Football (3-0 OUA, 3-1 overall)
@ York (0-3 OUA) Saturday, September 11, 1:00 pm at York Stadium (SSN Canada)
1 2 3 4 F
York 0 0 3 0 3
Gee-Gees 17 14 0 14 45
The uOttawa Gee-Gees, ranked no. 3 in this week's Blackberry - CIS Top Ten, were simply too much for the York Lions. Fourth-year quarterback Brad Sinopoli, Peterborough, Ont., continued his impressive play with four touchdown passes in the first half to pace the garnet and grey to a 45-3 win at York Stadium in week three of OUA football action.
From the Gee-Gees first possession of the game, they had already set the tone. After three consecutive first downs, the Gee-Gees converted for the game's first touchdown when Sinopoli handed off the ball to first-year running back Adam Gourgon, Ottawa, Ont. Shortly thereafter Sinopoli connected with fifth-year receiver Cyril Adjeitey, Ghana, for a 46-yard touchdown pass.
Gee-Gees third-year kicker Matthew Falvo, Welland, Ont., then added to their lead with a 'rouge' or 'single' wherein the ball is punted into the end zone and not returned by the receiving team. With the score at 15-0 for uOttawa, Sinopoli missed his chance to add to that lead, throwing an interception in the Lions endzone. However, the York interceptor was quickly tackled on the play for the safety, and two points for the Gee-Gees.
The second quarter saw the Gee-Gees continuing to lead offensively, with Sinopoli throwing two more touchdown passes. Last week's OUA Offensive Player of the Week and one of the CIS Football players of the week, fifth-year receiver Matthew Bolduc, Ottawa, Ont., continued his hot streak with a touchdown, and fellow third-year receiver Ezra Millington, Newmarket, Ont., scoring the Gee-Gees second touchdown of the quarter. The score was 31-0 for uOttawa at halftime.
The game's second half remained for the most part uneventful until the York Lions were pressing for their first touchdown of the game late in the third quarter. The Gee-Gees defensive core held strong, and forced the Lions to settle for a field goal, putting the score at 31-3.
The Gee-Gees closed out the game with two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter. After Bolduc scored his second touchdown of the game, fourth year running back Michael Alfonso, Montreal, Que., ran for his first touchdown of the season, and set the final score at 45-3 for the Gee-Gees.
Gee-Gees head coach Jean Philippe Asselin was very pleased with his team's performance.
"I think we played a pretty solid game. Obviously we saw some things we need to get better at, but I'm happy with the win and in general, the way we played."
When asked if it was a challenge to keep his team focused when leading 31-0, Asselin explained that it was something they talked about all week wherein the ability to stay focused regardless of the score. He was happy that the team did not let up, and was able to keep their focus throughout the match.
Looking ahead, Asselin admits that he would like to see improvements before next week's home game against McMaster: "I think our special teams had the roughest day of the season today. But we always stay positive, go back at it, get better next week, and get ready for Mac."
The Gee-Gees next game will see them host the McMaster Marauders at Frank Clair Stadium on Saturday, September 18 at 1 p.m. This will surely be a game not to miss as these two top national ranking CIS teams could be battling for top spot in the OUA standings. The game will be broadcasted live on Rogers Cable 22, as well as on SSN Canada.
