(VERSION FRANÇAISE SUIT)
SHERBROOKE, Que. — Jonathan Martel-Joseph’s 71-yard touchdown run in the dying minutes sealed a 34-21 Sherbrooke victory over McGill in U SPORTS football action before about 5,000 at Stade de l’Université de Sherbrooke on Saturday.
The Vert et Or (2-3) trailed 7-0 after the first quarter, were tied 14-14 at halftime, and clung to a 17-14 edge through three quarters before erupting for 17 points in the final frame. The win extended Sherbrooke’s modest streak to two games, their longest since 2022, while McGill dropped to 2-3 just a week after stunning the No. 2-ranked Montreal Carabins.
Despite the bad news for McGill, there was a silver lining in the result as UdeS only won by a margin of 13 points, giving McGill the head-to-head tiebreaker on point-differential should the teams end up tied in the standings. The Redbirds won the first meeting of the season by 16 points (38-22).
The result improved Sherbrooke’s lifetime record against McGill to 22-14 since the Vert & Or inaugurated their program in 2003.
Overall, Sherbrooke finished with 517 total yards and 21 first downs, compared with 423 and 17 for McGill.
Sherbrooke quarterback Jeremy Fyfe delivered an efficient performance, completing 19 of 25 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. He spread the ball around, finding Jérôme Deblois (64 yards, TD) and Marc-André Shaw (61 yards, TD) for majors, while also adding 23 rushing yards. Martel-Joseph anchored the ground game with 187 yards on 17 carries, capped by his long scoring sprint.
McGill leaned on the legs of Eloa Latendresse-Regimbald (141 yards rushing, one TD) and Jerry Momo (149 yards, one TD). “ELR” also threw for 133 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted once. The victim of numerous dropped passes, he completed only nine of 26 attempts.
Sherbrooke Kicker Jacob Lambert chipped in four field goals, including a 40-yarder in the fourth that stretched the lead to 27-21 before Martel-Joseph’s clinching run.
McGill now prepares to face Montreal (4-1) on Oct. 4 in a 2 p.m. kickoff at Stade CEPSUM. The Vert et Or have a bye before visiting the Carabins on Oct. 10.
REDBIRDS RAP: McGill lost OL Zach Aboud to injury on just the fourth offensive play from scrimmage. The veteran had returned to the lineup two games ago after suffering a lower-boday injury early in the preseaon contest against Toronto… On defence, linebacker Philippe Bouthot led McGill with eight total tackles and a sack, while Frederic Beneteau added a sack and forced fumble. Domenico Piazza and Antonio Gioffre each recovered fumbles to keep McGill within reach late. The Redbirds produced two sacks, forced two fumbles and came up with a pair of recoveries, but Sherbrooke avoided turnovers of their own.
(NOTE: There are some glitches in the stats, which are expected to be revised late Sunday night and will be updated here)
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
CELL: 514-983-7012
E-MAIL:earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca