MTL: DB Jean Paul du Pont | Active Roster -> Injured Reserve
MTL: DB Real Monet | Injured Reserve -> Active Roster
VAN: LB Jaylen Murray | Injured Reserve -> Active Roster
VAN: LB Shawn Anderson | Active Roster -> Injured Reserve
(3) Montreal Rouge VS. (1) Vancouver Wolves - Midgard Stadium - October 21, 1973 - 7:00 PM ET/6:00 PM CST - Weather: Partly Cloudy - 20°C | 68°F - Attendance: 50,226
It was a beautiful evening in Minneapolis, with the sun slowly setting on Midgard Stadium. A mix of fans from across the league settled in to watch the big game. The local Minnesota subset of fans seemed to side more with the Rouge, considering their current rivalry with the Wolves. St. Paul native OL Bobby Finley got a big cheer when his name was announced as a member of Montreal’s starting lineup.
1st Quarter
The game itself started slow. Both teams were feeling each other out, playing it relatively safe to start the game. The conservative play would lead to minimal offence in the early stages. The game seesawed like this for a few drives before Vancouver was able to break into Montreal’s end. RB Jeremiah Morrow slipped by the Rouge front for an 18-yard run that would set up the Wolves at the Montreal 38. QB Kevin Westwood completed a couple more passes before K Sterling Brooks would score the opening points of the game with a field goal. It took a bit longer for Montreal to get the ball moving, but they would in the final minutes of the quarter. On the last play of the quarter, QB Tom Applewhite would connect with WR Antonio Villaneuva, which would put the Rouge at the Wolves’ 23.
MTL 0-3 VAN
2nd Quarter
A few plays into the 2nd, Montreal would tie the game on a K Buster McDooley field goal. Vancouver’s ensuing drive would not last long. QB Kevin Westwood would be pressured by a Montreal blitz. He had to make a quick throw. The throw was a wobbly toss out towards WR Keshawn Johnston. The ball didn’t have enough juice to get to him, and DB Lamar Brown would cut underneath and intercept the pass, setting up Montreal in Vancouver territory. The Rouge would not get far, but still added 3 more points to take their first lead of the game. The Wolves did not dwell on the turnover. QB Kevin Westwood returned to the field and delivered a methodical drive. He found ways to connect with his receivers despite going up against arguably the league’s best secondary. With some help from the backfield, Westwood had the Wolves down to the 10. The next play, he would hit WR Keshawn Johnston to the outside, with a much better throw, for a touchdown to regain the lead. Montreal’s next drive was short. After RB Bo Frazier was stopped for only 2 yards, QB Tom Applewhite would fail to connect with WR Taylor Karis, leading to a quick punt. Vancouver got the ball back and quickly found themselves back in field goal range. Unfortunately, K Sterling Brook’s 2nd kick of the day would flutter wide right. RB Mark St-Pierre would field the missed kick and then elect to take a knee for a single, extending Vancouver’s lead to 6-11. As halftime loomed, Montreal hoped to get some more points before the break. They got a drive going towards midfield. At their own 48, QB Tom Applewhite would miss on a 1st down pass. On 2nd down, Applewhite fired a pass to WR Antonio Villanueva. The young WR would make the grab and spin off of an incoming hit from LB Jaylen Murray. WR Taylor Karis and TE John Schall would land some blocks, allowing Villanueva to slip past the Wolves’ secondary. He would scramble all the way down to the 14 before S Gunpei Koizumi tripped him up. From the 14, Applewhite would hit a quick pass to Karis before then finding TE Sylvain Leblanc at the front of the endzone for a touchdown to regain the lead. The team would go for 2 to make a 3-point game, but DB Christian Allen was able to knock the pass attempt away.
