LONDON, Ont. – With a minute and six seconds left on the clock, McMaster Marauders kicker Tyler Crapigna notched a 42-yard field goal to put the West team ahead 18-17 for the win.
The West ended a three-year winning streak for the East at the annual Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) East West bowl, a week-long opportunity for upcoming CFL prospects to showcase their talent to scouts and coaches.
“It was really good,” said Wilfrid Laurier full back Tyrrel Wilson. “I learned a lot from a lot of different coaches and the CFL guys were here so there were a lot of different drills and just a lot of practice. I’m just looking to take it all back to my own team.”
The teams are split up by placement in the country, with the East being comprised of the Atlantic and Quebec conferences as well as Queen’s, Toronto and Ottawa from the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) conference. The remaining OUA teams and the Canada West conference make up the West team.
The West, which included Laurier players Wilson, Jeremy Deneau and Michael Massel, came from behind to win the game after leading going into the half. After a 101-yard kickoff return by Adam Thibault from the Laval Rouge et Or put the East up, the West would rally in the fourth quarter to come away with the win.
Crapigna would take care of the kicking duties for both teams, which included six total field-goal attempts throughout the game.
After the first quarter, the score would be tied 3-3 as Crapigna put up a field goal for each team. Crapigna would open the second with a 19-yard field goal for the West, while a conceded safety by the East would put the West up 8-3 heading into the half.
However Thibault’s kickoff return would turn the tides as the East team would put up two consecutive touchdowns to go ahead 17-8 after three quarters of play.
A 1-yard touchdown by Brandon Deschamps from the British Columbia Thunderbirds would bring the West within two. Crapina’s 42-yard field goal put the West ahead with just over a minute left.
Crapigna attempted a 43-yard field goal for the East with mere seconds left in the game, but was wide right, giving the West the victory.
For the WLU players, the training will give them something to bring back to a young team hindered by a 3-5 record last season. In light of the new season and new head coach, the Hawks hope to bring in their experience.
“[I want to] just help out the guys on the o-line [and] their techniques,” Deneau said. “You learn so many things that it’s going to be easy to help them out in different ways.”
