September 12, 2007
YATES CUP CHAMPS TRAVEL TO TAKE ON MUSTANGS ON UNIVERSITY RUSH
HAMILTON, Ont. - One team was the last to reach the peak of Ontario university football, the other is trying to claw their way back into playoff contention. The defending Yates Cup champion No.3 Ottawa Gee-Gees (2-0) will travel to London this Saturday to take on the Western Mustangs (0-2) in week two of University Rush football presented by belairdirect. With a 7:00pm kick off time this is the first time The Score Television Network will broadcast University Rush football under the lights.
The Gee-Gees have already earned the respect of competitors around the OUA after their performance in 2006. “Many kids are making plays for us right now. We have a few new faces on offence, as well as players in a new role and mainly the same defence as in 2006,” says Gee-Gees head coach Denis Piche. “Every week players have to make plays…1st or 5th year; if you are dressed you’re expected to make plays, so we don’t deal too much on the new guys vs. the old guys.”
Ottawa is coming off of a 50-7 victory against the Toronto Varsity Blues last week. Gee-Gees quarterback and 2006 Yates Cup MVP Joshua Sacobie (Fredricton, New Brunswick) threw for 269 yards completing 18 of 27 passes, and two touchdowns. Second year running back, Justin Hammond (Waterdown, Ontario) also had an impressive game rushing 108 yards on 13 attempts and three touchdowns.
"They're strong, they're well coached and they're as an experienced team as we're going to see this season," said Mustang head coach Greg Marshall. "They have the best quarterback in our conference, they're big up front on offence and defence. They have no glaring weaknesses." Marshall said he knows the pressure is on his squad.
Fifth-year senior Ara Tchobanian (Ottawa, Ontario) also kicked himself into Gee-Gees history last Saturday, as the electrical engineering student was flawless in kicking five field goals to set a single game Gee-Gees record, including three in Ottawa’s 23 point second quarter. Tchobanian also added had five converts, plus contributed seven kick-offs, with an average of 51 yards per attempt, and kicked seven punts for a 39- yard average.
“We expect to be a better team each week! Each game is a chance to develop and be a better squad in preparing for the playoffs,” said Piche. “We respect each and every opponent but we feel what we can control is how we play and how we execute on game day…it is about us performing. It has always been my/our philosophy here.”
Piche said they will be cautious playing a 0-2 team. “Western will be ready for us, as always. They are 0-2 but could easily be 2-0…we know that and understand it will be a tough battle on Saturday. They have a big play capable team so anything short of a 60 minute effort won’t be tolerated on our side of the ball.”
The Gee-Gees know they'll have to continue to play well to repeat as OUA Yates Cup champions. “0-2, 2-0 or 0-43 is nothing we focus about…there is a football game to be played and we have to win it! No different than what Western is thinking at the moment,” said Piche.
Western is coming off a tough loss to the No.9 McMaster Marauders in week two of OUA football action. Despite the loss the play of Mustang quarterback Michael Faulds (Eden Mills, Ontario) is nothing to criticize. Faulds completed 26 of 40 passes for 426 yards and a touchdown. "We've had more offence, more first downs than our opponents,” insists head coach Greg Marshall. “We outplayed Queen's and we outplayed Mac. But we let the big play beat us.”
Marshall said they have to stop making those mental mistakes. "Any time you get a couple of losses, the pressure mounts," he said. "With an eight-game schedule, you have to win at least four or five games to even make the playoffs."
"We have to have more consistency on offence and we cannot continue to give up the big plays on defence.” Marshall said while this isn't a must-win game, the Mustangs are entering territory in just Week 3 with games being almost like playoff games. "It's beginning to be almost like the games are playoff games," he said. "Not that we're there yet, but we have Ottawa coming in and they're as good as a team to play in the conference, we'll have to be ready."
Tickets are available via Ticketmaster by phone at (519) 488-1012, Ticketmaster online at www.ticketmaster.ca and all Ticketmaster locations.
Ottawa Leaders
Passing
Joshua Sacobie – 41 completions, 62 attempts, 603 yards, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
Rushing
Justin Hammond – 35 rushes, 189 yards, 3 touchdowns
Receiving
Dave Crane – 10 catches, 153 yards, one touchdown
Cyril Adjeity – 7 catches, 134 yards, one touchdown
Defence
Cheeler Lindor – 6 solo tackles, 3 assisted tackles, 1 sack
Joe Barnes – 5 solo tackles, 2 assisted tackles
Western Leaders
Passing
Michael Faulds – 44 completions, 71 attempts, 613 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception
Rushing
Randy McAuley – 46 rushes, 285 yards, 2 touchdowns
Receiving
Jesse Bellamy – 13 catches, 243 yards, 1 touchdown
Anthony Adderly – 9 catches, 138 yards
Defence
Corey McNair – 11 solo tackles, 4 assisted tackles
Jason Kosec – 8 solo tackles, 4 assisted tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception
- OUA -
Michelle Church
Communications & Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Tel: (905) 540-5156
Fax: (905) 574-2840
E-mail: michelle.church@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
The Gee-Gees have already earned the respect of competitors around the OUA after their performance in 2006. “Many kids are making plays for us right now. We have a few new faces on offence, as well as players in a new role and mainly the same defence as in 2006,” says Gee-Gees head coach Denis Piche. “Every week players have to make plays…1st or 5th year; if you are dressed you’re expected to make plays, so we don’t deal too much on the new guys vs. the old guys.”