MTL 12-11 VAN
3rd Quarter
Vancouver came out of the break aggressive. QB Kevin Westwood’s first pass of the half would be a 46-yard bomb to WR Akira Sakamoto. The speedy receiver was able to pick up 10 more yards after the catch before being brought down by S Mathieu Cazenave. The Wolves continued to push down to the 3, where RB Richard Morin would punch in the touchdown to go back up by 6. The quick score left Montreal reeling a little, but they were able to answer back on the next drive, as K Buster McDooley knocked down his 3rd field goal of the game. Montreal’s defence would step it up on the next drive with the help of a DL Alan Franjkovic sack to force a 2 and out. The offence returned to the field looking to take back the lead. However, the drive was short-lived as QB Tom Applewhite’s toss to WR Antonio Villanueva was underthrown, allowing DB Christian Allen to get under it and take the ball back for Vancouver. The ensuing drive would result in a field goal for the Wolves, reinstating the 6-point lead. Montreal would have a more balanced drive coming off of the turnover. RB Bo Frazier was able to move the ball on the ground, while Applewhite was making some safer, quick throws. As much as the Wolves tried to stop them, Montreal kept finding ways to get first downs. They inched their way down to the 4, where Frazier powered through the Wolves’ front, carrying several defenders into the endzone. With the extra point, Montreal was back out in front. In the dying minutes of the 3rd, the Wolves were back on offence and already making strides down the field. A couple of chunk plays from WR Tristian Lewis and RB Chavez Arrington allowed Vancouver to get over midfield just before the quarter ended.
MTL 22-21 VAN
4th Quarter
After flipping sides, the Wolves continued to roll with another first down before they were finally held up. The Wolves would put up another field goal to take a 2-point lead. Once again, the lead didn’t last long as Montreal was able to go back the other way and match the field goal, making it 25-24. The game’s intensity picked up heading into the home stretch as both teams were fighting for every last inch. Montreal would get a break when RB Richard Morin coughed up the football on Vancouver’s next drive. The Rouge recovered the fumble, only to give it back to the Wolves when QB Tom Applewhite sent the ball into the arms of LB Lochlan Bourne. The Wolves now had the ball just a bit behind where they initially gave it up. The only thing the two turnovers did was waste valuable time for the Wolves. Thus, they would come out just as aggressively as the start of the half, with Westwood attacking the Montreal secondary. He would not connect on 1st down, but did find TE Johnny Temple on second to keep the drive going. They continued to push the ball, even adding some variation with runs from the many men in the backfield. Vancouver found themselves knocking on the door again. On this drive, the Wolves would get into the endzone with Westwood finding WR Tristian Lewis for the score to make it 25-30. The Wolves would go for two to make it a 7-point game. Westwood attempted to throw it back into the endzone, going back to Lewis over the middle, but the pass was broken up by LB Grover Smith, keeping the game a 25-30. The ball was back in Montreal’s court. The next drive was a long one. The Rouge were facing every 2nd down possible and even a couple of 3rd downs as they made their way down the field. However, they kept the drive alive. RB Bo Frazier twice would get past the sticks on 3rd and short. Montreal was now down to the 30-yard line. QB Tom Applewhite would drop back and hit WR Taylor Karis to pick up 8. After Frazier got the last couple of yards on 2nd, they would now have 19 yards to go and a new set of downs. Applewhite would then find WR Antonio Villanueva for 7. He would appear to go down, but somehow shook off the DB Christian Allen tackle and