CIS football Saturday roundup

Source: Mike Beasley, Carleton Sports Info

OTTAWA - Even though the weather for Saturday afternoon’s football game was overcast and drizzly, the action on the field made another sold out crowd at Ravens Field forget about the rain.
 
Carleton and the York Lions were front and centre on Saturday for the University’s Throwback-Homecoming Event.
 
And what an event it turned out to be, even though York played the role of party poopers to perfection and defeated the Ravens 50-34 in what developed into a very entertaining OUA football game.
 
The first quarter didn’t start out to well for Carleton as they quickly fell behind 21-0. But the Ravens clawed their way back into the contest outscoring York 10-2 in the second quarter and trailed 23-10 at the half.
 
“We (Carleton) seem to have a bad habit of digging ourselves a hole early in games,” said Steve Sumarah, Ravens head coach.
 
“It’s always tough when you are forced into an uphill climb to get back into games.”
 
York (2-2)really did come out like Lions in the third quarter and devoured the Ravens outscoring Carleton 24-7 to take a commanding 45-17 lead.
 
But to their credit, the Ravens clawed their way back and refused to roll over in the final quarter of action.
 
Carleton put up two touchdowns and field goal for a total of 17 fourth quarter points. The highlight was a 75 yard TD pass from Jesse Mills to Dexter Brown.
 
A bounce here, maybe a completed pass at a key moment in the game or one less fumble may have turned this game in Carleton’s favour.
 
But the Ravens (0-4) never stopped competing the desire is there and has become a trademark of the team.
 
Players like QB Jesse Mills (Halifax, N.S.), LB Leon Cenerini (Lasalle, MA.) Kyle Van Wynsberghe (Delhi, ON.) and Dexter Brown (Sherwood Park, AB.) had outstanding afternoons for the Ravens.
 
Mills was 26 of 42 passes for 450 yards and 3 passing touchdowns.
 
Cenerini was a man on a mission playing defence with 13 solo tackles.
 
Van Wynsberge had 9 catches for 147 yards and two TD’s.
 
Dexter Brown caught the ball three times for 132 yards and 1 touchdown.
 
“We’re still developing as a team. I see improvement but there is still a lot of work to be done. I believe our offence has an idea of what we (the coaches) expect from them.On the other hand, our defence needs to get better. I’m confident that will come with playing more, gaining experience and being able to handle the highs and lows.
 
Everybody has to remember that the program will be and is a process. We took another step in the right direction on Saturday.”

Source: Jamie Howieson, Laurier Sports Info

WATERLOO, Ont. - The Wilfrid Laurier University men's football team put a scare into the No. 2 Western Mustangs on Saturday afternoon but ultimately fell by a score of 45-24 at University Stadium.

The Golden Hawks (1-4) held the Mustangs scoreless in the first quarter and took a 17-12 lead into halftime. However, Western (5-0) found their groove in the second half and thanks to a big third quarter came away with the victory.

"A loss is tough, especially when you felt like you had it in your grasp," commented Head Coach Michael Faulds following the game. "I told our guys to be disappointed at the loss, but look at the po sitives too. They're the No. 2 team in the country and we fought toe-to-toe with them for four quarters."

Western quarterback Will Finch of Burlington, Ont., put the Mustangs on his back in the second half and finished the game 26-for-36 for 423 yards and two touchdowns. His favourite target on the afternoon was Brian Marshall of London, Ont., who had seven catches for 209 yards.

Despite the big game from Finch, Laurier's defence was a storyline on the afternoon. The Hawks shut down the Mustangs running game, which was averaging over 270 yards per game, and held them to 171.  Laurier also picked off Finch twice on the day and sacked the Western quarterback four times, including three by defensive lineman Tommy Griffiths of Richmond Hill, Ont.

"The whole week we talked about it being a fight and we had to come out hard," said defensive back Felix Odum of Pickering, On t., on his team's defensive effort. "They're a good team and a good offence and a lot of teams cave when they take the lead but we didn't. We're a young team, we took some penalties, but overall it was a good learning experience and the things we learned we can take into Homecoming next weekend."

In what was a dream start for the Hawks as Laurier took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter thanks to a 35-yard field goal from Ronnie Pfeffer of Kitchener, Ont., and a one-yard touchdown plunge from quarterback James Fracas of Waterloo, Ont.

