VANIER CUP: LAVAL 13, SASK. 8 (RUNNING)

The cold is definitely having an impact out there in Saskatoon — it's been all about defence and special teams.

Laval's up 10-2 after a touchdown that was set up by good kickoff coverage after a conceded safety, the D forcing a punt and a good return Nic Bisaillon and a couple of penalties. Guillaume Allard-Cameus, whom Mattrak has been talking up in our game previews, bulled in from 2 yards out for the only touchdown.

Issues for Laval: Their best D-back, Alexandre Vendette, got laid out late in the half by U of S receiver Leighton Heron. His absence could loom large. Also, their undersized defensive ends are getting held up against two mammoth tackles, and Saskatchewan might get some off-tackle/rollout stuff going in the second half.

Issues for Saskatchewan: As always, their passing game; their idea of balance of late has been "run left, run right." The elements are making it awfully hard for them to mount an offensive, although Tyler O'Gorman is running hard. It's not ideal, but Bret Thompson might have to run more in the second half.

Bottom line: Saskatchewan's defence is probably going to have the win the game for them by forcing some turnovers. Laval's had a couple of fumbles (understandable in the cold), including one right before Cam Takacs kicked a field goal for the day's first points, but has managed to cover it up each time.

UPDATES

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Laval 10, Saskatchewan 2. Laval's Michael Jean-Louis could be the MVP in this game — he's been dominant inside.

Total yards through 3 quarters, according to The Score: Saskatchewan 248, Laval 142. Laval's TD drive covered about eight yards of actual offence.)

5:41 p.m.: The U of S finally gets a big play — a 58-yard pass to Dan Houle down to the Laval 4-yard line. O'Gorman scores on the next play, but Laval holds on the 2-point convert. It's 10-8 with just less than 14 minutes to play. Laval's D has been on the field for more than 28 minutes, so they could be wearing down — just like Ottawa last week.

5:49. Laval recovers a fumbled punt at the U of S 37-yard line, but the U of S holds.

5:58. Big situation here — U of S holds on 2nd-and-2, stopping Allard-Cameus short. Laval took a time-count violation on 3rd& short, meaning they'll be punting with 4 1/2 minutes left. Leighton Heron's return sets up the U of S at their own 43-yard line.

6:02. Nothing doing for U of S — they'll punt with just 3:19 left. Wait! Laval's Mathieu Parent comes up with a tackle on a fake punt, tackling Ben Coakwell. Laval's taking over in good position.

6:06. Benoit Groulx gets a big, time-consuming first down on a QB draw. Laval's 2nd & long around the U of S 35-yard line with less than 2 minutes to play.

Takacs misses a field goal wide right... the U of S returns it out and will take over at their own 20-yard line after their returner barely made it out of the end zone.

6:12. On 2nd down, Eric Maranda intercepts for Laval, returning inside Saskatchewan's 20-yard line. It's down to a minute to play. He could be the MVP for that play.

Takacs makes the field goal this time, and Laval's up 13-8 with 43 seconds left.

6:18. That's it — D-back Olivier Turcutte-Létourneau bats down Thompson's final third-down pass, and Laval's the Vanier Cup champs for the fourth time in eight years.

More on this later tonight.