November 1, 2008
OUA FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: WESTERN TO HOST OTTAWA IN 101ST YATES CUP
LONDON, Ont. - In an electric game held in front of 3,370 fans at TD Waterhouse Stadium, the Western Mustangs beat the Laurier Golden Hawks 36-28 on Nov. 1, 2008.
They will now host the 101st Yates Cup against the Ottawa Gee-Gees in one week's time.
The Mustangs were lifted to the close win with career games from unlikely heroes: kicker Darryl Wheeler (Hamilton, Ont.) and fullback Dan Duff (London, Ont.).
Wheeler scored on six field goal attempts, the longest from 41-yards out. His 6-for-6 performance ties a CIS playoff record for successful field goals in a game set in 1992 by Calgary kicker Bruce Parsons and tied by Manitoba's Scott Dixon in 2007.
Duff was Western's second-leading receiver, catching four balls for 81 yards and serving as quarterback Michael Faulds' (Eden Mills, ON) go-to target on a number of key second downs.
The game began with offensive fireworks and a 50-yard reception by inside receiver Jesse Bellamy (Guelph, Ont.). The field position was wasted, however, when Nathan Riva was stripped of the ball by Laurier defensive end Chima Ihekwoaba (Burlington, Ont.). Laurier recovered, however the Golden Hawks' quarterback Luke Thompson (London, Ont.) proceeded to throw the ball right back to Western and into the hands of Mustangs defensive back Matt Carapella (London, Ont.).
Turnovers would prove to be a crucial factor throughout the rest of the game. Riva (LaSalle, Ont.) would go on to fumble twice more while Thompson's five interceptions on the day would lead to his benching in favour of backup quarterback Ian Noble (Vancouver, B.C.) midway through the third quarter.
Western would score first: driving for five plays down the field, including a gutsy third and three conversion by Riva, to be capped off by a 32-yard Wheeler field goal.
Thompson would lead his team right back, scoring on a 10-yard touchdown pass to slot back Josh Bishop (Mississauga, Ont.), putting Laurier on top, 7-3.
Laurier defensive tackle Steve Cormack (Waterloo, Ont.) would make his mark on the following Western drive, forcing Riva's second fumble. It was part of a smothering performance by the defensive lineman, who harried Faulds all day and piled up 3 sacks against a usually solid Western offensive line.
Laurier would drive the ball into field goal range, but kicker Chris Mamo's (London, Ont.) 43-yard attempt went wide right.
Wheeler would score twice more on third downs at the end of short drives before Faulds and company would really put one together. With 3:27 left in the second, Western went on an 87-yard, nine play drive that would be stopped on the one-yard line by a spectacular Laurier defensive stand. A quarterback sneak play by Faulds failed to advance the ball and there was a turnover on downs.
Upon regaining possession, Thompson would turn the ball over once again, this time giving defensive back Josh Foster (London, Ont.) the first of his two interceptions on the day. Laurier's defence kept them alive again, allowing just three more points off Darryl Wheeler's accurate foot. The teams left for the lockers with Western ahead 15-7.
It wouldn't be until the third quarter that Western would regain its usual offensive swagger. An intentional safety by Thompson had pushed Western's advantage to 17-7, and Wilson's second interception had put them with the ball on Laurier's 20-yard line. Riva, determined to make up for his fumbles in the first half, needed only one carry to move the ball 20 yards into the end zone.
Thompson would concede yet another safety before head coach Gary Jeffries made a change. With 5:18 left in the third quarter, trailing 24-7, Jeffries turned the reigns over to former starting quarterback Noble. He was held to two incomplete passes by Western's defence before the Golden Hawks were forced to punt the ball away.
On the ensuing possession, Faulds connected with Bellamy, one of his favourite targets this season for a touchdown pass. Right when it seemed that the Mustangs had the game won with a 31-7 advantage, Laurier return man Dillon Heap (Waterloo, Ont.) returned a kickoff all the way to the eight-yard line. The score was saved by an amazing play from Mustangs special teamer Aaron Handsor (Chatham, Ont.), who demonstrated his stunning speed, catching his Heap's leg with a diving tackle.
