October 20, 2005
SIXTH-RANKED GEE-GEES PLAY YORK ON THE SCORE
TORONTO – The Ottawa Gee-Gees have entered into the elite category of Ontario University Athletics football squads in the 2005 season. The nation’s sixth-ranked team will try and keep the considerable momentum they’ve built going on national television when Ottawa meets the host York Lions in this week’s University Rush broadcast, presented by Pizza Pizza, on The Score Television Network. Air time in 2:00 pm.
Ottawa (5-2-0-0) is riding a four-game winning streak in which they have outscored opponents 187-62. The Gee-Gees opened some eyes after manufacturing one of the biggest wins in the school’s recent history last Saturday when they hosted the Western Mustangs and earned a stunning 27-24 overtime victory. Ottawa had a potential game-winning field goal blocked near the end of regulation but overcame the setback, and a spirited Western rally, to grab a firm hold of third place in the OUA standings. Ara Tchobanian’s 33-yard field goal in the extra quarter was the difference. The Gee-Gees defence also came up with a big sack to force a third-and-long in the overtime, which Western could not convert, bringing an end to the game.
Ottawa has relied on a potent offense loaded with talent at the skill positions to make a steady climb up the national rankings. The Gee-Gees have averaged an OUA-best 292 yards per game through the air, despite losing all-Canadian wide receiver Ken Branco to graduation. Second-year quarterback Josh Sacobie has been the main catalyst of head coach Denis Piché’s dynamic offensive unit, which racked up a school record 720 yards in a 72-0 thumping of the Toronto Varsity Blues two weeks ago. The Fredericton, NB native leads all Canadian Interuniversity Sport pivots with 1,864 passing yards and 16 touchdowns through seven games.
“Josh can out-throw anybody,” says Piché, adding that the young quarterback is still making mistakes despite the success.
Sacobie, who has added 186 yards on the ground and five rushing scores, has some dangerous weapons, including Adam Nicholson (North Bay, ON) and David Crane (Ottawa, ON). Crane (446 yards and five touchdown catches) was in sync with Sacobie from the start of training camp and became the primary target early in the season after sitting out 2004 with a broken collarbone. But Nicholson has been Sacobie’s main focus in Ottawa’s last three games, accumulating 22 catches for 451 yards and six touchdowns through that stretch. Nicholson’s 40 receptions are tops in Canadian Interuniversity Sport and only Guelph’s Jeff Keegan (734) and Western’s Andy Fantuz (714) have more receiving yardage than his total of 689.
The Gee-Gees strive for balance on offence but will take what defenses allow. Third-year tailback Shonari Knibbs (Ottawa, ON) has toted a team-high 66 carries for 426 yards and three touchdowns. But Knibbs and backup Joe Sullivan (Ottawa, ON) both went down with injuries against Western so freshmen Aaron Rehel (Sudbury, ON) and Devaughn Harper (Montreal, QC) will get a chance to split carries in the backfield this week. Ottawa does have some stoppers on the other side of the ball, particularly at the linebacker position where second team all-star Joe Barnes (Stoney Creek, ON) and third-year standout Cheeler Lindor (Ottawa, ON) have made an impact on the OUA’s top-ranked defensive unit (allowing 282 yards per game, fourth lowest in the CIS). Barnes is tied sixth in the OUA with 44.5 tackles, while leading the defensive unit with three interceptions. Lindor has 34.5 tackles, to go along with a pair of sacks and an interception.
A win over York would give the Gee-Gees their best record since 2001, the year they entered the OUA.
“I think we’ve evolved as a team,” says Piché. “Our goal has been to improve every week in order to peak for the playoffs. No one remembers what you did in the regular season. The playoffs are what really matter.”
The Lions (3-4-0-0) have struggled following a solid 3-1 start to the season. A portion of the troubles can be attributed to a grueling schedule that had York facing Laurier, Windsor and Western over the past three weeks. But head coach Tom Gretes has seen his offense sputter and his defense give up too many big plays. After defeating rival Toronto 40-33 in overtime of the Red and Blue Bowl on September 17, the Lions have produced 43 points in the four games since, 22 of which came in a win over Guelph. York has sorely missed the presence of All-Canadian running back Andre Durie, out with a torn ACL and MCL in his left leg after getting hurt early in the second game of the season.
Ricardo Hudson (Toronto, ON) has been one of the few reliable performers on offence. The fourth-year wide receiver leads the team with a school record 39 catches on the year for 389 yards and four touchdowns. Hudson broke the York mark of 36, established by Steve Ince in 1973, when he hauled in six passes against Laurier last week. Bryan Wheatle (Ajax, ON), a fifth-year running back, has been the primary replacement for Durie but he has had little time or room to run of late. He has 368 yards and two touchdowns on 78 carries but was held to 11 rushes for -1 yards in York’s 56-3 loss to the first-place Golden Hawks. Quarterback Bart Zemanek (Toronto, ON) has completed 112 of 221 passes for 1,321 yards and nine touchdowns.
