A Victory in the Vanier Cup has cemented Pepe Gonzalez as arguably the best freshman player in the history of Canadian university football, but he doesn't seem satisfied just yet.
“I'll work hard in the off-season and hopefully put on some weight,” the 20-year-old told reporters as confetti rained down on Saturday. “We're going to keep the same energy, the same attitude, and we've set the bar high. We just have to keep it up next year.”
Gonzalez took over the Montreal Carabins. to a 30–16 victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies in the 60th Vanier Cup. The Mexican-born passer, who immigrated to Canada at age seven, took home the Ted Morris Memorial Trophy as the game's most valuable player, completing 27 of 33 passes for 344 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover.
For head coach Marco Iadeluca, it was the proverbial cherry on the cake. great season from a rookie sensation.
“We were hoping he would have his best game of the season today and I really think he did,” he said. 3DownNation. “The guy was outstanding. He has ice in his veins.”
The Carabins were supposed to be in a transition period this year following the graduation of Jonathan Senecal, their former Heck Crichton winning quarterback. The seventh-round CFL draft pick has been the driving force behind the team's offense since transferring from UConn, leading them to Vanier in 2023.
Gonzalez's emergence as the starter midway through his first season changed that view. He led the RSEQ in both passing and touchdowns, throwing for 2,284 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. win the Peter Gorman Trophy as U Sports Rookie of the Year. More importantly, he upset top-seeded Laval Rouge et Or in the Jacques Dussault Cup and eliminated St. Mary's in the Utec Bowl to advance to its first national championship game.
This happened on the way to Regina, the home province of the Huskies. There were reportedly 8,896 fans in attendance at Mosaic Stadium, the vast majority of whom were wearing green. Although it was only a fraction of the crowd he played in front of at Telus Stadium against Laval, the young QB admitted he felt some butterflies.
“I was a little nervous when we came out. I didn't expect to see a lot of people, but at the same time it's so fun to play with so many people in the stands. We're energized,” he said.
Gonzalez's nerves did not show. After taking time to find his rhythm in the first quarter, he crushed the Huskies with repeated drives down the field. While two potential touchdowns fell just short, he set up Brandon Gurgon for a 41-yard catch early in the second quarter and capped the third with a 32-yard strike to Hassan Dosso.
Despite Saskatchewan's defense putting pressure on Presidents' Trophy winner Seth Handeby late, Gonzalez looked unfazed. He stepped up against the blitz and hit a seven-yard strike late on Simon LaRose.
“They played the third cover. They played it all season. We saw it on tape,” he explained, dismissive of his personal skill. “Our coaches had a good game plan and we just stuck to that plan and it went really well.”
Gonzalez's win makes him the fourth freshman quarterback in U Sports history to win the Vanier Cup, following Terry Dolan of St. FX in 1966, UBC's Michael O'Connor in 2015 and Western's Evan Hillock in 2021. Of the previous three, only Dolan was actually in his first year of university – O'Connor redshirted at Penn before transferring, and Hillock attended Western during the canceled tournament. Season 2020.
Given the uniqueness of Gonzalez's accomplishments, it's worth wondering how high his ceiling might be. Even as he basks in the championship glow, he's focused on returning to Mosaic, next as a CFL quarterback.
“I hope so. I'll keep working hard,” he said. “I have a few goals this offseason, and I am confident that if I work hard and put a lot of time into football, I can actually play here.”