On the next play, Noble found slotback B.J. Malott (Kitchener, Ont.) wide open on a slants route for the touchdown, bringing the score to 31-14.
Laurier then destroyed the Western response, batting down one pass and stopping another when Cormack came on a stunt through the middle to sack Faulds and force the punt.
Noble started another drive on his own 35-yard line and drove his offence three plays and 30 yards to the Western 40. CIS rookie-of-the-year candidate and wide receiver Shamawd Chambers (Markham, Ont.) would get behind the Western defence on a fly route and catch a 40-yard pass in the end zone for Laurier's second straight score, closing the gap to just 12 points.
Another attempt to put the game away by Western, this time in the fourth quarter, would be stopped by another Riva fumble, recovered by Laurier linebacker Giancarlo Rapanaro (Niagara Falls, Ont.). Noble used this opportunity to score for the third straight time on 11-yard touchdown pass to Mallot.
The score now stood at 33-28, and Laurier had very clearly stolen the momentum.
It appeared that Laurier might get its comeback win when a solid effort from its defence forced another Western punt, however John Surla (Niagara Falls, Ont.) forced Heap to fumble on the return and put Western 15-yards away from going up by two scores and sealing the victory.
Unfortunately, they failed to gain 10 yards and Wheeler booted his sixth and record-tying field goal of the game, leaving the Golden Hawks just eight points away from a tie.
Laurier's ensuing drive stalled in Western territory with less than a minute on the clock, and Noble's third down pass fell to the turf after a Josh Wilson deflection. Western's offence took over one last time to kneel the remaining seconds out and guarantee that the Yates Cup would be won and lost at TD Waterhouse.
Earlier in the afternoon, Ottawa beat Queen's in a 23-13 upset of the previously undefeated Gaels to earn their spot in the championship game of Ontario University Athletics football.
Western's defence will have its hands full stopping the Gee-Gee's running back Davie Mason (Brampton, Ont.) who now has 422 rushing yards and five touchdowns this playoff season. His premiere performance came in the quarter-final game against the Guelph Gryphons where he broke the record held by current Western head coach Greg Marshall for rushing yards in a playoff game with 327 yards.
The record was previously broken by Marshall in 1981 with a 317-yard outing against the Laurier Golden Hawks.
The Mustangs host Ottawa in the 101st Yates Cup on Saturday Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. at TD Waterhouse Stadium. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.ca or in person at the Alumni Hall ticket office from 10-2 on Sunday Nov. 2 and 9-4 from Nov. 3-7.
Source: Mustangs Athletics
OTTAWA 23, NO. 2 QUEEN'S 13
KINGSTON, Ont. – The Ottawa Gee-Gees ended the Queen's Gaels drive for the Vanier Cup on Saturday with a surprising 23-13 win in an OUA semi-final at Richardson Stadium.
Gee-Gees running back Davie Mason (Brampton, Ont.) ran for 95 yards with two touchdowns despite leaving the game in the second quarter. The two touchdowns were the difference propelling the Gee-Gees into the 101st Yates Cup next Saturday against Western. Ottawa's kicker Matthew Falvo (Welland, Ont.) also added three field goals.
Queen's was without OUA rushing leader Mike Giffin (Kingston, Ont.) who suffered a knee injury on the first play against the Waterloo Warriors two weeks ago. Filling in for Giffin was Marty Gordon (Kingston, Ont.) who recorded 14 carries and ran for 83 yards while Montreal's Jimmy Therrien had an additional 33 yards.
Both quarterbacks put up similar numbers with Dan Brannagan (Burlington, Ont.) completing 11 passes on 31 attempts for 177 yards for Queen's. Josh Sacobie (Fredericton, N.B.) had 11 passes for 22 attempts and 177 yards.
Brannagan was the lone quarterback to throw a touchdown finding Devan Sheahan (Kingston, Ont.) to open the scoring for Queen's early in the first quarter.
Turnovers were the difference in the game with Ottawa recovering two fumbles that were costly in the Gaels drives. Brannagan was stripped of the ball under pressure by the Gee-Gees and then in the fourth quarter Jimy Allin (Belleville, Ont.) had an uncharacteristic fumble on a return that gave Ottawa field position which led to a game sealing field goal.
