We now know the teams who will battle for the 2018 Vanier Cup.The combatants will be the Quebec university champion, the University of Laval Rouge et Or, and the Ontario university champion, the University of Western OntarioM ustangs. The Rouge et Or and the Mustangs will play at Telus Stadium in Quebec City, Quebec.
On Saturday in the Mitchell Bowl, the Mustangs defeated the University of Saskatchewan Huskies 47-24 from TD Stadium in London, Ontario. It was a great game for Mustangs quarterback Chris Merchant of Calgary, Alberta, Mustangs running back Alex Taylor of Winnipeg, Manitoba and Mustangs wide receiver Harry McMaster of Niagara Falls, Ontario. Merchant completed 17 of 28 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns and had 10 carries for 82 yards and one touchdown. Taylor had 12 carries for 141 yards and two touchdowns and McMaster had 11 catches for 152 yards and two touchdowns.
On Saturday in the Uteck Bowl, the Rouge et Or hammered the St. Francis Xavier University X-Men 63-0. Like the Mitchell Bowl, it was an excellent game for three offensive players on the Rouge et Or. Quarterback Hugo Richard of Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec completed 22 of 27 pass attempts for 327 yards and five touchdowns. Alexis Cote of Quebec City, Quebec had 23 rushes for 207 yards and three touchdowns and wide receiver Vincent Forbes-Mombleau of Quebec City, Quebec had nine catches for 104 yards and three touchdowns.
This will be the third time in the history of the Vanier Cup that the Rouge et Or have played the Mustangs. In 2008, the Rouge et Or beat the Mustangs 44-21 at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, while in 2017, the Mustangs beat the Rouge et Or 39-17 at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton.