picked up another 5 to get down to the 7. On 1st down, RB Bo Frazier would be stuffed for no yards, setting up 2nd and Goal. On the next play, Applewhite would attempt to throw it for the touchdown. He would make a quick throw towards Villanueva, but the ball was a bit high. There would be a lot of contact on the play from DB Christian Allen, and Villanueva was very adamant that there should have been a penalty, but the refs kept the flags in their pockets. It was now 3rd and Goal, and the Rouge elected to be aggressive and go for it, even if there was still time to potentially get 2 field goals. Applewhite would once again drop back to throw. He would hesitate on the throw, and the Rouge line was not able to hold up for the full time. The Wolves were starting to break through. Applewhite scrambled out to the right and then saw an open man. WR Taylor Karis had improvised and slipped toward the sideline, wide open. Applewhite lobbed it to him. The ball floated. Karis caught the pass, but DB Apollo Duckworth had time to catch up. The two collided. Karis appeared to bobble the ball a little but managed to still clutch it against his body to hold on for the go-ahead touchdown. The Rouge would follow up with a 2-point attempt, and RB Bo Frazier would break through the Wolves’ defence to make it a 3-point game. The Wolves would still have some time following the score. They would make some quick gains to get up to the 42. However, they then faced a 3rd and 4 after an incompletion on 2nd down. Westwood would drop back and connect with WR Keshawn Johnston to keep the drive alive. They kept on pressing, picking up another first down to get into Montreal’s end. The drive continued as the Wolves got into range for K Sterling Brooks. After being forced to 3rd down again with less than a minute to go. Brooks would take the field for a 44-yard attempt. Brooks stepped up to kick, and as he followed through, S Garet deVale came flying off the edge. deVale, who had a limited role this season, still had a little more gas in the tank and would get just enough to deflect the kick. The ball still got past the line, but was not going to go through the uprights. Montreal would get the loose ball. Applewhite would kneel out the final plays as Montreal would secure their first McCallister Cup in 20 years.
Scoring Summary
1st Q
0-3: VAN - FG K Sterling Brooks
3-3: MTL - FG K Buster McDooley
2nd Q
6-3: MTL - FG K Buster McDooley
6-10: VAN - PTD QB Kevin Westwood -> WR Keshawn Johnston
6-11: VAN - Single K Sterling Brooks
12-11: MTL - PTD QB Tom Applewhite -> TE Sylvain Leblanc
3rd Q
12-18: VAN - RTD RB Richard Morin
15-18: MTL - FG K Buster McDooley
15-21: VAN - FG K Sterling Brooks
22-21: MTL - RTD RB Bo Frazier
22-24: VAN - FG K Sterling Brooks
4th Q
25-24: MTL - FG K Buster McDooley
25-30: VAN - PTD QB Kevin Westwood -> WR Tristian Lewis
31-30: MTL - PTD QB Tom Applewhite -> WR Taylor Karis
33-30: MTL - 2PT RB Bo Frazier
Injury Report
VAN: LB Kyrell Warner - Hand Injury - 2 Weeks
McCallister Cup MOP
WR Taylor Karis MTL - 1 Receiving Touchdown, 71 Receiving Yards
1973 McCallister Cup Champions
1973 Season Recap
1st Quarter
The game itself started slow. Both teams were feeling each other out, playing it relatively safe to start the game. The conservative play would lead to minimal offence in the early stages. The game seesawed like this for a few drives before Vancouver was able to break into Montreal’s end. RB Jeremiah Morrow slipped by the Rouge front for an 18-yard run that would set up the Wolves at the Montreal 38. QB Kevin Westwood completed a couple more passes before K Sterling Brooks would score the opening points of the game with a field goal. It took a bit longer for Montreal to get the ball moving, but they would in the final minutes of the quarter. On the last play of the quarter, QB Tom Applewhite would connect with WR Antonio Villaneuva, which would put the Rouge at the Wolves’ 23.