After the Mustangs pulled to within five thanks to a safety and a field goal, running back Dillon Campbell of Whitby, Ont., took centre stage. On a wonderfully designed play, Campbell took a handoff at his own five-yard line and burst through the Mustangs defence. One hundred yards later, he found the endzone and etched his name into the record books. The 100 yard score was the second longest in team history, trailing only a 103 yard run by Mike Montoya in 2007.

With a 17-12 lead going into the second half, the Hawks appeared poised for a huge upset. However, Western regrouped and proceeded to put up 17 points in the third quarter highlighted by Finch touchdown passes to Adam Sinclair of London, Ont., and Justin Sanvido of Vancouver, B.C.

Laurier would hang tough in the fourth quarter as Campbell found the endzone for a second time but two late touchdowns by Yannick Harou of Gatineau, Que., helped the Mustangs stay unbeaten.

"When I shake hands with coaches at the end of the game, I want to be known as a tough team thats gonna play for four quarters," added Faulds on his teams overall effort. "And shaking hands with the Western coaches, they thought we had a tough team, a hard-fought team, and we're going to improve a lot."

Campbell would once again lead Laurier's offensive output as he put together his third-consecutive 100 yard rushing game, finishing the contest with 155 yards on 15 carries. Fracas, in his second career start, was 14-for-24 with 212 yards and two interceptions.

With confidence behind them after holding the No. 2 team in the country to their lowest offensive output of the season, the Hawks will now prepare for their annual Homecoming game as they welcome the Windsor Lancers to University Stadium next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

NOTES: Thomas Majka of Mississauga, Ont., and Chris Ackie of Cambridge, Ont., had big afternoons on defence for Laurier...Majka finished with 9.5 tackles while Ackie had 8.5 tackles and the Hawks other sack...kick returner William Pitt-Doe of Mississauga, Ont., had 135 return yards on the day and now trails Dillon Heap by just 49 yards for Laurier's single season kick return record...attendance at University Stadium was 821

Source: Felix Tremblay, Bishop's Sports Information Writer

SHERBROOKE, Que. – The No.10 Bishop’s Gaiters defeated the Concordia Stingers 40-18 and improved their record to 3-1. Bishop’s Quarterback Jordan Heather led the way going 17-25 for 354 yards and throwing a pair of touchdown passes. The RSEQ University Football game played at Coulter Field on Saturday afternoon wrapped up 2013 Homecoming festivities at Bishop’s.

The host team had a strong start. Heather (Oromocto, N.B.) threw a 99-yard pass to receiver Alexander Fox (Montreal) placing the Gaiters on Concordia’s six-yard-line. A play later, running back Matt Burke (Timberlea, N.S.) opened the scoring for the purple and silver. Less than five minutes later, it was Fox’s turn to add to the Gaiters lead when he caught a 17-yard pass from Heather, to make it 14-0 Bishop’s.

In the second quarter, the crowd’s favorites added 15 more points to the scoreboard, thanks to a one yard touchdown run by Ryon McCalla (Brampton, Ont.), a safety conceded by the visitors and two field goals by Mathieu Paquette (Sherbrooke, Que.) of 32 and 20 yards respectively.

After a single by Paquette thanks to a booming 56-yard punt in the first minutes of the second half, the Stingers got on board, with a 10-yard pass from Francois Dessureault (St. Tite, Que.) to Jamal Henry (St. Constant, Que.). Bishop’s replied with a 41-yard Paquette field goal, his third of the afternoon.. Stephen Adekolu (Brampton, Ont.) capped off his spectacular seven catch 157 receiving yard day with a 38-yard major from Heather to make it 40-7.

Concordia (0-4) showed some signs of life in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 points, however it was too little too late. Bishop’s held on and won 40-18.

Next up the No. 10 Gaiters will host the No. 1 Laval Rouge et Or (3-0) on Coulter Field on Saturday, September 28. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. Get news anytime of the day at www.gaiters.ca.

Game Notes: Despite sitting for most of the fourth quarter Heather was 17-25 for 345 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions or sacks...with his passing total Heather eclipses 6000 yards for his career, he sits at 6072…Adekolu’s seven catches and 157 yards receiving are both career highs…Fox grabbed just two passes but had 116 yards receiving and a touchdown…Burke carried the ball 18 times for 115 yards and a touchdown…Concordia’s Clark Green (Chatham, Ont.) booted an RSEQ record 90-yard punt in the fourth quarter.

