By Joel Tichinoff, Sports Editor
The Queen’s University Gaels went into the dressing room at half-time down 25-7 to the University of Calgary Dinos. It was a long road for the Gaels to get to Quebec City and the Vanier Cup game.
Queen’s had not won a national football title since 1992. The Gaels narrowly beat the Western Mustangs 43-39 for the Yates Cup in the Ontario league finals and turned out a stunning upset against defending champion Laval in a 33-30 Mitchell Bowl win. The number two ranked Dinos had beaten a strong University of Saskatchewan team to make it to the Uteck Bowl where they stomped Halifax’s St. Mary’s Huskies 38-14.
The Dinos and Gaels exchanged touchdowns in the first quarter before a sold-out crowd of nearly 19,000 at Stade PEPS, but Calgary stormed into the lead in the second quarter kicking three field goals and forcing a safety. Meanwhile, Dinos two-time Hec Crighton Trophy winning quarterback Eric Galvic added a one-yard touchdown. Queen’s exploded in the third quarter with quarterback Danny Brannagan leading his team to the largest second half comeback in Vanier history with three touchdown passes.
Calgary narrowed the gap mid-way through the fourth when Glavic connected with star-receiver Anthony Parker to make the score 33-31. But Queen’s held on for the win, capping off a stunning 11-1 season with a national championship title.
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