RECAP: Football clips Ravens for second time this season

A fourth quarter touchdown scamper from Ben Maracle proved to be the difference for the Gee-Gees football team, who defeated the Carleton Ravens 24-19 Thursday evening in front of a frenetic TD Place crowd. 

Maracle accounted for three touchdowns on the day – two on the ground and one through the air – as the Gee-Gees wrapped their regular season with a 3-3 record. 

"I felt very clear today that we were going to be scoring," said Maracle, a second-year Psychology student. "We weren't settling for field goals like we've been doing all season, we were coming in and every single time we touch the field, we're finishing drives. That was our mindset throughout the offence and we took care of it." 

"We felt like we had to score more to win, and we did," said Gee-Gees head coach Marcel Bellefeuille. "That was part of the process. When you run the ball a lot, like we did tonight, you don't score as many points because you eat a lot of clock. I felt we were working the clock when we were running the football." 

Ottawa started the scoring early, moving their way down the field with ease on their first drive of the game, capped off by Maracle's first touchdown run.

Following a Campbell Fair field goal, Daniel Oladejo flew through the air to haul in an arching Maracle touchdown pass – the most acrobatic touchdown of the Gee-Gees season.

The Ravens got 10 points back to close out the second quarter, making the score 17-10 at the interval. 

The offences sputtered to start the second half, with Carleton only managing a third quarter field goal. 

Early in the fourth quarter, the Garnet and Grey took over the ball around midfield and some tough running from Dawson Odei moved the ball into the red zone. Maracle tucked and ran for his second rushing TD of the game.

The Ravens made it interesting late by finding the end zone, but standout rookie Eric Cumberbatch made a key pass breakup to prevent a two-point convert. Odei then took over with several punishing runs to finish the game and secure Ottawa's second victory of the year over their crosstown rivals.

"I give all the credit to the o-line," said Odei, who shared touches with J-P Cimankinda. "If they aren't standing them up, then we're not able to do anything. I'm just the one punching it."

The Gee-Gees finish the season at .500 and will face the University of Toronto (2-3) in the first round of the playoffs. If Toronto beats York (0-5) this weekend, then Ottawa visits the Varsity Blues. Should Toronto lose, they will travel to TD Place.