MTL 0-3 VAN
2nd Quarter
A few plays into the 2nd, Montreal would tie the game on a K Buster McDooley field goal. Vancouver’s ensuing drive would not last long. QB Kevin Westwood would be pressured by a Montreal blitz. He had to make a quick throw. The throw was a wobbly toss out towards WR Keshawn Johnston. The ball didn’t have enough juice to get to him, and DB Lamar Brown would cut underneath and intercept the pass, setting up Montreal in Vancouver territory. The Rouge would not get far, but still added 3 more points to take their first lead of the game. The Wolves did not dwell on the turnover. QB Kevin Westwood returned to the field and delivered a methodical drive. He found ways to connect with his receivers despite going up against arguably the league’s best secondary. With some help from the backfield, Westwood had the Wolves down to the 10. The next play, he would hit WR Keshawn Johnston to the outside, with a much better throw, for a touchdown to regain the lead. Montreal’s next drive was short. After RB Bo Frazier was stopped for only 2 yards, QB Tom Applewhite would fail to connect with WR Taylor Karis, leading to a quick punt. Vancouver got the ball back and quickly found themselves back in field goal range. Unfortunately, K Sterling Brook’s 2nd kick of the day would flutter wide right. RB Mark St-Pierre would field the missed kick and then elect to take a knee for a single, extending Vancouver’s lead to 6-11. As halftime loomed, Montreal hoped to get some more points before the break. They got a drive going towards midfield. At their own 48, QB Tom Applewhite would miss on a 1st down pass. On 2nd down, Applewhite fired a pass to WR Antonio Villanueva. The young WR would make the grab and spin off of an incoming hit from LB Jaylen Murray. WR Taylor Karis and TE John Schall would land some blocks, allowing Villanueva to slip past the Wolves’ secondary. He would scramble all the way down to the 14 before S Gunpei Koizumi tripped him up. From the 14, Applewhite would hit a quick pass to Karis before then finding TE Sylvain Leblanc at the front of the endzone for a touchdown to regain the lead. The team would go for 2 to make a 3-point game, but DB Christian Allen was able to knock the pass attempt away.
MTL 12-11 VAN
3rd Quarter
Vancouver came out of the break aggressive. QB Kevin Westwood’s first pass of the half would be a 46-yard bomb to WR Akira Sakamoto. The speedy receiver was able to pick up 10 more yards after the catch before being brought down by S Mathieu Cazenave. The Wolves continued to push down to the 3, where RB Richard Morin would punch in the touchdown to go back up by 6. The quick score left Montreal reeling a little, but they were able to answer back on the next drive, as K Buster McDooley knocked down his 3rd field goal of the game. Montreal’s defence would step it up on the next drive with the help of a DL Alan Franjkovic sack to force a 2 and out. The offence returned to the field looking to take back the lead. However, the drive was short-lived as QB Tom Applewhite’s toss to WR Antonio Villanueva was underthrown, allowing DB Christian Allen to get under it and take the ball back for Vancouver. The ensuing drive would result in a field goal for the Wolves, reinstating the 6-point lead. Montreal would have a more balanced drive coming off of the turnover. RB Bo Frazier was able to move the ball on the ground, while Applewhite was making some safer, quick throws. As much as the Wolves tried to stop them, Montreal kept finding ways to get first downs. They inched their way down to the 4, where Frazier powered through the Wolves’ front, carrying several defenders into the endzone. With the extra point, Montreal was back out in front. In the dying minutes of the 3rd, the Wolves were back on offence and already making strides down the field. A couple of chunk plays from WR Tristian Lewis and RB Chavez Arrington allowed Vancouver to get over midfield just before the quarter ended.
