarter on a 10-yard run by Sean Murphy, and a 26-yard field goal by Josh Maveety (Kingston, Ont.) cut the margin to 10-3 by halftime.

Maveety finished with four field goals, a career-high, and the first time a Gaiter has kicked four field goals since John Gal went 4-for-5 against Carleton on October 4, 1997. Maveety's six field goals this season is already ahead of the five he made in all of 2009.

A safety touch by McGill rounded out the scoring.

For Bishop's, Andrews went 18-for-35 for 213 yards with no interceptions and one touchdown. He was also the Gaiters' leading rusher, with ten carries for 70 yards. Coventry, making his first career start, led the Gaiters' receivers with four catches for 58 yards, while Van De Cruize finished with 91 all-purpose yards. Defensively, Elie Ngoyi (Sherbrooke, Que.) led the Gaiters with eight tackles, including a 14-yard sack in the fourth quarter.

For McGill, Ryne Bondy went 21-for-41 for 308 yards with a touchdown. Charles-Antoine Sinotte caught eight catches for 85 yards, while Justene Edwards went 5-for-85. Sean Murphy led the Redmen rushers with 11 carries for 44 yards and a touchdown. Francois Bradette led the Redmen defence with 6.5 tackles.

The Gaiters (1-1) return to action on Saturday, September 18, as they host the Acadia Axemen (1-0) at Coulter Field in the annual Homecoming game. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. McGill (0-2) will host Concordia (1-1) on Friday night at Molson Stadium.

Source:

Bishop's Sports Info