West wins 16-7 in CIS East-West Bowl
LONDON, Ont. - In the lowest scoring game since the first East
West Bowl in 2003, Michael Faulds (Eden Mills, Ont.) won Team West
MVP honours to lead the team to a 16-7 victory at TD Waterhouse
Stadium on May 9.
About 1,000 fans were in attendance as the teams played an
entertaining game, combining for 37 first downs on the day.
In fitting fashion at his home stadium, Faulds (Eden Mills,
Ont.) led all passers going 15/25 for 181 yards - and had two great
throws into the end-zone that were dropped by receivers for what
should have been touchdowns.
St. FX defensive standout Nick Riva (LaSalle, Ont.), brother of
Mustangs running back Nathan, earned East Team MVP honours,
finishing with 10 total tackles, including nine of the solo
variety.
"No matter how you limit the defence to make the game fair you only
have a week to prepare the them," said Marshall, referring to the
low-scoring contest. "It's generally a problem with all all-star
games."
"Everyone involved did a good job executing this event so that we
were able to showcase the guys out on the field today."
Faulds said he was pleased with the performance and the
experience.
"Today was good. Everyone got a lot of playing time today," he
said. "We switched every two series or so and it was fair. The wind
was gusting a lot which made for some challenges but we came out
with the win and that's all the matters."
The first-half of the game ended with the West team leading
13-0.
Laurence Nixon (Richmond, B.C.), quarterback for the Saskatchewan
Huskies, brought in the only touchdown of the half on a third-down
gamble, as he moved through the thick East defensive squad from the
one-yard line.
Faulds aided the West team to get into field goal position where
Rob Maver (Brampton, Ont.), kicker for the Guelph Gryphons, added
three points to the board with two separate opportunities in the
first. Faulds' passes to Jordan Sisco (Regina, Sask.), wide
receiver for the Regina Cougars, and Nick FitzGibbon (Puslinch,
Ont.), running back for the Gryphons, were quick and clean and
allowed the West to move down the field quickly.
Although the East team did not make it onto the board in this half,
Benoit Groulx (Montreal, Que.), quarterback for the Laval Rouge et
Or, made a number of successful plays to Jason Marshall (Innisfil,
Ont.), running back for the York Lions, to move the ball
forward.
Jesse Andrews (Pickering, Ont.), quarterback for the Bishop's
Gaiters, was also a force to reckon with making a few runs himself.
He finished with 30 yards on five carries and added 101 yards on
13/23 passing.
The low scoring game saw only one touchdown in the second half as
well, this time for the East. But that was not enough as defensive
powerhouses like John Surla (Niagara Falls, Ont.), linebacker for
the Western Mustangs, and Doug Goldsby (White Rock, B.C.),
defensive back for the UBC Thunderbirds, held strong.
Pascal Fils (Montreal, Que.), running back for the Sherbrooke Vert
et Or, ran 74 yards in many promising attempts to move the East
forward. But it was running backs Matt Henry (Mississauga, Ont.),
of the Manitoba Bisons, and Anthony Woodson (Calgary, Alta.), of
the Calgary Dinos who made plays which would clinch the win for the
West.
"Players on both sides performed well today," said Glen Constantin,
head coach of the East squad. "Our East team had opportunities
that, unfortunately, we didn't take advantage of, but overall the
game was a showcase of the kids' talent, and that's what it's all
about."
Riva was grateful to pick up MVP of the East team at the game
today, finishing with 10 tackles.
"There is a lot of great talent at this event and I am honoured to
be a part of it. We are all here competing with the best so that
means the pressures on. I'm just happy I could be here," said
Riva.
Nixon opened the scoring in the first quarter on a one-yeard run to
make it 7-0 for the West team.
In the second quarter, Rob Maver booted a pair of 31-yard field
goals to make it 13-0 at the half.
Sherbrooke's Pascal Fils scored on a five-yard dash in the third
quarter for the East's only points, making it 13-7, capping off a
five-play, 62-yard drive.
But in the fourth, Maver made it 16-7 after kicking a 35-yard field
goal.
Today's game concludes the seventh year of East-West Bowl events.
In previous years, players have graced the fields at Wilfrid
Laurier University, Universite Laval and McMaster University. At
McMaster in 2008, the East team saw their first win in the event's
history.
The East-West Bowl brings together over 90 of the best players in
Canadian Interuniversity Sport football. Many of the players who
participate are eligible for the next Canadian Football League
draft. A committee of CIS head coaches selects the participants
from a pool of players who have been nominated by their respected
universities. These players participate in an intense week of
practices, training and evaluation which conclude with the annual
all-star game.
Previous East West Bowl Results
YEAR - RESULT
2008 @ McMaster East 25, West 12
2007 @ Laval West 22, East 19 (OT)
2006 @ Laval West 34, East 26 (OT)
2005 @ Laurier West 34, East 16
2004 @ Laurier West 21, East 12
2003 @ Laurier West 10, East 5
Source:
Andy Watson
Sports Information and Media Relations Coordinator
Western Mustangs
The University of Western Ontario