CIS Football Preview: McGill Redbirds (1-0) vs. Laval Rouge et Or (0-0)

Preview Summary

Reigning Vanier Cup champions Laval open RSEQ play against a hungry McGill squad seeking its first conference road win since 2023. Laval’s high-octane offense and stifling defense face a Redbirds team relying on a revamped attack and opportunistic secondary. Expect Laval to test McGill early, but watch for a late fourth-quarter surge if McGill stays within two scores.

Season Context

Laval captured the 2024 Dunsmore and Vanier Cups with an 8–0 RSEQ mark, boasting the country’s top ELO rating in the preseason polls. Head coach Glen Constantin returns his full complement of playmakers and aims to extend Laval’s national title reign.

McGill finished 2024 at 3–5 in conference play under Alex Surprenant, splitting with Sherbrooke and Concordia but falling short to Laval and Montreal. A record 103-player camp has fueled optimism, though only 97 made the final roster, blending 53 freshmen with experienced seniors.

Team Overviews

Laval Rouge et Or

• Head Coach: Glen Constantin (21st season)
• 2024 Record: 8–0 RSEQ, Dunsmore and Vanier Cup champions
• Offense:
  • QB Philippe Diamond (1,900 yds, 18 TDs) commands a quick-strike passing game
  • RB Jean-Samuel Fortin (1,100 yds, 14 TDs) thrives on inside zone and kick-out schemes
  • WR Kevin Mital (50 rec, 800 yds) stretches the field and wins contested catches
• Defense:

• DL Joshua Cavin (8 sacks) anchors a relentless front four
• LB Noah MacDonald (75 tackles) patrols sideline-to-sideline
• DB Charles James (5 INTs) excels in zone coverage and ball hawking

McGill Redbirds

• Head Coach: Alex Surprenant (2nd season)
• 2024 Record: 3–5 RSEQ (3rd place)
• Offense:
  • QB Nico Ferron (1,600 yds, 12 TDs) showed poise in the pocket and accuracy on mid-range throws
  • RB Adam Brown (850 yds, 8 TDs) provides home-run speed on outside runs
  • WR Zachary Poirier (40 rec, 600 yds) reliable chain-mover on third downs
• Defense:

• LB Eric Nguyen (70 tackles) leads the unit in run fits and blitz packages
• DE Samuel Trahan (6 sacks) uses a quick first step to disrupt quarterbacks
• DB Matthew LeBlanc (4 INTs) patrols the deep half with strong ball skills

Head-to-Head

• Laval leads the all-time series, 22–6.
• Last meeting: Rouge et Or won 35–10 at Laval in 2024.
• McGill has not beaten Laval on the road since 2018, a streak of nine consecutive losses.

Key Players to Watch

Laval

• Philippe Diamond: His quick reads and timing routes dictate the pace.
• Jean-Samuel Fortin: Forces defenses to commit eight in the box, opening play-action lanes.
• Joshua Cavin: Collapses pockets and pressures early, setting the tone up front.

McGill

• Nico Ferron: His intermediate accuracy will test Laval’s linebacker coverage.
• Adam Brown: Breakaways in space could flip field position against a dominant Rouge et Or front.
• Matthew LeBlanc: Ball hawking in the secondary could spark a momentum-shifting turnover.

Tactical Matchups

Laval Offense vs McGill Defense

• Laval will mix inside zone with quick outside tosses, using Diamond’s play-action to free Mital on vertical stems.
• McGill counters with aggressive linebackers and zone-shell coverages, looking to force short drives.

McGill Offense vs Laval Defense

• McGill aims to establish Brown early, then pivot to Ferron’s quick-game concepts over the middle.
• Laval’s front four will stunt and twist, testing Ferron’s pocket presence and the Redbirds’ pass protection.

Broadcast & Streaming

• Live Stats: usports.ca/live
• Video Stream: RSEQ.ca (subscription)
• Radio: CHMP 98.5 FM (Montreal) / CKUT 90.3 FM (McGill)

What to Watch

• First-Quarter Pace: Can McGill sustain an early drive, or will Laval’s front force three-and-out?
• Red-Zone Efficiency: Laval scored on 9 of 10 trips inside the 20 in 2024; McGill aims to stiffen up.
• Turnover Battle: A timely INT or fumble recovery could tilt momentum and impact the total heavily.

Looking Ahead

Laval travels to face Montreal on Sept. 12 in a heavyweight RSEQ showdown, while McGill returns home to host Concordia (Sept. 12). Both contests will carry significant playoff-seeding implications as the conference crown remains the Rouge et Or’s to defend.