October 22, 2008
PLAYOFF PUSH ON UNIVERSITY RUSH
HAMILTON, Ont. – University Rush gears up for Ontario University Athletics (OUA) playoff action this Saturday when the Guelph Gryphons (4-4) host the Ottawa Gee-Gees (4-4) live on The Score.
After tie breaker scenarios were put into action, Ottawa end the regular season seeded fifth as a result of the 22-19 victory over McMaster on Sept. 13.
Fifth-year quarterback Josh Sacobie (Fredericton, N.B.) took a hit to his throwing hand in the first half to finish with 122 yards passing including a fourth quarter touchdown pass in Saturday's 39-30 win over Toronto. The win secures Ottawa’s 17th consecutive playoff berth, and halted a three-game losing streak.
Sacobie, with 9,885 career passing yards after 36 career regular season starts and 27 wins dating back to 2004, finishes third on the CIS all-time list - 89 yards short of tying the previous CIS and OUA all-time passing mark of 9,974 yards set by McMaster's Ben Chapdelaine in 2001. Sacobie added four attempts on the ground, rushing for 52 yards, including a pair of one-yard touchdown plunges.
Third-year Ottawa running back Davie Mason (Brampton, Ont.) had 12 carries for 113 yards and a 17-yard touchdown to open the fourth quarter and rookie Felix Desjardins-Potvin (Hull, Que.) rushed for 99 yards on 16 carries, scoring from five yards in the third. Receiver Alex Fortier Labonte (Gatineau, Que.) added the last major for the Gee-Gees and the only through the air, when he connected with Sacobie putting one into the end zone to secure the game with under two minutes left.
Luigi De Lellis (Ottawa, Ont.) completed five of five converts for the extra point, and put a 13-yard field goal through the uprights in the first.
Defensively, Ottawa was led by Sebastien Tetreault (Granby, Que.) who collected six solo tackles. Michael Cornell (Hamilton, Ont.) and Tyler Dawe (Rockwood, Ont.) added four solos each.
Plagued with injury, Ottawa has gone through a team-record 16 receivers, losing a new batch of starters every week - none more dramatic than the 25-year-old Ivan Birungi (Pickering, Ont.), a four-season, two-time AUS MVP at Acadia and the CIS top receiver through the first three games this season before suffering a broken foot.
Desjardins-Potvin (leg), starting fifth-year linebacker Ian Hazlett of Ottawa, Ont. (hamstring), third-year receiver Matt Bolduc of Montreal, Que. (hamstring) and second-year defensive back Marc-Andre St-Hilaire of Montreal, Que. (hamstring) are also looking for playing clearance.
“I'm dreaming of this day where we see the possibility of an unbelievable football team,” said Gee-Gees head coach Denis Piche.
“Right now every game is going to be our Vanier Cup.”
The Guelph Gryphons won a three-way regular season tie between Guelph, Ottawa and McMaster with their 4-2 record against common opponents to be seeded fourth in the league for playoffs.
In the last game of the regular season, Guelph visited the No. 2 nationally ranked Western Mustangs (7-1) who already had clinched second spot in OUA, home field advantage and a first round playoff bye. The Gryphons fell 47-16 at the hands of the horsemen.
The Gryphons were led offensively by running back Paul Bartley (Toronto, Ont.) who put up 73 yards on eight attempts in the fourth quarter alone and became Guelph's leading rusher of the day. Gryphon quarterback Justin Dunk (Guelph, Ont.) was 13 for 23 with 228 yards, scoring no majors through the air.
Guelph punched the ball into the end zone on a single yard touchdown-run by Nick Fitzgibbon (Puslinch, Ont.) with 5:52 remaining in the second. Fitzgibbon would record the only Gryphon touchdown on the day.
Kicker Rob Maver (Brampton, Ont.) added the other Guelph points kicking three field goals and a convert.
The Gryphons offence was held back by a strong Western defence and were unable to put up any points in the second half being outscored 19-0 by the Mustangs.
