This weekend the Gaels (1-0) will travel to Ottawa to take on the Gee-Gees (0-0) at 1pm on Sunday in their second game of the OUA season and first on the road.
Last weekend, the Gaels were victorious 34-24 in their home opener against the Carleton Ravens. The Gaels opened up their OUA season at home to the Ravens and came back from an early 14-0 deficit to win 34-24 thanks toJesse Andrews (Arnprior, Ont.) and Doug Corby (Burlington, Ont.) who each had a pair of touchdowns. Andrews finished with 21 rushes for 178-yards and two touchdowns while Corby had nine receptions for 137-yards and two touchdowns. Gaels quarterback Nate Hobbs (Mississauga, Ont.) finished the game 24 of 36 passing with 338-yards and two touchdowns while on defence, Nelkas Kwemo (Montreal) led all players with seven tackles.
Dillon Wamsley (London, Ont.) was been named the OUA and CIS Football Player of the Week on Special Teams for his effort against the Ravens. Wamsley was perfect for the Gaels against Carleton hitting both of his two field goals as well as hitting all four extra points for a total of 10 points scored, which was the point difference in the final score of the game. Wamsley punted the ball seven times totaling 258 yards with an average of 36.9 yards per punt; three of the punts were inside the 20 yard line. Wamsley had seven kickoffs in the game for 341 yards averaging 48.7 yards per kick.
The Gaels and Gee-Gees last met each other in the second game of the 2014 regular season, with the Gee-Gees winning 37-30 over the Gaels. Billy McPhee (Burlington, Ont.) finished the game with over 300 yards and two touchdowns through the air for Queen’s. Jonah Pataki (Wallaceburg, Ont.) caught one of McPhee’s touchdown throws and added another score on the ground, where he ran for 157 yards subbing in for an injured Andrews. Curtis Carmichael (Scarborough, Ont.) was the Gaels go-to receiver with a game-high 134 yards on eight receptions, plus a touchdown. Alex Carroll (Victoria) also had over 100 yards receiving for Queen’s on seven catches.
This will be Ottawa’s season opener coming off a first week bye. The Gee-Gees lost in an exhibition game 36-3 against the defending Vanier Cup champion University of Montreal on August 23rd.
Source: Shawn MacDonald, Queen’s Golden Gaels Sports Information
Gee-Gees kick off against Queen’s this Sunday
The University of Ottawa’s football program will kick off its season against their Kingston foe, the Queen’s Gaels. Coming off a 2014 campaign that saw the team finish with a 5-3 in the regular season and lose in the OUA playoffs semi-finals, the team is now focused on taking it a step further. The Gee-Gees begin their quest for the Yates Cup this Sunday September 6 at 1p.m. at Gee-Gees Field, located at 200 Lees Avenue.
Tickets, including season tickets, are available on tickets.geegees.ca and single game tickets are $2 cheaper when purchased online at least two hours before the game.
“We’re coming in strong. With the momentum we had, we understand that we’re in a very good position to compete for a championship,” said fourth-year defensive lineman Rashid Timbilla.
While Queen’s won 34-24 against the Carleton Ravens on opening day, the Garnet and Grey had their bye week. The Gaels had a strong offensive showing against the Ravens. Quarterback Nate Hobbs threw for 338 yards including 137 to receiver Doug Corby who also caught two touchdowns. Jesse Andrews rushed 22 times for 177 yards and two scores.
For Timbilla and head coach Jamie Barresi, the bye gave the team a few more days of preparation before the season kicks off. “Bye weeks are there because it’s time to rest, have a look back. Coach Barresi utilized our bye week to address any issues we had as a team [after training camp] and we are going to use those adjustments against Queen’s,” said Timbilla.
“We’ll still do some work, the bye comes in a week where we don’t have school and we have to get some kids up to speed with certain things. I look forward to it,” adds Barresi.Not playing the first week of the season was seen by some as a big hurdle, but the players are embracing the early break. Second year starting quarterback Derek Wendel sees it as an opportunity to recover from training camp. “It gives up a break at the start of the season to get all our guys back healthy from the Montreal game and from training camp. All those other teams went through those two-a-days, their bodies are tired and they don’t really get that rest. We’re going to be fresh heading into week one.”