While the Gaels were without Giffin, Queen's also lost the service of defensive captain Thaine Carter. Carter was removed from the game in the first quarter after suffering a knee injury.
Source: Gaels Athletics
They will now host the 101st Yates Cup against the Ottawa Gee-Gees in one week's time.
The Mustangs were lifted to the close win with career games from unlikely heroes: kicker Darryl Wheeler (Hamilton, Ont.) and fullback Dan Duff (London, Ont.).
Wheeler scored on six field goal attempts, the longest from 41-yards out. His 6-for-6 performance ties a CIS playoff record for successful field goals in a game set in 1992 by Calgary kicker Bruce Parsons and tied by Manitoba's Scott Dixon in 2007.
Duff was Western's second-leading receiver, catching four balls for 81 yards and serving as quarterback Michael Faulds' (Eden Mills, ON) go-to target on a number of key second downs.
The game began with offensive fireworks and a 50-yard reception by inside receiver Jesse Bellamy (Guelph, Ont.). The field position was wasted, however, when Nathan Riva was stripped of the ball by Laurier defensive end Chima Ihekwoaba (Burlington, Ont.). Laurier recovered, however the Golden Hawks' quarterback Luke Thompson (London, Ont.) proceeded to throw the ball right back to Western and into the hands of Mustangs defensive back Matt Carapella (London, Ont.).
Turnovers would prove to be a crucial factor throughout the rest of the game. Riva (LaSalle, Ont.) would go on to fumble twice more while Thompson's five interceptions on the day would lead to his benching in favour of backup quarterback Ian Noble (Vancouver, B.C.) midway through the third quarter.
Western would score first: driving for five plays down the field, including a gutsy third and three conversion by Riva, to be capped off by a 32-yard Wheeler field goal.
Thompson would lead his team right back, scoring on a 10-yard touchdown pass to slot back Josh Bishop (Mississauga, Ont.), putting Laurier on top, 7-3.
Laurier defensive tackle Steve Cormack (Waterloo, Ont.) would make his mark on the following Western drive, forcing Riva's second fumble. It was part of a smothering performance by the defensive lineman, who harried Faulds all day and piled up 3 sacks against a usually solid Western offensive line.
Laurier would drive the ball into field goal range, but kicker Chris Mamo's (London, Ont.) 43-yard attempt went wide right.
Wheeler would score twice more on third downs at the end of short drives before Faulds and company would really put one together. With 3:27 left in the second, Western went on an 87-yard, nine play drive that would be stopped on the one-yard line by a spectacular Laurier defensive stand. A quarterback sneak play by Faulds failed to advance the ball and there was a turnover on downs.
Upon regaining possession, Thompson would turn the ball over once again, this time giving defensive back Josh Foster (London, Ont.) the first of his two interceptions on the day. Laurier's defence kept them alive again, allowing just three more points off Darryl Wheeler's accurate foot. The teams left for the lockers with Western ahead 15-7.
It wouldn't be until the third quarter that Western would regain its usual offensive swagger. An intentional safety by Thompson had pushed Western's advantage to 17-7, and Wilson's second interception had put them with the ball on Laurier's 20-yard line. Riva, determined to make up for his fumbles in the first half, needed only one carry to move the ball 20 yards into the end zone.
Thompson would concede yet another safety before head coach Gary Jeffries made a change. With 5:18 left in the third quarter, trailing 24-7, Jeffries turned the reigns over to former starting quarterback Noble. He was held to two incomplete passes by Western's defence before the Golden Hawks were forced to punt the ball away.
On the ensuing possession, Faulds connected with Bellamy, one of his favourite targets this season for a touchdown pass. Right when it seemed that the Mustangs had the game won with a 31-7 advantage, Laurier return man Dillon Heap (Waterloo, Ont.) returned a kickoff all the way to the eight-yard line. The score was saved by an amazing play from Mustangs special teamer Aaron Handsor (Chatham, Ont.), who demonstrated his stunning speed, catching his Heap's leg with a diving tackle.
On the next play, Noble found slotback B.J. Malott (Kitchener, Ont.) wide open on a slants route for the touchdown, bringing the score to 31-14.
Laurier then destroyed the Western response, batting down one pass and stopping another when Cormack came on a stunt through the middle to sack Faulds and force the punt.