Source: Guelph Sports Info

GUELPH, Ont. – Taylor Palmer had two key interceptions as the CIS No. 6 Guelph Gryphons defeated the No. 9 McMaster Marauders 24-22 in raining weather at Alumni Stadium in front of 12,000 fans during the Gryphons Homecoming Game.

The Gryphons remain undefeated with a 4-0 record and snapped their seven game losing streak against McMaster dating back to 2005. The Marauders drop to 2-3 on the season.

Rob Farquharson (Niagara Falls, Ont.) had an impressive game, leading the Gryphons offence in rushing yards with a total of 119 net yards and averaging 6.6 yards per run. Homecoming was Farquharson’s first performance of the 2013 season after sustaining a hamstring injury that had him sidelined for the beginning of the season.

Jazz Lindsey (Brampton, Ont.) also had an impressive game finishing 17-for-27 for 173 yards with no interceptions. Lindsey also had one rushing touchdown and a long run for 23 yards. Alex Charette led the offense with 69 yards receiving, with Saxon Lindsey (Markham, Ont.) close behind with 41 yards.

Jeffrey Finley (St. Catherines, Ont.) led the Gryphon defence in sacks with a total of two unassisted sacks. John Rush (Niagara, Ont) had six unassisted and one assisted tackles, with Colin Mandich (London, Ont.) close behind with five unassisted tackles and two assisted tackles.

The spark in the Gryphons game came in the third quarter when defensive back Taylor Palmer (Niagara Falls, Ont.) intercepted a McMaster pass to set up Guelph on McMaster’s 9-yard line for a first and goal. The Gryphons would score and Palmer would finish with another key interception in the game and a total of five tackles.

The game was slow to start; both offences were finding it difficult to get started against the opposing defences. McMaster put points on the board first with a 27-yard field goal by Tyler Crapigna (Nepean, Ont.), making it 3-0 early on in the first half. The Gryphons answered with a huge run by Rob Farquharson and Jazz Lindsey making it into field goal range. Daniel Ferraro (Mississauga, Ont.) scored a 19-yard field goal to tie it up at the end of the first quarter.

McMaster started out the second quarter inside of Guelph’s 10-yard line. The Gryphons defence was able to keep them out of the end zone but could not stop the Marauders from putting up another field goal. Halfway through the second quarter, the Gryphons scored the first touchdown of the game after a 27-yard pass from Jazz Lindsey to Alex Charette (St. Catherines, Ont.) bringing the score to 10-6 for the Gryphons. The Marauders were able to score a touchdown in the last minute of the first half to take back the lead with a score of 13-10.

The Gryphon defence exploded onto the field at the start of the second half, making it very difficult for McMaster to gain any traction with their run-game, forcing numerous two-and-outs. A big interception by Taylor Palmer in the third quarter put Guelph on McMaster’s 9-yard line for a first and goal. After a 5 yard gain, Jazz Lindsey ran it in himself to put another touchdown on the board for the Gryphons, making it 17-13. McMaster started again on their own 18 yard line, but another interception by Taylor Palmer brought the Gryphon offence back out on the field to start at the 47-yard line. After a big run by Rob Farquharson and two passes to Alex Charette, Guelph was in prime position for yet another touchdown. An illegal contact penalty and a pass interference call against the Marauders put the Gryphons on McMaster’s 1-yard line. Farquharson was able to run it into the end zone to put the Gryphons up to 24-13.

McMaster fought back with Tyler Crapigna scoring a 43-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter, getting back on the board with a score of 24-16. Both defences were successfully forcing the opposing offences to punt, until the Marauders scored a touchdown in the last 17 seconds of play to bring the score to a close 24-22. The Marauders attempted a two-point conversion but failed, resulting in a final score of 24-22.

The Guelph Gryphons hit the field next against the Waterloo Warriors in Waterloo with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m.

Source: Ottawa Sports Info

OTTAWA- The University of Ottawa hosted their second home game, pitted against the undefeated Queen’s Gaels, at a rainy Gee-Gees Field on Saturday. Despite a fiercely fought second half, the Gaels pulled off a 36-21 victory against the Gee-Gees, who move to 2-3 on the season.