Though the Gee-Gees have many players coming back on both sides of the ball, the team will be missing two of its defensive stars from last year as Ettore Lattanzio was drafted in the CFL and cornerback Jackson Bennett suffered a season ending shoulder injury in the pre-season tilt against the reigning Vanier Cup champions in Montréal. Replacing Lattanzio, the CIS lineman of the year won’t be an easy task, but is task Barresi is confidant it’ll be done. “We have a lot of things going for us. There is a pretty solid core of leadership going on defence so we will be pretty good.”
Despite the fact it’s just the first of many games, the team is anxious to get back on the field. “It’s always exiting. We’ve been training so hard this offseason and it’s just another game but there’s definitely that extra fire in the locker room,” shared Wendel. The team is also hoping the fans will show up in numbers. According to Timbilla, “The home opener is a lot of hype. The effect the fans have on players is immense. It’s just another game, but it’s something special.”
Source: Ottawa Gee-Gees Sports Information
Laurier looks to take down Gryphons in Guelph
Golden Hawks aim for first win over Guelph since 2011 on Labour Day Monday
Game Date: Monday, September 7, 2015
Game Location: Alumni Field, Guelph
Live Webcast/Stats: OUA.tv
Television: Rogers Waterloo Region – Live
Tickets: gryphons.ca/tickets
THE SKINNY
Two teams coming off Week 1 victories square off in Guelph as the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks battle the Guelph Gryphons at Alumni Field.
NEED TO KNOW
– The Golden Hawks opened their season with a 38-21 victory on the road against the York Lions
– Guelph also opened their 2015 campaign on the road as they defeated the Waterloo Warriors 78-7
– The Gryphons have won the last three matchups against the Hawks, with two of those games being decided by less than a touchdown
– Laurier’s last victory against the Gryphons came back on Oct. 22, 2011 in Guelph when they recorded a 15-10 win
ALL-TIME SERIES
Laurier owns an all-time record of 41-16-0 against Guelph dating back to 1963. Despite losing the last three against the Gryphons, the Golden Hawks have won six of the last 10 meetings against the two teams.
MEET THE TEAMS
Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (1-0)
The Golden Hawks got off to the start they needed to in 2015 as they knocked off the York Lions in Week 1 of the regular season.
Despite missing five regulars due to injury, Laurier was solid in their regular season opener thanks to the play of QB Eric Morelli of Burlington, Ont., who was making his first career start. Morelli, who threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns, while running one in for himself, is expected to get the call once again under centre for the Hawks on Monday against the Gryphons.
Morelli’s successful starting assignment was helped by the fact that he utilized the talent surrounding him. RB Dillon Campbell of Whitby, Ont., rushed for over 100 yards for the 10th consecutive game while eight different receivers recorded a reception in the game, highlighted by a five catches for 60 yards and a touchdown from Greg Nyhof of Georgetown, Ont.
Defensively, the Hawks will be looking to tighten things up against a Guelph team that put up big points in Week 1. Laurier’s front four will need to play a big role in Monday’s contest as they look to get into the Gryphons backfield early and often. Look for Kwaku Boateng of Milton, Ont., who was held without a sack against the Lions, to step up his performance in Week 2.
Guelph Gryphons (1-0) – No. 6 in Canada
Following last year’s trip to the Yates Cup and another 7-1 season, the Guelph Gryphons will be looking to get over the hump in 2015 as they push for a championship.
The Gryphons did suffer some significant losses in the offseason, losing QB Jazz Lindsey, RB Rob Farquharson, K Daniel Ferraro and DL Cam Walker, however, they still have a number of weapons that the Hawks will need to contain.
Leading the pack is return specialist Ryan Nieuwesteeg of Niagara Falls, Ont., who started off his fourth year with a touchdown and 164 punt return yards against Waterloo.
On offence, second year QB James Roberts of Cambridge, Ont., will guide the team with the help of third year RB Johnny Augustine of Welland, Ont., and fourth year REC A’dre Fraser of Halifax, N.S. Roberts threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1 while Augustine had 149 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Fraser contributed 114 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, keep an eye on veteran linebackers John Rush of Niagara Falls, Ont., and Curtis Newton of London, Ont.
Source: Jamie Howieson, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks Sports Information
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