Noble started another drive on his own 35-yard line and drove his offence three plays and 30 yards to the Western 40. CIS rookie-of-the-year candidate and wide receiver Shamawd Chambers (Markham, Ont.) would get behind the Western defence on a fly route and catch a 40-yard pass in the end zone for Laurier's second straight score, closing the gap to just 12 points.
Another attempt to put the game away by Western, this time in the fourth quarter, would be stopped by another Riva fumble, recovered by Laurier linebacker Giancarlo Rapanaro (Niagara Falls, Ont.). Noble used this opportunity to score for the third straight time on 11-yard touchdown pass to Mallot.
The score now stood at 33-28, and Laurier had very clearly stolen the momentum.
It appeared that Laurier might get its comeback win when a solid effort from its defence forced another Western punt, however John Surla (Niagara Falls, Ont.) forced Heap to fumble on the return and put Western 15-yards away from going up by two scores and sealing the victory.
Unfortunately, they failed to gain 10 yards and Wheeler booted his sixth and record-tying field goal of the game, leaving the Golden Hawks just eight points away from a tie.
Laurier's ensuing drive stalled in Western territory with less than a minute on the clock, and Noble's third down pass fell to the turf after a Josh Wilson deflection. Western's offence took over one last time to kneel the remaining seconds out and guarantee that the Yates Cup would be won and lost at TD Waterhouse.
Earlier in the afternoon, Ottawa beat Queen's in a 23-13 upset of the previously undefeated Gaels to earn their spot in the championship game of Ontario University Athletics football.
Western's defence will have its hands full stopping the Gee-Gee's running back Davie Mason (Brampton, Ont.) who now has 422 rushing yards and five touchdowns this playoff season. His premiere performance came in the quarter-final game against the Guelph Gryphons where he broke the record held by current Western head coach Greg Marshall for rushing yards in a playoff game with 327 yards.
The record was previously broken by Marshall in 1981 with a 317-yard outing against the Laurier Golden Hawks.
The Mustangs host Ottawa in the 101st Yates Cup on Saturday Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. at TD Waterhouse Stadium. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.ca or in person at the Alumni Hall ticket office from 10-2 on Sunday Nov. 2 and 9-4 from Nov. 3-7.
Source: Mustangs Athletics
OTTAWA 23, NO. 2 QUEEN'S 13
KINGSTON, Ont. – The Ottawa Gee-Gees ended the Queen's Gaels drive for the Vanier Cup on Saturday with a surprising 23-13 win in an OUA semi-final at Richardson Stadium.
Gee-Gees running back Davie Mason (Brampton, Ont.) ran for 95 yards with two touchdowns despite leaving the game in the second quarter. The two touchdowns were the difference propelling the Gee-Gees into the 101st Yates Cup next Saturday against Western. Ottawa's kicker Matthew Falvo (Welland, Ont.) also added three field goals.
Queen's was without OUA rushing leader Mike Giffin (Kingston, Ont.) who suffered a knee injury on the first play against the Waterloo Warriors two weeks ago. Filling in for Giffin was Marty Gordon (Kingston, Ont.) who recorded 14 carries and ran for 83 yards while Montreal's Jimmy Therrien had an additional 33 yards.
Both quarterbacks put up similar numbers with Dan Brannagan (Burlington, Ont.) completing 11 passes on 31 attempts for 177 yards for Queen's. Josh Sacobie (Fredericton, N.B.) had 11 passes for 22 attempts and 177 yards.
Brannagan was the lone quarterback to throw a touchdown finding Devan Sheahan (Kingston, Ont.) to open the scoring for Queen's early in the first quarter.
Turnovers were the difference in the game with Ottawa recovering two fumbles that were costly in the Gaels drives. Brannagan was stripped of the ball under pressure by the Gee-Gees and then in the fourth quarter Jimy Allin (Belleville, Ont.) had an uncharacteristic fumble on a return that gave Ottawa field position which led to a game sealing field goal.
While the Gaels were without Giffin, Queen's also lost the service of defensive captain Thaine Carter. Carter was removed from the game in the first quarter after suffering a knee injury.
Source: Gaels Athletics