James Savoie (Niagara Falls, Ont.) led the Guelph defence with six solo tackles. Three solos apiece were added by Sebastian Howard (Niagara Falls, Ont.), Sean Riley (Burlington, Ont.) and Adam Dunk (Guelph, Ont.).
Ottawa is unbeaten in three playoff games all-time against the Gryphons, scoring over 30 points in each game for a combined 106-45 advantage. The last victory came in the 2005 OUA quarter-final, won 35-21 at Frank Clair Stadium.
Join play-by-play announcer Tim Micallef, analyst Mike Morreale and sideline reporters D.J. Bennett and Glenn Schiiler this Saturday to see who will advance to OUA Semi-Finals against either Western or Queen’s. The Score goes live for kickoff at 1 p.m. and the game is presented by Pizza Pizza.
OTTAWA LEADERS
Passing
Josh Sacobie (Fredericton, N.B.)
141 completions, 245 attempts, 2,171 yards, 16 touchdowns, 10 interceptions
Rushing
Davie Mason (Brampton, Ont.)
75 attempts, 474 yards, 4 touchdown
Receiving
Cyril Adjeity (Ghana)
33 receptions, 473 yards, 3 touchdowns
Defence
Michael Cornell (Hamilton, Ont.)
45 solo tackles, 5 sacks
Sebastien Tetreault (Granby, Que.)
24 solo tackles, 4 sacks
Maxime Bedard (Granby, Que.)
22 solo tackles, 2 interceptions
GUELPH LEADERS
Passing
Justin Dunk (Guelph, Ont.)
121 completions, 208 attempts, 2,064 yards, 12 touchdowns, 8 interceptions
Rushing
Nick Fitzgibbon (Puslinch, Ont.)
135 attempts, 853 yards, 4 touchdowns
Receiving
Jedd Gardner (St. Catharines, Ont.)
38 receptions, 812 yards, 4 touchdown
Defence
Adam Dunk (Guelph, Ont.)
39 solo tackles, 3 sacks
James Savoie (Niagara Falls, Ont.)
38 solo tackles, 2 interceptions
Brad Crawford (Hamilton, Ont.)
25 solo tackles
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
After tie breaker scenarios were put into action, Ottawa end the regular season seeded fifth as a result of the 22-19 victory over McMaster on Sept. 13.
Fifth-year quarterback Josh Sacobie (Fredericton, N.B.) took a hit to his throwing hand in the first half to finish with 122 yards passing including a fourth quarter touchdown pass in Saturday's 39-30 win over Toronto. The win secures Ottawa’s 17th consecutive playoff berth, and halted a three-game losing streak.
Sacobie, with 9,885 career passing yards after 36 career regular season starts and 27 wins dating back to 2004, finishes third on the CIS all-time list - 89 yards short of tying the previous CIS and OUA all-time passing mark of 9,974 yards set by McMaster's Ben Chapdelaine in 2001. Sacobie added four attempts on the ground, rushing for 52 yards, including a pair of one-yard touchdown plunges.
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Third-year Ottawa running back Davie Mason (Brampton, Ont.) had 12 carries for 113 yards and a 17-yard touchdown to open the fourth quarter and rookie Felix Desjardins-Potvin (Hull, Que.) rushed for 99 yards on 16 carries, scoring from five yards in the third. Receiver Alex Fortier Labonte (Gatineau, Que.) added the last major for the Gee-Gees and the only through the air, when he connected with Sacobie putting one into the end zone to secure the game with under two minutes left.
Luigi De Lellis (Ottawa, Ont.) completed five of five converts for the extra point, and put a 13-yard field goal through the uprights in the first.
Defensively, Ottawa was led by Sebastien Tetreault (Granby, Que.) who collected six solo tackles. Michael Cornell (Hamilton, Ont.) and Tyler Dawe (Rockwood, Ont.) added four solos each.
