Cheetahs race to fourth straight win

The game was played on Concordia University's artificial-turf field in N.D.G. after Vanier's home field was deemed unplayable by team staff.

The visitors struck first, hitting a 30-yard field goal before Condors running back Maxime Béland broke several tackles and outran the rest of the Cheetahs defense to the end zone on an 83-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter. The visitors actually built 10-0 and 17-7 advantages before the Cheetahs came storming back.

From the beginning of the second quarter on, the Cheetahs offense could do no wrong, however. Quarterback Myles Gibbon threw two touchdown passes to St. Laurent resident Duraney White and running back John Jean-Baptiste scored on a 14-yard run to give the Cheetahs a 21-17 halftime lead.

The third quarter was more of the same. Gibbon hit wide receiver Leyland Abel with a short hitch pass, but Abel's elusiveness and deceptive speed allowed him to dodge two would-be tacklers and score on the team's first offensive play in the second half. Gibbon later hit Sanchez Deschamps on a 36-yard score and rounded out his passing day with an 11-yard touchdown to slotback Michael Harrington.

Vanier head coach Peter Chryssomalis was content, but not elated with the win, which dropped the Condors to 0-3 and could cost them a playoff spot.

“We had a hard time getting started in the first quarter, and we can't keep doing that. We have to be sharper and play sixty minutes of football,” he said.

Running backs Jean-Baptiste and Remi Biakabutuka also both scored touchdowns in the game, while cornerback Nathan Taylor had an interception in the contest.

The Condors rounded out the scoring with a late touchdown, but missed the extra point.

The Cheetahs take on the Édouard-Montpetit Lynx this weekend, and have a bye next week.

(Photo: Martin Alarie)