Ottawa is coming off of a 50-7 victory against the Toronto Varsity Blues last week. Gee-Gees quarterback and 2006 Yates Cup MVP Joshua Sacobie (Fredricton, New Brunswick) threw for 269 yards completing 18 of 27 passes, and two touchdowns. Second year running back, Justin Hammond (Waterdown, Ontario) also had an impressive game rushing 108 yards on 13 attempts and three touchdowns.
"They're strong, they're well coached and they're as an experienced team as we're going to see this season," said Mustang head coach Greg Marshall. "They have the best quarterback in our conference, they're big up front on offence and defence. They have no glaring weaknesses." Marshall said he knows the pressure is on his squad.
Fifth-year senior Ara Tchobanian (Ottawa, Ontario) also kicked himself into Gee-Gees history last Saturday, as the electrical engineering student was flawless in kicking five field goals to set a single game Gee-Gees record, including three in Ottawa’s 23 point second quarter. Tchobanian also added had five converts, plus contributed seven kick-offs, with an average of 51 yards per attempt, and kicked seven punts for a 39- yard average.
“We expect to be a better team each week! Each game is a chance to develop and be a better squad in preparing for the playoffs,” said Piche. “We respect each and every opponent but we feel what we can control is how we play and how we execute on game day…it is about us performing. It has always been my/our philosophy here.”
Piche said they will be cautious playing a 0-2 team. “Western will be ready for us, as always. They are 0-2 but could easily be 2-0…we know that and understand it will be a tough battle on Saturday. They have a big play capable team so anything short of a 60 minute effort won’t be tolerated on our side of the ball.”
The Gee-Gees know they'll have to continue to play well to repeat as OUA Yates Cup champions. “0-2, 2-0 or 0-43 is nothing we focus about…there is a football game to be played and we have to win it! No different than what Western is thinking at the moment,” said Piche.
Western is coming off a tough loss to the No.9 McMaster Marauders in week two of OUA football action. Despite the loss the play of Mustang quarterback Michael Faulds (Eden Mills, Ontario) is nothing to criticize. Faulds completed 26 of 40 passes for 426 yards and a touchdown. "We've had more offence, more first downs than our opponents,” insists head coach Greg Marshall. “We outplayed Queen's and we outplayed Mac. But we let the big play beat us.”
Marshall said they have to stop making those mental mistakes. "Any time you get a couple of losses, the pressure mounts," he said. "With an eight-game schedule, you have to win at least four or five games to even make the playoffs."
"We have to have more consistency on offence and we cannot continue to give up the big plays on defence.” Marshall said while this isn't a must-win game, the Mustangs are entering territory in just Week 3 with games being almost like playoff games. "It's beginning to be almost like the games are playoff games," he said. "Not that we're there yet, but we have Ottawa coming in and they're as good as a team to play in the conference, we'll have to be ready."
Tickets are available via Ticketmaster by phone at (519) 488-1012, Ticketmaster online at www.ticketmaster.ca and all Ticketmaster locations.
Ottawa Leaders
Passing
Joshua Sacobie – 41 completions, 62 attempts, 603 yards, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
Rushing
Justin Hammond – 35 rushes, 189 yards, 3 touchdowns
Receiving
Dave Crane – 10 catches, 153 yards, one touchdown
Cyril Adjeity – 7 catches, 134 yards, one touchdown
Defence
Cheeler Lindor – 6 solo tackles, 3 assisted tackles, 1 sack
Joe Barnes – 5 solo tackles, 2 assisted tackles
Western Leaders
Passing
Michael Faulds – 44 completions, 71 attempts, 613 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception
Rushing
Randy McAuley – 46 rushes, 285 yards, 2 touchdowns
Receiving
Jesse Bellamy – 13 catches, 243 yards, 1 touchdown
Anthony Adderly – 9 catches, 138 yards
Defence
Corey McNair – 11 solo tackles, 4 assisted tackles
Jason Kosec – 8 solo tackles, 4 assisted tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception
- OUA -
Michelle Church
Communications & Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Tel: (905) 540-5156
Fax: (905) 574-2840
E-mail: michelle.church@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
