October 24, 2008
OUA PLAYOFF PUSH: FOOTBALL
HAMILTON, Ont. - The playoffs have arrived in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) football and men's rugby, while the quarter-finals are set in both men's and women's soccer.
Last year's OUA football playoffs produced five-consecutive upsets, as lower seeds won every game on the road. Both the Ottawa Gee-Gees and McMaster Marauders hope that trend continues for at least another two weeks.
The Gee-Gees (4-4) will visit the 2007 Yates Cup finalist Guelph Gryphons (4-4) live on University Rush on The Score. The injury bug has not been kind to Ottawa the entire season, and are hoping that bandages and duct tape hold the team together another game.
Sixteen isn't a sweet number for head coach Denis Piche, as that's how many receivers he was forced to use during the eight-game regular season campaign. The most notable injury of the receiving corps is former Acadia Axeman great Ivan Birungi (Pickering, Ont.) who suffered a broken foot in Week 3, and has been shelved ever since. Birungi averaged better than a touchdown and 139 receiving yards his first three games. Birungi is in the Top 10 in all-time receiving yards in Canadian university football. He will be a game-time decision against the Gryphons.
Injuries cost Gee-Gees quarterback Josh Sacobie (Fredericton, N.B.) an opportunity to become the all-time OUA passing yards leader, finishing just 89 yards short of Ben Chapdelaine's mark. Sacobie suffered an injury to his throwing hand the final regular season game of his career, limiting his ability to throw. He ended up with 122 passing yards, but it could have been a blessing in disguise. The Gee-Gees were able to ignite their run game against the Toronto Varsity Blues, as Davie Mason (Brampton, Ont.) rushed for 113 yards and a major, while Felix-Antoine Desjardins-Potvin (Sutton, Que.) contributed 99 yards and a touchdown.
The Gryphons once again will rely on Funk. The combination of running back Nick Fitzgibbon (Puslinch, Ont.) and quarterback Justin Dunk (Guelph, Ont.) will make or break the Guelph side. Fitzgibbon is second in OUA rushing yards with 853, while Dunk is second in average yards per passing attempt with 9.92. This is Guelph's first meeting with Ottawa this season.
Just up the road, the No. 8-nationally ranked Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (6-2) will host the Marauders. The Golden Hawks are the hottest team outside of Queen's entering the playoffs, having won five straight. The Marauders (4-4) are on a bit of a roll themselves, having won four of their past five games. McMaster's only loss in that stretch came against Laurier, losing 50-31.
Luke Thompson (London, Ont.) is one of the rising stars of OUA, as the sophomore quarterback threw for 16 touchdowns, good for a tie with Sacobie for third in the province. He threw for 1,686 yards and ran for another 364 yards and four touchdowns.
Ryan Fantham (London, Ont.) officially took over the reigns of the McMaster offence in Week 3 and never let go. The third-year pivot ended the season with 1,708 passing yards and 13 touchdowns as the Marauders won four out of six games he started. The last time these quarterbacks from the Forest City were on the same field, the two combined for 852 passing yards and seven touchdowns.
The game can be seen on local television in Waterloo (Rogers Grand River) and Hamilton (Cable 14).
OUA SCHEDULE
FOOTBALL - QUARTER-FINALS
October 25, 2008
1 p.m. Ottawa @ Guelph
1 p.m. McMaster @ Laurier
– 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.
Last year's OUA football playoffs produced five-consecutive upsets, as lower seeds won every game on the road. Both the Ottawa Gee-Gees and McMaster Marauders hope that trend continues for at least another two weeks.
The Gee-Gees (4-4) will visit the 2007 Yates Cup finalist Guelph Gryphons (4-4) live on University Rush on The Score. The injury bug has not been kind to Ottawa the entire season, and are hoping that bandages and duct tape hold the team together another game.
Sixteen isn't a sweet number for head coach Denis Piche, as that's how many receivers he was forced to use during the eight-game regular season campaign. The most notable injury of the receiving corps is former Acadia Axeman great Ivan Birungi (Pickering, Ont.) who suffered a broken foot in Week 3, and has been shelved ever since. Birungi averaged better than a touchdown and 139 receiving yards his first three games. Birungi is in the Top 10 in all-time receiving yards in Canadian university football. He will be a game-time decision against the Gryphons.
Injuries cost Gee-Gees quarterback Josh Sacobie (Fredericton, N.B.) an opportunity to become the all-time OUA passing yards leader, finishing just 89 yards short of Ben Chapdelaine's mark. Sacobie suffered an injury to his throwing hand the final regular season game of his career, limiting his ability to throw. He ended up with 122 passing yards, but it could have been a blessing in disguise. The Gee-Gees were able to ignite their run game against the Toronto Varsity Blues, as Davie Mason (Brampton, Ont.) rushed for 113 yards and a major, while Felix-Antoine Desjardins-Potvin (Sutton, Que.) contributed 99 yards and a touchdown.
The Gryphons once again will rely on Funk. The combination of running back Nick Fitzgibbon (Puslinch, Ont.) and quarterback Justin Dunk (Guelph, Ont.) will make or break the Guelph side. Fitzgibbon is second in OUA rushing yards with 853, while Dunk is second in average yards per passing attempt with 9.92. This is Guelph's first meeting with Ottawa this season.
Just up the road, the No. 8-nationally ranked Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (6-2) will host the Marauders. The Golden Hawks are the hottest team outside of Queen's entering the playoffs, having won five straight. The Marauders (4-4) are on a bit of a roll themselves, having won four of their past five games. McMaster's only loss in that stretch came against Laurier, losing 50-31.
Luke Thompson (London, Ont.) is one of the rising stars of OUA, as the sophomore quarterback threw for 16 touchdowns, good for a tie with Sacobie for third in the province. He threw for 1,686 yards and ran for another 364 yards and four touchdowns.
Ryan Fantham (London, Ont.) officially took over the reigns of the McMaster offence in Week 3 and never let go. The third-year pivot ended the season with 1,708 passing yards and 13 touchdowns as the Marauders won four out of six games he started. The last time these quarterbacks from the Forest City were on the same field, the two combined for 852 passing yards and seven touchdowns.
The game can be seen on local television in Waterloo (Rogers Grand River) and Hamilton (Cable 14).
OUA SCHEDULE
FOOTBALL - QUARTER-FINALS
October 25, 2008
1 p.m. Ottawa @ Guelph
1 p.m. McMaster @ Laurier
– 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.
