It wasn’t supposed to be a dual of Titans. After last year’s two season match-ups finished 126-10 in favor of the Triades, it was clear who the favourite was coming into this game. But this new era of Cavaliers was hungry for a win against a Lanaudière team who is moving to Division 2 next year, and even hungrier to pass a message: The Cavs are for Real.
It didn’t take long for the Cavs to show the Triades their true colours; after a long pass from quarterback Daniel Lazzarra to Samuel Collette brought them to the goaline, second year receiver Kevin St-Pierre was able to cap off an impressive first drive on offense with a touchdown, putting the visitors up 7-0 early in the game.
The defense then went to work, exemplified in the 2nd quarter when les Triades had possession in the Cavaliers red-zone. Linebacker Jarek Richards made intercepted the ball and returned it all the way for the major, giving the BlueTide a 14-0 lead.
The home team wasn’t about to let themselves get beaten easily. After an impressive drive by the Triades on a stingy Cavs D, Lanaudière was forced into a 4th and 5 situation on the St-Lambert 30 yard line. Good ball handling allowed the home team to fake the run and throw deep on an aggressive Cavaliers line, scoring the long touchdown that the Triades needed. At halftime, Champlain had the 14-6 lead. That would be the last time the best defense in the league broke.
With a fumble on the opening kick-off of the second half, les Triades had the ball deep on Cavalier territory. Alex Meijer and the defense once again step up and stop Lanaudière in their tracks; forcing them to settle for a field goal and tightening the score to 14-9. A few plays later. the Cavs concede a safety making 14-11 and making it a 3-point game.
With 5 minutes left, les Triades had possession had a determined drive moving deeper into Cavaliers territory. However, the Cavaliers defense had other plans in store for the home team. It came down to 4th and 1 on the Cavaliers’ 40 yard line. Dalton English made an incredible play to stop the Lanaudière fullback in the backfield and turn the ball over on downs. The home team would eventually get a last attempt to score in the last minute, but Olivier Albert came up with a big interception to seal the deal, and put Lazzarra in position to score one last time before the game’s end, making it a 21-11 final.
The Cavaliers’ offense finished with an impressive 259 of combined offense, while the impenetrable defense, as we’ve come to expect from them, stepped their game up once again. By allowing only 11 points to Lanaudière, the Cavaliers’ gave up the lowest total of points les Triades have scored since their 2011 season. The defense has now allowed only 49 points in 6 games – an 8.2 point per game average.
Champlain St-Lambert and their #1 ranked defense face another huge challenge next week as they face the #1 ranked offense of the Valleyfield Noir et Or on Sunday, October 19th, at Seaway Park 3 in St-Lambert. Kick-Off is at 1:00 PM
