MAC UPSETS NO. 3 GEE-GEES

OTTAWA - Josh Sacobie's last second attempted game-winning touchdown pass to Adam Nicholson was knocked down by Byron Dinter as the fifth ranked McMaster University Marauders held on to upset the number three ranked uOttawa Gee-Gees 24-19 Saturday night, before 2,658 spectators at Frank Clair Stadium.

The Marauders held a 24-10 lead heading into the final period, but required a stop on the final play of the contest to ensure the victory.

Quarterback Adam Archibald completed 12 of the 21 passes he attempted for 186-yards and a pair of majors as the Marauders move into a first place tie with the Windsor Lancers who earlier in the day defeated the Queen's Golden Gaels.

The Gee-Gees jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the opening 17 minutes of the game. Mike Sheridan forced an Archibald fumble in the McMaster end zone to open the scoring at 8:56 of the first quarter. Ottawa extended their advantage to 10-0 on an Ara Tchobanian 20-yard field goal early in the second.

Ottawa was in control of the game until linebacker Jason Arakgi stopped Mike Donnelly on a fake punt at the Marauder 45-yard line mid-way through the quarter. The stop seemed to spark the McMaster offence that scored two plays later on a 9-yard touchdown run by Andre Sadeghian who finished the game rushing for 106 yards on 22 carries.

They tied the game at 11:53 on a field goal by Pauolo Faiazza and took the lead 2:05 later when Archibald hooked up with Rob Serviss on a 31-yard touchdown strike. The Steeltowners put the game away early in the third when Archibald found Jordan Chartier in the end zone to put Mac up 24-10.

Ottawa rallied for 9 points in the fourth quarter, but it was too late for the Garnet and Grey who saw their six game regular season winning streak snapped.

Sacobie finished the contest completing 20 of 41 passes for 198-yards and one touchdown, while Davie Masson rushed for 152-yards in a losing cause.

The Gee-Gees (2-1) will look to return to the win column next Saturday afternoon when they travel to North York, Ontario to face the winless York Lions at 2 p.m.

Scoring by Quarter

McMaster - 0-17-7-0=24
Ottawa - 7-3-0-9=19

1st Quarter
OTT - M. Sheridan, TD (Fumble recovery), 8:56
OTT - Tchobanian, Convert, 8:56

2nd Quarter
OTT - Tchobanian, FG (20-yards), 1:56
MAC - Sadeghian, TD (9-yard run), 6:05
MAC - Faiazza, Convert, 6:05
MAC - Faiazza, FG (11-yards), 11:53
MAC - Serviss, TD (31-yard touchdown pass from Archibald), 13:58
MAC - Faiazza, Convert, 13:58

3rd Quarter
MAC - Chartier, TD (20-yard touchdown pass from Archibald), 1:47
MAC - Faiazza, Convert, 1:47

4th Quarter
OTT - Tchobanian, FG (26-yards), 3:55
OTT - Desmond, TD (7-yard pass from Sacobie), 8:58
OTT - Two point convert fails

Attendance: 2,658