Accompanied by their vibrant band in the stands, the Gaels (4-0) scored two touchdowns in the first half, both thanks to runs by second-year running back Jesse Andrews. The scores stood at 14-2 at halftime as Ottawa’s offence struggled and scored only on a safety in the second quarter.

Queen’s quarterback Billy McPhee had a 16-32 passing performance in the steady rain, accumulating 305 passing yards. Andrews finished the day with 92 yards rushing.

Gee-Gees head coach Jamie Barresi had a bittersweet feeling when it came to how the game turned out. “I would love to play that one again.” He continued, “We are doing a much better job getting to the ball and making tackles.”

The defensive success allowed Ottawa to chip away at the Gaels’ lead, pulling within two scores, 23-15, at the start of the fourth quarter with an 11-yard Andrew Mullings strike. However, the brief window of opportunity was closed quickly when McPhee connected with Aaron Gazendam for an 85-yard touchdown on the very next drive.

Ottawa pivot Aaron Colbon, who was held under 300 yards passing for the first time this season, is convinced that his team is doing very well defensively and that it was the offence that was lacking today. “We did have some chances to score. We have just got to put up more points than we did today. ”

The Gee-Gees defensive line had an active day, picking up four sacks on Queen’s Billy McPhee, led by two from Ettore Lattanzio, who now ranks fourth in the CIS with five total sacks. Lattanzio also stretched out for a blocked field goal in the fourth quarter, one of three blocked by Ottawa on the day.

Ottawa rounded out the scoring with fifth-year receiver Maxime Mireault’s second touchdown of the day with just less than four minutes left in the game.

The team is off to Toronto next Saturday for a game at York University.

Source: Jill Clark, Toronto Sports Info

WINDSOR, Ont. - The University of Toronto Varsity Blues football team dropped a 26-11 decision to the Windsor Lancers on Saturday, September 21 at Alumni Stadium.

With the loss, the Blues fall to 1-4 and are tied for eighth, while the Lancers improve to 3-2 and move into fourth place in the OUA standings.

Fifth-year Blues receiver Paul de Pass of Ajax, Ont., recorded a career-high 192 yards on 12 catches, which jumps him into second in all-time Varsity Blues career receiving yards leaders with 2,000 even. Two-time CIS all-Canadian and U of T Sports Hall of Fame inductee Mark Magee holds the record with 2,385 yards in the 1977-81 seasons.

Rookie Llevi Noel (Toronto) notched his second 100+ yard game of the season, with five receptions for 111 yards, and third-year quarterback Simon Nassar (Toronto) was 25-of-43 for a career-high 397 yards on the night.

Linebackers Chris Johnson (Toronto) and Dylan Gordon (Cambridge) led Toronto with six and 6.5 tackles, respectively, with Johnson adding two sacks. Fifth-year veteran Harrison Beeforth (Richmond Hill) chipped in with 5.5 tackles and two sacks in the loss.

Windsor QB Austin Kennedy went 8-for-16 for 90 yards, while Mitch Dender (Amherstburg, Ont.) led all players with six carries for 89 yards and one major. Mike Dubuisson (Montreal) and Frank Renaud (Windsor) led all players with eight tackles in the win.

Blues defensive back Trevor Harvey picked off Kennedy on Windsor’s first series of the game and Nassar connected on a 68-yard strike with Noel to set up a 29-yard Eric Hewitson field goal.

It was much of the same on Toronto’s next series as Nassar found de Pass for a 54-yard gain and Hewitson’s 32-yard field goal gave the Blues a 6-0 lead after the first quarter.

The Lancers got on the board early in the second quarter when Marcus Hobbs’ punt was blocked and recovered by Dubuisson, who ran it 35 yards for the major. Windsor conceded two safeties and Toronto took a 10-7 lead into halftime.

The Lancers took the lead midway through the third quarter when third-year running back Gilbert Stewart (Brampton, Ont.) capped off a seven-play, 67-yard drive with an eight-yard rushing major.

Up 19-11 with less than three minutes remaining, Dender secured the home team’s win with a 49-yard rushing touchdown. 

The Varsity Blues return home this Friday, September 27 as NFL Canada's On Campus Experience takes over Varsity Centre when the Blues do battle with the Carleton Ravens at 7 p.m.

Source: Regina Sports Info

REGINA - In a display of contrasting offences, the University of British Columbia's football team took a 37-27 win over the Regina Rams on Saturday night in a Canada West game at Mosaic Stadium.
 
