RECAP: Gee-Gees win 52nd Panda Game in a thriller

On a Saturday afternoon of innumerable twists and turns, Campbell Fair's kick sailed straight through.

The third-year kicker split the uprights from 45 yards out with exactly one minute to go in the 52^nd Panda Game, giving the Gee-Gees a 19-17 win and sending a capacity crowd of 15,000 at TD Place into a frenzy. 

"It's definitely the biggest moment of my career," said Fair, an Arts major. "As soon the ball was snapped, I didn't notice [the crowd] at all. I feel great." 

"The CFL coach in the back of my head was going, 'you don't usually win a game with minus-three turnovers, but this is Panda," said head coach Marcel Bellefeuille. "It's a special moment to win it for Francis Perron. The players were playing for Francis today."

The Ravens opened with a touchdown, but Ottawa took over the offence for the remainder of the first half. Fair drilled his first of three field goals, making it three straight Panda Games in which the Carrying Place, Ont., product has recorded a point.

Ben Maracle then dialed up a deep ball for Tristin Park midway through the second quarter. The fourth-year receiver scampered into the end zone to cap off a 64-yard catch-and-run. 

The score was 12-7 at the half, and Ottawa extended it with a third quarter field goal.

Following a single, Carleton's offence found their stride. Consecutive special teams fumbles gave the Ravens good field position, and they made no mistake scoring a touchdown and a field goal of their own. 

Ottawa got the ball back with under two minutes to go, and quarterback Matt Mahler guided the Gee-Gees into field goal range. Facing a third down on the Ravens 45-yard line, Fair trotted out to attempt what would be his career-long field goal.

The damp, breezy conditions were far from favourable, and Fair had missed all four of his attempts in the 2019 Panda Game, but he drilled the 45 yarder to give Ottawa its third consecutive Panda victory.

"I was just trying to think about mechanics and keeping it to the most basic form, and getting my foot to the right part of the ball," said Fair. "As a kicker, we want to be the calmest player on the field at all times."

Ottawa quarterback Ben Maracle passed for 198 yards and the long touchdown, before being forced from the game with an injury. Matt Mahler took over, passing for 50 yards. J-P Cimankinda had the majority of touches at running back, scampering for 133 yards.

The Gee-Gees were able to get to Carleton quarterback Reid Vankoughnett four times and limited him to 43 yards through the air.

Ottawa earns their first win of the season of the season, and will play the rest of their regular season at TD Place, starting with a matchup with the York Lions on Saturday, Oct. 9 at 5:00 p.m.