Saanich’s Quinn Van Gylswyk capped his CIS All-Canadian season with a dramatic, game-ending field goal to win the Vanier Cup national football championship.
On Saturday, Van Gylswyk kicked a 20-yard field goal with time expired to clinch the 26-23 win for the UBC Thunderbirds over the Université de Montréal Carabins. It’s the T-Birds first Vanier Cup since 1997, played in front of 12,557 people at Laval University.
“It’s just incredible. I never thought this was possible,” Van Gylswyk told the Thunderbirds’ website.
Van Gylswyk was attempting to kick a field goal with 1:32 left but a bad snap foiled that. Luckily, the Thunderbirds recovered the ball on an interception by A. J. Blackwell to give UBC another chance. And Van Gylswyk took full advantage.
“The defence got us the ball back at the end, which was huge,” Van Gylswyk said. “To be honest, I was devastated [after that bad snap]. I knew it was going to come down to a last-second field goal. Montreal is a strong team. It’s just awesome.”
Van Gylswyk, a former Westshore Rebel junior football player and Spectrum Community School graduate, made all four field goal attempts. His first three were 45, 33 and 43 yards.
Also featured in the game were the high school superstar Davis brothers, Terrell (third year) and Marcus (second year), of the Mount Douglas Rams. Marcus caught nine passes for 98 yards, including one of UBC’s two touchdowns, a second quarter reception. He also ran back four kick returns for 80 yards and five punt returns for 35 yards.
Terrell Davis, at linebacker, shared the team lead in tackles as he had four solo and assisted on seven more.
reporter@saanichnews.com
