MONTREAL – McGill seniors Matt Connell of St. Bruno, Que., and Erik Galas of Ottawa, broke two of the most prestigious CIS football career records on Saturday.

Despite a 45-23 loss to the Montreal Carabins (4-3) before 2,198 Homecoming fans at Molson Stadium, Connell became the all-time CIS leader for passing yards, while Galas set a new standard for career receptions.

Patrick Jean-Marie, a freshman fullback from Montreal rushed 21 times for 176 yards and a pair of TDs as the fourth-place Carabins improved to 4-3 and moved two points ahead of Bishop's for the final playoff berth with one week remaining in the Quebec conference schedule.

Connell, who was sacked eight times, went 26-of-36 for 345 yards, two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions on the day to bring his career total to 10,201 yards. The previous mark of 9,974 was held since 2001 by former McMaster great and Hec Crighton trophy winner Ben Chapdelaine (1997-2001).

Connell also improved his own CIS career records for attempts (1,331) and completions (794).

"I'm proud of the record and that it happened at home with my family in the stands," Connell told the media. "But I would still have traded it for a win today," added the two-time conference all-star who has one game remaining in a brilliant collegiate career. "I guess it will be nice to reflect on it in about 20 years when I can tell my (future) children about it."

Galas caught a personal-best 13 balls for 181 yards against Montreal giving him 190 receptions for his career. The previous CIS mark of 189 was held since 2005 by former Western Ontario Hec Crighton recipient Andy Fantuz (2002-05), now a member of the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Connell broke Chapdelaine's mark and reached exactly 10,000 yards on the same play, a 46-yard pass to Charles-Antoine Sinotte with just less than two minutes remaining in the first half.

Galas' record-breaker was an 18-yard catch with only 61 seconds remaining in the contest that set up a McGill touchdown on the next play.

"Matt and I have been together for five years and its like we have extra sensory perception and seem to be on the same wave-length most of the time," said the 6-foot-2, 210-pound slotback who earned second-team All-Canadian honours last season and was invited to the 2008 CFL combines draft evaluation camp. 

"The record is good but it's still a team game and our football program has struggled over the last two years with a lot of youth and injuries," added the 22-year-old senior. "However, I really think that we're headed in the right direction and hope that our young guys realize how hard you have to work to succeed."

The Carabins, who racked up 462 net yards compared to 298 by McGill, led 12-0 after the opening quarter, 15-14 at the half and 28-14 after three quarters as the rookie-laden Redmen failed to halt a 15-game losing streak dating back to 2006.

Mark Deluca also had a pair of rushing TDs for the Carabins, despite only five carries for six net yards.

Third-year pivot Marc-Olivier Brouillette completed 20 of 30 passes for 245 yards and was picked off once (by rookie linebacker Charles-Evens Peltrop). 

Frank Bruno was Brouillette's favourite target with 106 yards on five receptions.

McGill, which featured 19 freshmen on their injury-plagued 45-man dress roster, had another player reach the 100-yard plateau as All-Canadian receiver Charles-Antoine Sinotte from Trois-Rivieres, Que., snared six passes for 101 yards and one TD.  

Also scoring for the Redmen was Tim Kraemer, a fifth-year senior from Terrebonne, Que., who was the recipient of a 21-yard TD toss from Connell. The other McGill major came on a one-yard plunge from David Friedman, a sophomore from Westmount, Que.

McGill (0-7) wraps up its regular schedule at Laval (6-0) next Saturday, while the Carabins (4-3) host Bishop's (3-4) in a playoff-style showdown