MTL 22-21 VAN
4th Quarter
After flipping sides, the Wolves continued to roll with another first down before they were finally held up. The Wolves would put up another field goal to take a 2-point lead. Once again, the lead didn’t last long as Montreal was able to go back the other way and match the field goal, making it 25-24. The game’s intensity picked up heading into the home stretch as both teams were fighting for every last inch. Montreal would get a break when RB Richard Morin coughed up the football on Vancouver’s next drive. The Rouge recovered the fumble, only to give it back to the Wolves when QB Tom Applewhite sent the ball into the arms of LB Lochlan Bourne. The Wolves now had the ball just a bit behind where they initially gave it up. The only thing the two turnovers did was waste valuable time for the Wolves. Thus, they would come out just as aggressively as the start of the half, with Westwood attacking the Montreal secondary. He would not connect on 1st down, but did find TE Johnny Temple on second to keep the drive going. They continued to push the ball, even adding some variation with runs from the many men in the backfield. Vancouver found themselves knocking on the door again. On this drive, the Wolves would get into the endzone with Westwood finding WR Tristian Lewis for the score to make it 25-30. The Wolves would go for two to make it a 7-point game. Westwood attempted to throw it back into the endzone, going back to Lewis over the middle, but the pass was broken up by LB Grover Smith, keeping the game a 25-30. The ball was back in Montreal’s court. The next drive was a long one. The Rouge were facing every 2nd down possible and even a couple of 3rd downs as they made their way down the field. However, they kept the drive alive. RB Bo Frazier twice would get past the sticks on 3rd and short. Montreal was now down to the 30-yard line. QB Tom Applewhite would drop back and hit WR Taylor Karis to pick up 8. After Frazier got the last couple of yards on 2nd, they would now have 19 yards to go and a new set of downs. Applewhite would then find WR Antonio Villanueva for 7. He would appear to go down, but somehow shook off the DB Christian Allen tackle and picked up another 5 to get down to the 7. On 1st down, RB Bo Frazier would be stuffed for no yards, setting up 2nd and Goal. On the next play, Applewhite would attempt to throw it for the touchdown. He would make a quick throw towards Villanueva, but the ball was a bit high. There would be a lot of contact on the play from DB Christian Allen, and Villanueva was very adamant that there should have been a penalty, but the refs kept the flags in their pockets. It was now 3rd and Goal, and the Rouge elected to be aggressive and go for it, even if there was still time to potentially get 2 field goals. Applewhite would once again drop back to throw. He would hesitate on the throw, and the Rouge line was not able to hold up for the full time. The Wolves were starting to break through. Applewhite scrambled out to the right and then saw an open man. WR Taylor Karis had improvised and slipped toward the sideline, wide open. Applewhite lobbed it to him. The ball floated. Karis caught the pass, but DB Apollo Duckworth had time to catch up. The two collided. Karis appeared to bobble the ball a little but managed to still clutch it against his body to hold on for the go-ahead touchdown. The Rouge would follow up with a 2-point attempt, and RB Bo Frazier would break through the Wolves’ defence to make it a 3-point game. The Wolves would still have some time following the score. They would make some quick gains to get up to the 42. However, they then faced a 3rd and 4 after an incompletion on 2nd down. Westwood would drop back and connect with WR Keshawn Johnston to keep the drive alive. They kept on pressing, picking up another first down to get into Montreal’s end. The drive continued as the Wolves got into range for K Sterling Brooks. After being forced to 3rd down again with less than a minute to go. Brooks would take the field for a 44-yard attempt. Brooks stepped up to kick, and as he followed through, S Garet deVale came flying off the edge. deVale, who had a limited role this season, still had a little more gas in the tank and would get just enough to deflect the kick. The ball still got past the line, but was not going to go through the uprights. Montreal would get the loose ball. Applewhite would kneel out the final plays as Montreal would secure their first McCallister Cup in 20 years.
Scoring Summary
1st Q
0-3: VAN - FG K Sterling Brooks
3-3: MTL - FG K Buster McDooley
2nd Q
6-3: MTL - FG K Buster McDooley
6-10: VAN - PTD QB Kevin Westwood -> WR Keshawn Johnston
6-11: VAN - Single K Sterling Brooks
12-11: MTL - PTD QB Tom Applewhite -> TE Sylvain Leblanc
3rd Q
12-18: VAN - RTD RB Richard Morin
15-18: MTL - FG K Buster McDooley
15-21: VAN - FG K Sterling Brooks
22-21: MTL - RTD RB Bo Frazier
22-24: VAN - FG K Sterling Brooks
4th Q
25-24: MTL - FG K Buster McDooley
25-30: VAN - PTD QB Kevin Westwood -> WR Tristian Lewis
31-30: MTL - PTD QB Tom Applewhite -> WR Taylor Karis
33-30: MTL - 2PT RB Bo Frazier
Injury Report
VAN: LB Kyrell Warner - Hand Injury - 2 Weeks
McCallister Cup MOP
1973 McCallister Cup Champions
1973 Season Recap
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