VANIER CHAMPS HOST GEE-GEES ON UNIVERSITY RUSH
WATERLOO - One team was the last to reach the pinnacle in Canadian university football. The other is trying to attain the same goal, six years removed from their last national title. The defending Vanier Cup champion Laurier Golden Hawks (1-0-0) host the rising Ottawa Gee-Gees (1-0-0) this Saturday at 2:00 pm, kicking off the Ontario University Athletics season premier of the University Rush on The Score Television Network. The nationally broadcasted opener is presented by belairdirect.
The No. 4 ranked Gee-Gees have already earned the respect of competitors around the OUA after a solid third-place finish in the league and a close semi-final loss to the Western Mustangs last fall that denied them a shot at the Yates Cup. Ottawa is already living up to the praise after exacting some revenge on the Mustangs in the OUA opener last weekend, dismantling Western 17-3. The result is an indication of the character on head coach Denis Piché's team, which developed a clear focus and hunger weeks prior to the season starting.
"We had the most intense training camp in the three years that I've been here," says all-Canadian quarterback candidate Josh Sacobie. "It was a family atmosphere and the team bonded. You need to trust all of the guys on the field to have success."
Sacobie (Fredericton, NB), who threw for 204 yards with a pair of touchdown passes to receivers Dave Crane (Ottawa, Ont.) and Matt Edgeworth (Kingston, Ont.) in the opening win, says the victory was fun to be a part of. He admits it was a little more special than usual after being on the wrong end of the score in last year's semi against Western. The game offered some insight into Ottawa's depth and balance, as the high-powered passing attack meshed perfectly with a tenacious defence that topped the OUA and finished fifth in the CIS in 2005 with just 299.8 yards allowed per game.
"We practice against that D all week," says Sacobie. "I believe that makes us better. They're tough. And I think we make them better. I have all the faith in the world in my D."
The OUA's leading passer in 2005 (2,094 yards, with 18 touchdowns) feels fortunate to have weapons around him like Edgeworth, Crane and Adam Nicolson (North Bay, Ont.), who racked 762 yards and eight touchdowns after hauling in a CIS-best 44 catches last year (tied with Hec Crighton winner Andy Fantuz). And first-year running back Dave Masson (Brampton, Ont.) was a revelation in week one with 123 yards on the ground.
"They're guys who make the QB's job easier in terms of getting into a rhythm and keeping drives going," Sacobie says.
The Golden Hawks, ranked No. 5 in this week's CIS Top 10, have a completely different look after manufacturing an incredible perfect season in 2005. Not one team in the nation got the better of Laurier and despite losing all-Canadian talent like quarterback Ryan Pyear (the new offensive coordinator, replacing the departed Stefan Ptaszek) and running back Nick Cameron, the defending champs have the foundation in place to win games. They exhibited that in their opener, a gutsy 24-17 overtime road victory against the Guelph Gryphons on Labour Day. A late 22-yard field goal by second-year kicker Chris Mamo (London, Ont.) sent the game to the extra session, before veteran receiver Dante Luciani (Oakville, Ont.) ran the ball in for the winning score.
"It's not the way we mapped it out but it gave us confidence," Laurier's Gary Jeffries, the reigning three-time OUA Coach of the Year, says of the win in Guelph.
"We prepare the same way every season," adds Jeffries. "We're just doing it with a younger bunch of kids. We have good talent. The challenge is moulding good individuals into a team. That was also the case last year."
While the Vanier edition of the Hawks won games with strength and poise on both sides of the ball, Laurier will be leaning a little bit more on the defence this season. Jeffries notes that the effort of the unit, led by returning linebackers Jesse Alexander (Kitchener, Ont.), Gavin Cond (Sault Ste. Marie) and Yannick Carter (Pickering, Ont.), allowed the offence to get some important reps and develop a rhythm. New starting quarterback Jamie Partington (Stoney Creek, Ont.) was the beneficiary, as the fifth-year player looked good down the stretch.
"The QB spot is critical," says Jeffries. "It's important that Partington be one of those people to step up for us to have some success. In the second half and OT last week, he measured up."
Key components of the Laurier attack also include first-year wide receiver Dustin Heap (Waterloo, Ont.), who dazzled with a game-high nine punt returns for 108 yards, and fullback Peter Quinney (Belleville, Ont.), a 220-pound bruiser that Jeffries calls "a tenacious blocker."
Laurier's veteran losses haven't had any impact on the Gee-Gees in terms of developing complacency.
"They have the credentials," says Sacobie. "They won the Vanier for a reason. They play together and they play to win every single game."
For Jeffries, the respect is mutual.
"They're much the same team we faced last year but with more experience," says the coach, referring to Laurier's tight 21-14 win last fall. "They're outstanding. The D is quick and they're just such a well-rounded football team.
"It's a chance for us to see where we are."
Ottawa Leaders
Passing
Josh Sacobie - 15 completions, 26 attempts, 204 yards, two touchdowns, one interception
Rushing
Dave Masson - 23 rushes, 123 yards
Receiving
Dave Crane - four catches, 69 yards, one touchdown
Matt Edgeworth - two catches, 37 yards, one touchdown
Defence
Joe Barnes - five solo tackles, nine assisted tackles, one interception
Cheeler Lindor - four solo tackles, two assisted tackles, one interception
Laurier Leaders
Passing
Jamie Partington - 22 completions, 43 attempts, 285 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions
Rushing
Ryan Lynch - 23 rushes, 113 yards
Receiving
Andy Baechler - six catches, 95 yards, two touchdowns
Will Northcote - four catches, 64 yards
Defense
Gavin Cond - five solo tackles, one assisted tackle, one interception
Jesse Alexander - five solo tackles, five assisted tackles, one interception
Yannick Carter - three solo tackles, two assisted tackles, two sacks
- OUA -