April 30, 2012

Team Deslauriers downs Team Bowman at 28th Alouettes Classic

MontrealAlouettes.com

MONTREAL – They say defence wins championships, but that wasn’t quite the case at the 28th Annual Alouettes Classic high school football all-star game at Percival-Molson Stadium. So what happened? Why didn’t the squad led by Als defensive end John Bowman come out on top?

“Maybe John says that defence wins championships, but I think the results on the field today spoke for themselves,” said opposing coach and Alouettes receiver Éric Deslauriers with a smile following his team’s 17-14 win. “But really though, it was our defence that kept us in the game.”

The tight game actually saw Team Bowman jump out to a 7-0 lead thanks to huge 75-yard touchdown run by Jamie Harry of Dalpé-Viau high school, but Team Deslauriers would later counter with a 70-yard run to paydirt by Donovan Martel of Collège de Montréal on their way to victory.

Éric Deslauriers congratulates his players after the win.

“We had an unbelievable team,” beamed Deslauriers. “And the coaches from Grasset did a great job. They knew what they were doing, and always knew which plays to call.”

After seeing his teammate earn bragging rights on this day, Bowman still refused to admit that defence doesn’t win championships.

“We played some great defence today, our defence is what kept us in the game,” shrugged Bowman. “I’m really proud of my kids. We just needed a few bounces to go our way.”

Despite the cold snap that hit Montreal this past week, Deslauriers liked how the players responded to the curve ball thrown their way by Mother Nature.

“It wasn’t the best week the event organizers could have hoped for — we had snow, we had rain — but every night the kids came anyways, the coaches came anyways,” said Deslauriers. “In the end, it was great to see the camaraderie that built leading up until the big game.”

Despite the victory, Deslauriers wasn’t without some regrets.

“I only wish I would’ve made a bigger bet with Bowman!” lamented Deslauriers. “We only bet a signed player card. Even though I’ll probably get a fortune for John’s card on Ebay, a steak dinner would’ve really hit the spot.”