September 22, 2012
Gee-Gees lose hard-fought game to Laurier, 35-27
After losing the first three games of their season, the Gee-Gees football team badly needed a win against the Laurier Golden Hawks to bolster their playoff chances. And while the Gee-Gees gave it their all against an equally desperate Golden Hawks team, Ottawa ended up on the short side of the stick again, losing 35-27 at Beckwith Park.
The Gee-Gees were backed up at their own four-yard line to start the first drive of the game, due to a penalty on the opening kickoff. However, on the first play from scrimmage, Colbon found a wide-open receiver in rookie Vincent Campbell. Laurier’s defence went hard after a potential safety but failed, leaving Campbell completely uncovered for an incredible 106-yard catch-and-run touchdown.
“The receivers are open commonly, there are running lanes that are open. They did a good job of limiting our running game, but usually when we look at the video, there are guys not doing their jobs. Obviously we’ll look at that,” said Gee-Gees head coach Gary Etcheverry. “But there’s no question about the offence and the potential [they have].”
Laurier rebounded well after the defensive debacle, scoring a touchdown a few minutes later to tie the score up at 7-7. The two defences soon settled down and Laurier led 10-7 heading into the second quarter.
The Golden Hawks added to their lead three minutes into the second frame when quarterback Steve Fantham found his man in the endzone despite double coverage from the Gee-Gees. More bad news for the Gee-Gees came in the form of a hand injury to fourth-year quarterback Aaron Colbon who was unable to return to the game. Ottawa did manage to put some points on the scoreboard when fourth-year defensive lineman Trevor Seal scored a safety.
“When we lost our starting quarterback, it was significant, but his replacement—a rookie—did a very good job given the circumstances,”said Etcheverry.
Rookie Zac Lesko (Edmonton, Alta.) was thrown into the fire as the replacement for Colbon and he responded valiantly, scoring a 1-yard touchdown run. Lesko led the Gee-Gees offence on another nice drive which was capped off by a 31-yard field goal by fifth-year kicker Matthew Falvo. The Gee-Gees had a 19-17 advantage at halftime.
After the intermission, fifth-year linebacker Tyler Sawyer made a huge play when he sacked the Laurier quarterback, causing a fumble. The Gee-Gees scored three points off the turnover when Falvo hit a 45-yard field goal. Shortly after, Sawyer forced yet another fumble from Fantham, setting up a 17-yard field goal from Falvo. Ottawa led 25-17 at that point. Laurier then scored a touchdown and a single of their own to tie the game at 25-25.
Laurier re-took the lead early in the fourth quarter after a touchdown drive. The Golden Hawks scored again, this time a field goal, to take a 10-point lead with less than six minutes left in the game. The Gee-Gees did give their fans a glimmer of hope when they blocked a punt for a safety with a minute and a half left in the game, but that was as close as Ottawa would get—the Gee-Gees lost by a 35-27 final score.
The Gee-Gees were backed up at their own four-yard line to start the first drive of the game, due to a penalty on the opening kickoff. However, on the first play from scrimmage, Colbon found a wide-open receiver in rookie Vincent Campbell. Laurier’s defence went hard after a potential safety but failed, leaving Campbell completely uncovered for an incredible 106-yard catch-and-run touchdown.
“The receivers are open commonly, there are running lanes that are open. They did a good job of limiting our running game, but usually when we look at the video, there are guys not doing their jobs. Obviously we’ll look at that,” said Gee-Gees head coach Gary Etcheverry. “But there’s no question about the offence and the potential [they have].”
Laurier rebounded well after the defensive debacle, scoring a touchdown a few minutes later to tie the score up at 7-7. The two defences soon settled down and Laurier led 10-7 heading into the second quarter.
The Golden Hawks added to their lead three minutes into the second frame when quarterback Steve Fantham found his man in the endzone despite double coverage from the Gee-Gees. More bad news for the Gee-Gees came in the form of a hand injury to fourth-year quarterback Aaron Colbon who was unable to return to the game. Ottawa did manage to put some points on the scoreboard when fourth-year defensive lineman Trevor Seal scored a safety.
“When we lost our starting quarterback, it was significant, but his replacement—a rookie—did a very good job given the circumstances,”said Etcheverry.
Rookie Zac Lesko (Edmonton, Alta.) was thrown into the fire as the replacement for Colbon and he responded valiantly, scoring a 1-yard touchdown run. Lesko led the Gee-Gees offence on another nice drive which was capped off by a 31-yard field goal by fifth-year kicker Matthew Falvo. The Gee-Gees had a 19-17 advantage at halftime.
After the intermission, fifth-year linebacker Tyler Sawyer made a huge play when he sacked the Laurier quarterback, causing a fumble. The Gee-Gees scored three points off the turnover when Falvo hit a 45-yard field goal. Shortly after, Sawyer forced yet another fumble from Fantham, setting up a 17-yard field goal from Falvo. Ottawa led 25-17 at that point. Laurier then scored a touchdown and a single of their own to tie the game at 25-25.
Laurier re-took the lead early in the fourth quarter after a touchdown drive. The Golden Hawks scored again, this time a field goal, to take a 10-point lead with less than six minutes left in the game. The Gee-Gees did give their fans a glimmer of hope when they blocked a punt for a safety with a minute and a half left in the game, but that was as close as Ottawa would get—the Gee-Gees lost by a 35-27 final score.
