HAMILTON, Ont. – In a game that was a microcosm for their entire season, the University of Calgary Dinos battled back but fell just short of their national championship dreams as the Laval Rouge et Or captured their ninth title with a 31-26 victory in the 52nd ArcelorMittal Dofasco Vanier Cup at Tim Hortons Field.

After an explosive start, jumping out to a 14-point lead less than five minutes into the contest, the injury bug again took its toll on a team that already had more than its share of walking wounded on the sidelines as fifth-year starting quarterback Jimmy Underdahl went down in the first quarter and would not return. The team battled back from adversity once again and had a lead in the fourth quarter, and then two opportunities in the final three minutes to score the game-winning touchdown.

"Jimmy went down early, and Adam came in and played great," said Dinos head coach Wayne Harris. "They're just an outstanding group - I'm not sure what else to say about them."

Addressing his team on the field for the final time this season, Harris told his charges "I have never been more proud of a team."

One of the best Vanier Cup games in history started off with a bang that stunned the Tim Hortons Field crowd.

Underdahl connected with Michael Klukas (Calgary, Alta.,) for an 86-yard touchdown strike on Calgary's first play from scrimmage. Following a Rouge et Or punt, Dinos receiver Anderson capped a six-play, 85-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run followed by a Niko DiFonte (Winnipeg, Man.) rouge seconds later on the ensuing kick to set the score at 14-0.

Underdahl was injured on a Rouge et Or sack by Vincent Desjardins of Quebec, which saw his understudy Adam Sinagra - the Hardy Cup MVP - relieve him for the remainder of the game.

The Rouge et Or got on the board on a quick-strike play with 5:34 remaining in the opening quarter, with Richard hitting Pivin on a 37-yard toss to bring the score to 14-7. 

In the second quarter, the two teams traded field goals, with Calgary's DiFonte knocking a 43-yard field goal and Laval's Dominic Levesque (Saint-Georges, Que.) notching a 38-yard kick to set the score at 17-10 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Calgary added to their lead with DiFonte hitting his second of four field goals to extend the score to 20-10.

At that point, with Calgary looking poised to take control of the game, Lussier-Roy came up with the game-changing sack on Sinagra, who dropped the ball. Lussier-Roy recovered the fumble, and that turnover resulted in a Rouge et Or touchdown, with Richard finding Auclair on a five-yard pass two plays later to bring the Rouge et Or within three points at 20-17.

From there, the game see-sawed back and forth, with Laval taking their first lead of the game when Alaire-Tardif punched in a three-yard rush with 21 seconds left in the third quarter.

In the fourth, DiFonte notched back-to-back field goals, giving Calgary the slender 26-24 edge, and setting up a dramatic final few minutes.

Laval went up 31-26 with just 2:33 remaining in the game on a one-yard Richard run. 

Calgary had two shots to get in the end zone in the remaining minutes, with one of the final drives coming when Laval turned the ball over on downs with 1:27 remaining on a third-and-inches play. Calgary would drive down the field to Laval's 23-yard line, but failed to convert on third and 10, handing the Laval Rouge et Or their ninth Vanier Cup title.

"There was plenty of time," said Sinagra. "A minute and 30 is a dream. It's too much time and we should have scored."

The game featured 10 quarterback sacks, with Calgary tallying seven and Laval three. Michah Teitz and Boston Rowe, both of Calgary, were the Dinos top defensive players, recording 12 total tackles. Nic Statz of Calgary had two of the Dinos seven sacks.

"We know Laval's a good team, we didn't expect anything but a tough game today." said Calgary head coach Wayne Harris Jr. "I don't know if people expected a tough game out of us but we tried to provide one."

Richard, Vincent Alarie-Tardi (Chibougamau, Que.), Antony Auclair (Notre-Dame-des-Pins, Que.) and Mark-Antoine Pivin (Sherbrooke, Que.) all scored in Laval's first Vanier Cup win since 2013.

For Calgary, Adam Sinagra (Pointe Claire, Que.) tossed 276 yards and one touchdown in relief of injured starter Jimmy Underdahl. Prior to his first quarter injury, Underdahl was three of four, throwing one touchdown and 123 yards.

Dinos running back Jeshrun Antwi (Calgary) rushed for 177 yards, while Anthony Anderson (Medicine Hat, Alta.) scored one touchdown on the ground in the loss for the Calgary. 

Laval's quarterback Hugo Richard (Longueuil, Que.) won the Ted Morris Memorial Trophy as the game's MVP, tossing two touchdowns and rushing for another on the ground. He completed 25 of 32 attempts, recording 339 yards in the air and another 62 yards on the ground.

Cédric Lussier-Roy of Sherbrooke, Que. won the Bruce Coulter Award as defensive MVP. Lussier-Roy forced a critical turnover in the third quarter which resulted in a Rouge et Or touchdown and shifted the game's momentum to Laval. Lussier-Roy finished with seven total tackles, a forced fumble and one sack.

NOTES: This was Laval's 10th Vanier Cup appearance since 1999 … Laval is 3-0 against Calgary in Vanier Cup games and 5-0 all time on the national stage ...  Laval also has perfect 3-0 record in Vanier Cups played in Hamilton; Laval earned wins in 2008 vs. Western and 2004 vs. Saskatchewan; both were played at Ivor Wynne Stadium.

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