Concordia Journal Home > Archives > November 8, 2007 issue >

Stingers Round-up 

Ferdinand leads Stingers to win

Third-year running back Cedric Ferdinand rushed for 168 yards and one touchdown as the hometown Concordia Stingers easily defeated the Bishop’s Gaiters 34-18 in Quebec University Football League semifinal action on Nov. 3.

The Ottawa native carried the ball 23 times and found the end zone on a one-yard scamper for Concordia’s first major of the day.

Concordia rookie quarterback Liam Mahoney chipped in with 11 carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns. He also completed 12 of 17 passes for 101 yards and a 26-yard touchdown strike to Nick Scissons.

Quarterback Jesse Andrews did most of the damage with 90 yards rushing on seven carries. He also completed 13 of 23 passes for 170 yards, but he threw four interceptions.

Bishop’s only touchdown came on a 10-yard fumble return by Shane Francis to open the scoring at 9:32 of the first quarter.

The Stingers advance to the Dunsmore Cup final versus the No. 1-ranked Laval Rouge et Or Nov. 10 in Ste. Foy, Que.

Okpro leads Concordia grid all-stars

For the third straight year, Stingers defensive halfback Sammy Okpro was a unanimous choice for the Quebec University Football League all-star team announced last week.

The two-time CIS all-Canadian played seven games this season, racking up 30 solo tackles, 13 assists, one interception and three pass breakups.

Okpro is in his fourth year, studying Human Relations. Joining him on the all-star team are veteran offensive tackle Keith Dauper, second-year linebacker Cory Greenwood and rookie kicker Rene Paredes.

Mahoney named Quebec Rookie of Year

Outstanding first-year quarterback Liam Mahoney was named rookie of the year by the Quebec University Football League. He is the Quebec nominee for the Peter Gorman Trophy awarded annually to the rookie of the year in CIS football. The winner will be announced at Vanier Cup festivities in Toronto on Nov. 21.

“I have never seen a rookie make so few mistakes,” says Concordia head coach Gerry McGrath. “He is composed, intelligent and has a great aptitude for the game of football.”

It was a baptism by fire for Mahoney. Typically, a McGrath-coached quarterback has a couple of years to learn the phonebook-sized playbook. Mahoney, 19, had about six weeks to grasp the system before he had to go out and be the Stingers’ offensive leader.

Marghetis shines at wrestling meet

Veteran wrestler Tyler Marghetis won the men’s 76-kilo weight class to help Concordia finish in second place at its annual invitational wrestling tournament Oct. 28.

Marghetis, a 2006 CIS all-Canadian; Serguei Guevorkian (72 kilos) and Alex Dyas (82 kilos) all won their weight classes on the university side of the competition. Newcomer Ahmed Abo Mathk finished third in the 80-kilo division.

Brock University finished first among the university participants. University of New Brunswick wrapped up the day in third place.

On the women’s side, Concordia rookie Ella Rebalski finished in third-place in the competitive 59-kilo weight class. She was Concordia’s sole entry in the women’s competition.

Brock finished in first place on the women’s side, followed by University of Toronto and UNB. Approximately 120 wrestlers from across eastern Canada, the United States and Brazil participated in the event.