The Rams (1-3) took a four-point lead into the fourth quarter after a pair of Landon Buch touchdown receptions, but UBC (2-2) outscored Regina by a 21-7 margin in the final period and clinched the victory after putting a halt to a late Rams drive with the home team needing a touchdown to tie.
 
It was the ground game that powered UBC's offence in the win, as running back Brandon Deschamps rushed 35 times for 230 yards and a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns. Quarterback Carson Williams completed 14 of 23 pass attempts for 167 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown strike to Micha Theil early in the contest. Theil ended up as UBC's leading receiver with five catches for 68 yards.
 
Playing in his hometown, Yianni Cabylis had a fine game for the Thunderbirds and ended up with 8½ tackles, a forced fumble, and a blocked punt. Kareem Ba had a sack early in the contest which caused a Cayman Shutter fumble that was recovered by the Thunderbirds, and also teamed up with Donovan Dale for a sack later in the contest.
 
While UBC's offence concentrated on the rushing attack led by Deschamps, it was almost exclusively an aerial assault for the Rams. They called just five rushing plays, all of which came in the first half. The rest was all through the air, as Shutter ended completing 34 of his 57 pass attempts for 459 yards and three touchdowns. Addison Richards led all players with nine receptions, while Jared Janotta caught seven passes for a game-high 121 yards including a five-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
 
Logan Brooks and Calvin Smith both had sacks for the Rams, while Michael Stefanovic had three solo tackles, 10 assisted tackles, and a fumble recovery.
 
UBC struck first after taking over the ball following Martin Park's recovery off the Ba sack and forced fumble, as Williams found Theil from 25 yards out to put the Thunderbirds on the board. The teams traded field goals for the remainder of the first half, as Regina's Taylor Wandler hit a pair and UBC's Quinn Van Gylswk hit three, including one with no time left on the clock after the Thunderbirds took over following Cabylis's blocked punt.
 
The Rams took their first lead of the game in the third quarter after scoring touchdowns on back-to-back possessions. On their first possession of the second half, Shutter marched the Rams 87 yards downfield on just seven plays and finished it off with a 31-yard strike to Buch. After forcing a punt on the ensuing Thunderbirds possession, the Rams took over on their own 24 and it took just two plays to get back in UBC's end zone. First was a 27-yard pass to Jared Janotta, then Shutter connected with Buch from 59 yards out to give the Rams a 20-16 lead.
 
But another Van Gylswyk field goal – his fourth of five on the night – on the first play of the fourth quarter would set the tone for UBC in the final period. On their next possession, a game-long 29-yard rumble by Deschamps got UBC into Rams territory and a 17-yard Deschamps run on third down brought the visitors all the way down to the Rams' one-yard line. Deschamps finished off the drive with a plunge into the end zone, and Williams found Joey Gabrick for a successful two-point conversion to put UBC up by seven.
 
The Rams responded with a fine 12-play, 80-yard drive that was capped by a five-yard Shutter pass to Janotta which tied the game at 27-27, but that score would turn out to be the last one of the game for the U of R.
 
On the kickoff following the Janotta major, UBC's Alex Morrison busted out a 57-yard return to give the Thunderbirds great starting position. A pass to Patrick Bull got UBC a first down, and back-to-back rushes by Deschamps gave UBC a 34-27 lead with just over three minutes left. After a pair of two-and-outs, the Rams took over on their own 20-yard line with 1:33 left needing a touchdown to tie, but a Shutter pass attempt on third down fell incomplete as Addison Richards was just unable to corral the ball by the left sideline. Van Gylswyk's field goal from 35 yards out with 15 seconds left sealed the win for UBC.
 
UBC will host Saskatchewan (3-1) next Saturday afternoon in Vancouver, while the Rams will hit the road for a game against Manitoba (2-2) at the new Investors Group Field in Winnipeg.
 
NOTES: Mark McConkey had seven catches tonight for 65 yards ... McConkey now has 169 career receptions and needs just five to surpass former teammate Chad Goldie as Canada West's all-time receptions leader ... Brooks is now second in U of R history with 12 career sacks and is one short of tying Stan Van Sichem for the school's all-time lead ... Shutter is now the CIS leader with an average of 416.5 passing yards per game ... Deschamps also leads the CIS with 171.2 rushing yards per game.