October 28, 2016

Gee-Gees and Ravens clash in Panda Game rematch for Yates Cup semifinal berth

The Gee-Gees football team will head into Ravens territory for the first time on Saturday to face Carleton in the first OUA quarter-final game of 2016.

Ottawa

6-3

Carleton

7-2

Final

Ottawa (6-3)

Carleton (7-2)

The Gee-Gees football team will head into Ravens territory for the first time on Saturday to face Carleton in the first OUA quarter-final game of 2016.

Carleton finished fourth in the OUA regular season standings after all tie-breakers were applied to the three teams that finished with 6-2 records, while Ottawa's loss in the Panda Game dropped the Gee-Gees into fifth and put them back on the road. The Gee-Gees are 3-1 on the road this season, with the lone loss coming against the Ravens at TD Place.

That loss stung Ottawa, with head coach Jamie Barresi noting that the team felt it had something to prove afterwards. That feeling no doubt resonates this week with the second chance to best the Ravens now in front of Ottawa. The Gee-Gees are coming off a pair of tough games against Western and Queen's, while Carleton comes into the playoffs fresh from a bye week and a final regular season game against the winless Waterloo Warriors.

The rivals have met twice in playoff history in the old OQIFC conference with the Ravens taking the 1986 league semifinal 31-15 and Ottawa winning the 1996 edition by a 28-0 score. Twenty years later, Ottawa will play its first ever contest at the refurbished MNP Park on Bronson Ave.

"It will be a different type of noise – a very biased crowd," said Gee-Gees head coach Jamie Barresi. "We have to realize that heading in."

Barresi also notes the missed opportunities his team has had against the Ravens. "In the games that we've played they've been really decided by mistakes more than anything – score zone opportunities that were squandered. I've spoken with Derek [Wendel] about this. We have to be safe with the ball."

Carleton defeated Queen's on the road to begin the 2015 playoffs before being knocked out by Guelph, 33-21. Ottawa returns to the playoffs this season after finishing seventh following tie-breakers last season.

The winner of Saturday's game will advance to the OUA semifinals on Saturday, November 5 at either Western or Laurier. The Yates Cup will be presented to the conference champions on Saturday, November 12. CHCH television will once again be the official home of the OUA football playoffs, with coverage of the semifinal and championship games.

Source: uOttawa Gee-Gees