The Lions have defeated the Gee-Gees in two of the last three meetings between the teams.
“York always gets up for us,” says Piché. “We know what we’re getting into.”
- OUA -
Ottawa (5-2-0-0) is riding a four-game winning streak in which they have outscored opponents 187-62. The Gee-Gees opened some eyes after manufacturing one of the biggest wins in the school’s recent history last Saturday when they hosted the Western Mustangs and earned a stunning 27-24 overtime victory. Ottawa had a potential game-winning field goal blocked near the end of regulation but overcame the setback, and a spirited Western rally, to grab a firm hold of third place in the OUA standings. Ara Tchobanian’s 33-yard field goal in the extra quarter was the difference. The Gee-Gees defence also came up with a big sack to force a third-and-long in the overtime, which Western could not convert, bringing an end to the game.
Ottawa has relied on a potent offense loaded with talent at the skill positions to make a steady climb up the national rankings. The Gee-Gees have averaged an OUA-best 292 yards per game through the air, despite losing all-Canadian wide receiver Ken Branco to graduation. Second-year quarterback Josh Sacobie has been the main catalyst of head coach Denis Piché’s dynamic offensive unit, which racked up a school record 720 yards in a 72-0 thumping of the Toronto Varsity Blues two weeks ago. The Fredericton, NB native leads all Canadian Interuniversity Sport pivots with 1,864 passing yards and 16 touchdowns through seven games.
“Josh can out-throw anybody,” says Piché, adding that the young quarterback is still making mistakes despite the success.
Sacobie, who has added 186 yards on the ground and five rushing scores, has some dangerous weapons, including Adam Nicholson (North Bay, ON) and David Crane (Ottawa, ON). Crane (446 yards and five touchdown catches) was in sync with Sacobie from the start of training camp and became the primary target early in the season after sitting out 2004 with a broken collarbone. But Nicholson has been Sacobie’s main focus in Ottawa’s last three games, accumulating 22 catches for 451 yards and six touchdowns through that stretch. Nicholson’s 40 receptions are tops in Canadian Interuniversity Sport and only Guelph’s Jeff Keegan (734) and Western’s Andy Fantuz (714) have more receiving yardage than his total of 689.
The Gee-Gees strive for balance on offence but will take what defenses allow. Third-year tailback Shonari Knibbs (Ottawa, ON) has toted a team-high 66 carries for 426 yards and three touchdowns. But Knibbs and backup Joe Sullivan (Ottawa, ON) both went down with injuries against Western so freshmen Aaron Rehel (Sudbury, ON) and Devaughn Harper (Montreal, QC) will get a chance to split carries in the backfield this week. Ottawa does have some stoppers on the other side of the ball, particularly at the linebacker position where second team all-star Joe Barnes (Stoney Creek, ON) and third-year standout Cheeler Lindor (Ottawa, ON) have made an impact on the OUA’s top-ranked defensive unit (allowing 282 yards per game, fourth lowest in the CIS). Barnes is tied sixth in the OUA with 44.5 tackles, while leading the defensive unit with three interceptions. Lindor has 34.5 tackles, to go along with a pair of sacks and an interception.
A win over York would give the Gee-Gees their best record since 2001, the year they entered the OUA.
“I think we’ve evolved as a team,” says Piché. “Our goal has been to improve every week in order to peak for the playoffs. No one remembers what you did in the regular season. The playoffs are what really matter.”
The Lions (3-4-0-0) have struggled following a solid 3-1 start to the season. A portion of the troubles can be attributed to a grueling schedule that had York facing Laurier, Windsor and Western over the past three weeks. But head coach Tom Gretes has seen his offense sputter and his defense give up too many big plays. After defeating rival Toronto 40-33 in overtime of the Red and Blue Bowl on September 17, the Lions have produced 43 points in the four games since, 22 of which came in a win over Guelph. York has sorely missed the presence of All-Canadian running back Andre Durie, out with a torn ACL and MCL in his left leg after getting hurt early in the second game of the season.
Ricardo Hudson (Toronto, ON) has been one of the few reliable performers on offence. The fourth-year wide receiver leads the team with a school record 39 catches on the year for 389 yards and four touchdowns. Hudson broke the York mark of 36, established by Steve Ince in 1973, when he hauled in six passes against Laurier last week. Bryan Wheatle (Ajax, ON), a fifth-year running back, has been the primary replacement for Durie but he has had little time or room to run of late. He has 368 yards and two touchdowns on 78 carries but was held to 11 rushes for -1 yards in York’s 56-3 loss to the first-place Golden Hawks. Quarterback Bart Zemanek (Toronto, ON) has completed 112 of 221 passes for 1,321 yards and nine touchdowns.
The Lions have defeated the Gee-Gees in two of the last three meetings between the teams.
“York always gets up for us,” says Piché. “We know what we’re getting into.”
- OUA -
