Gee-Gees will play Queen’s in the semis
The University of Ottawa’s football team avenged its season-opening loss to the University of Toronto Saturday, eliminating the Varsity Blues 37-17 in their first-round playoff matchup in the six.
The Gees were able to get themselves on the board first with kicker Campbell Fair ending a seven-play drive with a field goal from the Toronto 42 yard line. The Gees were able to reach field goal territory on the drive thanks to a nice 16 yard pass from quarterback Ben Maracle to Nathan Walker.
Ottawa added to its lead in the second quarter. The Gees started on their own 34 yard line, before Maracle found Walker and Nicholas Gendron with first down passes to get Ottawa to the Toronto 52 yard line. Then running back J-P Cimankinda took over, rushing 51 yards over 9 carries. Maracle added a one-yard rush in the middle of the drive, but Cimankinda was the one to find the endzone for the touchdown, giving Ottawa a 10-0 lead.
The Varsity Blues offered Ottawa’s offense an answer before the half, taking advantage of an out-of-bounds punt by Fair to get good field position in Gee-Gee territory and kick a field goal.
10-3 Ottawa at the half.
Ottawa opened the second half with a field goal on its first possession. Taking advantage of a fumble by Toronto punt returner Luka Stoikos, the Gees were unable to get a first down but were well within field goal territory to score the three points.
The Varsity Blues finally scored their first touchdown near the end of the third quarter. Quarterback Clay Sequeira found receiver Ethan Mackinnon who was able to evade the Ottawa defense to score a 55-yard touchdown making it a two-point game.
But Ottawa’s offense went right back to work on the next possession. Starting at midfield, Dawson Odei rushed for nine yards, Maracle then hit receiver Rodney Estimé for a thirteen-yard pass, and then again for a 20 yard pass before handing the ball back to Odei who rushed thirteen yards into the Toronto endzone to make it 20-11.
On the first play of the following Varsity Blues drive, Chris Ciguineau intercepted Sequeira’s pass and ran the ball right back into the Toronto endzone to make it 27-11 Gee-Gees.
The Varsity Blues added a touchdown late, but failed their attempt at two points, this made it 27-17. That would be the final score, meaning Ottawa punched its ticket to the OUA semis.
The Gees will take on the Queen’s University Golden Gaels in the semis. Queen’s will be heavily favoured having turfed the Gee-Gees 30-7 and 30-12 this season
That game, will be live on OUA.TV, next Saturday at 1 p.m.
