The 2023 Vainer Cup semifinals are set. On Saturday, the conference finals were all determined. In the Loney Bowl (the Atlantic University Football Championship), the St. Francis Xavier X-Men defeated the Bishop’s Gaiters 34-23. In the Yates Cup (the Ontario University Football Championship), the Western University Mustangs defeated the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks 29-14. In the Dunsmore Cup (the Quebec University Football Championship), the University of Montreal Carabins beat the University of Laval Rouge Et Or 12-6, and in the Hardy Cup (the Canada West Football Championship), the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds beat the University of Alberta Golden Bears 28-27. The Mitchell Bowl will now feature the X-Men and the Thunderbirds, while the Uteck Bowl will feature the Carabins and Mustangs.
In the Loney Bowl, running back Caleb Fogarty had 107 rushing yards and one touchdown, as St. Francis Xavier won their third straight Atlantic title. They previously won in 2021 by a score of 25-17 over Bishop’s and in 2022 by a score of 21-14 over Mount Allison. In the Dunsmore Cup, Kaylyn St-Cyr of Montreal, Quebec was the game most valuable player as he had two interceptions. In the Hardy Cup, the Thunderbirds won on the final play of the game. Quarterback Garrett Rooker threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Sam Davenport of Abbotsford, British Columbia. Davenport had 10 catches for 137 yards and one touchdown. In the Yates Cup, Western won their third straight provincial title. Ethan Dolby of St. Thomas, Ontario had 120 yards rushing.
