Second half comeback powers Quebec past Alberta for 3rd consecutive title

Game stats

For the third consecutive year, Alberta faced two-time defending champion Quebec in the gold medal game of the 2013 Football Canada Cup at Moncton’s Rocky Stone Field on Sunday night.

After Alberta rushed out to a halftime advantage Quebec surged back in the second half to capture its third consecutive national championship with a 42-15 win.

Alberta opened the game’s scoring at 10:08 of the 1^st quarter after Alberta forced a Quebec 2-and-out inside the 20-yard line. The 3^rd down snap to Quebec punter William Pettersen sailed above his head into the end zone. Alberta defensive lineman Bobby Sugai jumped on the loose ball in the end zone to give Alberta a 7-0 lead following the Vuyani Ndhlovu extra-point.

To close out the 1^st quarter, Ndhlovu added a 44-yard field goal to give Alberta a 10 point advantage.

At 7:36 of the 2^nd quarter, Quebec narrowed the Alberta lead to a touchdown following a 12-yard William Pettersen field goal.

Late in the 1^st half a 61-yard Alberta punt backed Quebec up to their own 14-yard line. The play came at a huge cost to Alberta as their starting quarterback Ben Kopczynski who is also on punt coverage injured his leg on the play, ending his day prematurely.

Following a 2-and-out, Quebec conceded the safety to give Alberta a 12-3 advantage heading into halftime.

Ben Kopczynski’s injury forced Colton Hunchak from his starting receiver spot to quarterback and the Alberta offense was unable to find its rhythm after the change.

Quebec added a late 12-yard Pettersen field goal to narrow the Alberta lead to 6 at halftime.

Quebec continued to make ground in the second half as they evened the score on a 1-yardFrédéric Paquette-Perrault quarterback keeper to open the 3^rd quarter. Quebec took a 13-12 lead William Pettersen’s extra-point conversion.

On the following drive, Alberta’s day began to unravel. An Alberta fumble on a 3^rd and 1 conversion attempt at mid-field was recovered by Quebec linebacker Samuel Rossi.

Quebec capitalized on the turnover as quarterback Frédéric Paquette-Perrault connected with receiver Marc-Antoine Pivin on a 25-yard touchdown pass to give Quebec a 20-12 advantage.

An Alberta fumble on punt return gave Quebec a 1^st and goal at the 1-yard line. Alberta was able to minimize the damage to a 14-yard field goal to make the score 23-12 with under two minutes left to play. The defensive stance began with a tackle for a loss of one by linebacker Micah Teitz followed by a procedure penalty against Quebec.

Quebec added a Félix Laflamme receiving touchdown, an Antoine Mongeau fumble return for a touchdown, and a receiving touchdown from Joel Soucy to make the final score 43-12.