Université de Montréal quarterback Pepe Gonzalez did not play like a 20-year-old Quebec Conference freshman in 2025.
The first-year QB led the RSEQ with 2,284 passing yards and 19 touchdown strikes, second-most in U Sports. He helped Montreal produce a 6-2 regular season record on the way to winning the first-ever Jacques Dussault Cup. Carabins head coach Marco Iadeluca did not want to confirm his season as the best by a true first-year player in Quebec university football history.
“It’s always hard to compare because the squad around you is always different, the offensive players around you are very different. Pepe came in, we have a pretty veteran group of receivers, a pretty veteran group of running backs, our offensive line is fairly young, but I think they’ve all worked together,” Iadeluca said.
“I think part of anybody’s success in football is it’s the ultimate team game. I think it’s something that you have to be the right fit, right place, at the right time, while surrounded in a rookie season. We’re extremely pleased with what he’s given us, we’re extremely happy, and hopefully this is just the beginning.”
Gonzalez moved to Canada from Mexico with his parents when he was seven years old. The six-foot-two, 185-pound passer played CEGEP football for André-Grasset; the team’s head coach happened to be Tony Iadeluca, Marco’s brother. That allowed Gonzalez to have a smooth transition into university football.
“Montreal was the team I wanted to play for since I started CEGP. It was an easy choice for me. This season, the veterans did a great job giving me confidence when I played; I could relax with my teammates,” he said.
The physical health and education major sought advice from Jonathan Senecal, who played QB for the Carabins from 2021 through 2024. Senecal became the first player in program history to win the Hec Crighton Trophy as the best player in Canadian university football. He also led Montreal to a Vanier Cup championship in 2023.
“He’s a great guy, a legend in U Sports, and I’m very, very happy to be wearing No. 12 and doing a good job,” Gonzalez said.
“We talked a couple times, more about games versus Laval, especially when we go to Laval. The stadium is against you, you’ve got to block the noise, you’ve got to play your football, you’ve got to play smart football.”
In his first career start on the road at Laval, Gonzalez completed 23-of-42 passes for 261 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions in a 16-6 loss. He cleaned up his mistakes in the Jacques Dussault Cup at Stade Telus against the Rouge et Or. No. 12 completed 27-of-37 passes for 288 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in a 31-29 win.
“Struggled a little bit in his first outing in Quebec City in the hostile environment, but we knew that it would be a great experience for him and he bounced back in the Jacques Dussault Cup, played like a veteran quarterback,” Iadeluca said.
“We’re extremely proud of what he’s done. He’s worked extremely hard and gotten better every game, week-by-week.”
Gonzalez beat fifth-year senior Arnaud Desjardins for the right to play in the Uteck Bowl on Saturday against the Saint Mary’s Huskies. Desjardins was named the Quebec Conference MVP for a second time in his career, while Gonzalez earned Rookie of the Year, despite the first-year QB besting his veteran counterpart in key statistical passing categories.
“I think those are debatable things. I think Arnaud has been outstanding for years now, and I think he’s had an outstanding season this year again. I believe they’re two great quarterbacks. We tell our players all the time, the awards we want are the ones no one votes for, so that’s what we’re going to focus on,” Iadeluca said.
That would be the Vanier Cup. Senecal and Gabriel Cousineau are the two national championship quarterbacks in Carabins program history. Cousineau has been the team’s offensive coordinator since 2022.
“Pepe relies on his reads, his arm strength and wants to throw the ball on every down, it’s the kind of mindset that he has. I would compare him a lot to our offensive coordinator right now,” Iadeluca said.
“He’s a quarterback that’s a little bit like Gab. Loves to play the game; he’s a gunslinger, likes to throw it. Jonathan was a lot more of an athlete, where he would use his legs a lot more.”
Iadeluca and Gonzalez are aiming to help Montreal reach the 60th Vanier Cup to be played in Regina at Mosaic Stadium when the Carabins take on the Saint Mary’s Huskies in the Uteck Bowl on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET. You can watch the game via stream on CBC Gem.
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