Plagued with injury, Ottawa has gone through a team-record 16 receivers, losing a new batch of starters every week - none more dramatic than the 25-year-old Ivan Birungi (Pickering, Ont.), a four-season, two-time AUS MVP at Acadia and the CIS top receiver through the first three games this season before suffering a broken foot.
Desjardins-Potvin (leg), starting fifth-year linebacker Ian Hazlett of Ottawa, Ont. (hamstring), third-year receiver Matt Bolduc of Montreal, Que. (hamstring) and second-year defensive back Marc-Andre St-Hilaire of Montreal, Que. (hamstring) are also looking for playing clearance.
“I'm dreaming of this day where we see the possibility of an unbelievable football team,” said Gee-Gees head coach Denis Piche.
“Right now every game is going to be our Vanier Cup.”
The Guelph Gryphons won a three-way regular season tie between Guelph, Ottawa and McMaster with their 4-2 record against common opponents to be seeded fourth in the league for playoffs.
In the last game of the regular season, Guelph visited the No. 2 nationally ranked Western Mustangs (7-1) who already had clinched second spot in OUA, home field advantage and a first round playoff bye. The Gryphons fell 47-16 at the hands of the horsemen.
The Gryphons were led offensively by running back Paul Bartley (Toronto, Ont.) who put up 73 yards on eight attempts in the fourth quarter alone and became Guelph's leading rusher of the day. Gryphon quarterback Justin Dunk (Guelph, Ont.) was 13 for 23 with 228 yards, scoring no majors through the air.
Guelph punched the ball into the end zone on a single yard touchdown-run by Nick Fitzgibbon (Puslinch, Ont.) with 5:52 remaining in the second. Fitzgibbon would record the only Gryphon touchdown on the day.
Kicker Rob Maver (Brampton, Ont.) added the other Guelph points kicking three field goals and a convert.
The Gryphons offence was held back by a strong Western defence and were unable to put up any points in the second half being outscored 19-0 by the Mustangs.
James Savoie (Niagara Falls, Ont.) led the Guelph defence with six solo tackles. Three solos apiece were added by Sebastian Howard (Niagara Falls, Ont.), Sean Riley (Burlington, Ont.) and Adam Dunk (Guelph, Ont.).
Ottawa is unbeaten in three playoff games all-time against the Gryphons, scoring over 30 points in each game for a combined 106-45 advantage. The last victory came in the 2005 OUA quarter-final, won 35-21 at Frank Clair Stadium.
Join play-by-play announcer Tim Micallef, analyst Mike Morreale and sideline reporters D.J. Bennett and Glenn Schiiler this Saturday to see who will advance to OUA Semi-Finals against either Western or Queen’s. The Score goes live for kickoff at 1 p.m. and the game is presented by Pizza Pizza.
OTTAWA LEADERS
Passing
Josh Sacobie (Fredericton, N.B.)
141 completions, 245 attempts, 2,171 yards, 16 touchdowns, 10 interceptions
Rushing
Davie Mason (Brampton, Ont.)
75 attempts, 474 yards, 4 touchdown
Receiving
Cyril Adjeity (Ghana)
33 receptions, 473 yards, 3 touchdowns
Defence
Michael Cornell (Hamilton, Ont.)
45 solo tackles, 5 sacks
Sebastien Tetreault (Granby, Que.)
24 solo tackles, 4 sacks
Maxime Bedard (Granby, Que.)
22 solo tackles, 2 interceptions
GUELPH LEADERS
Passing
Justin Dunk (Guelph, Ont.)
121 completions, 208 attempts, 2,064 yards, 12 touchdowns, 8 interceptions
Rushing
Nick Fitzgibbon (Puslinch, Ont.)
135 attempts, 853 yards, 4 touchdowns
Receiving
Jedd Gardner (St. Catharines, Ont.)
38 receptions, 812 yards, 4 touchdown
Defence
Adam Dunk (Guelph, Ont.)
39 solo tackles, 3 sacks
James Savoie (Niagara Falls, Ont.)
38 solo tackles, 2 interceptions
Brad Crawford (Hamilton, Ont.)
25 solo tackles
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
