By D. Stephens and D. Federico
PLAYOFF SEASON.
OUA playoffs begin this weekend.
You already know we need to run through the action.
In advance, apologies once again to the AUS, RSEQ, and Canada West conferences.
Note: Click “where to watch” links to view games
Windsor Lancers (4-4) vs #6 Ottawa Gee-Gees (6-2)
When: Saturday, October 29 at 1 PM EDT
Where to watch: OUA TV
The Lancers broke into the playoffs with a commanding 39-11 win last week over the Waterloo Warriors.
This weekend will mark Windsor’s first appearance in the OUA playoffs since 2014. It’s been a while for the Lancers.
Windsor’s offence has been fuelled by running back Joey Zorn. Zorn - the likely OUA Rookie of the Year - averaged 100.0 yards per game this season, having rushed for 800 yards and six touchdowns.
It’s often been overlooked, but the JP Circelli has also assembled one of the better defences in the OUA. Defensively, Windsor has only allowed an average of 188.5 passing yards per game this season (6th in U SPORTS). Their front seven has also earned a reputation for applying pressure, having recorded 18 total sacks this year (Tied with Laval for 5th in U SPORTS) with Demir Tagani tied for 6th in the nation in sacks (5)
The Ottawa Gee-Gees have had an impressive season thus far with their only losses coming at the hands of the No. 3 Queen’s Gaels and the No. 1 Western Mustangs.
A well-balanced team, Ottawa is only giving up an overage of 16.1 points per game this season while putting up 30 points per game.
Similarly to Windsor, Ottawa's offence flows through the backfield. Running back JP Cimankinda had the best season of his career, recording 976 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns while adding one receiving touchdown and 132 receiving yards through the air - putting his name into OUA MVP conversation.
Cimankinda’s ability to establish the run created many opportunities for quarterback Ben Maracle, who also had a solid 1,411-yard, nine-touchdown campaign.
Behind Cimankinda and Maracle, Ottawa offences are ranked 5th in the country when it comes to total production (3,183 total yards)
Given their record, many will have the Gee-Gees pencilled in as the favourites to win this matchup.
But remember: Windsor and Ottawa matched up very well in week 1, with the game ending on a Campbell Fair game-winning field goal.
If there is one team the Lancers would’ve wanted to face in the OUA playoffs, it would be the Gee-Gees
Carleton Ravens (5-3) vs #9 Laurier Golden Hawks (5-3)
When: Saturday, October 29 at 1 PM EDT
Where to watch: OUA TV
How good are the Carleton Ravens?
It’s a question that’s been asked multiple times this season.
And now here we are, on the brink of the playoffs, and despite boasting a 5-3 record, we still don’t.
What we do know about the Ravens is that their offence is ranked 11th in passing yards per game and 22nd in rushing yards per game.
Their defence is 20th in passing yards allowed per game and 21st in rushing yards allowed per game.
The statistics will not tell you that this is among the best teams in the nation, yet here they are at 5-3.
I guess we’ll learn all we need to know on Saturday.
The Laurier Golden Hawks, on the other hand, we know a lot about as they’re a team that you don’t want to see in the playoffs.
Yes, they’re coming off a 19-point loss to the No. 3 Gaels, but anyone who has paid attention to this team this season knows that they are stacked on both sides of the ball.
Quarterback Taylor Elgersma threw for 1,786 yards and 13 Touchdowns, receiver Ethan Jordan hauled in 643 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 52 receptions, and running back Quentin Scott threw himself into OUA MVP conversations, rushing for 924 yards and seven touchdowns.
As I said, stacked.
Where the 2022 Golden Hawks excel defensively is through their ability to stop the pass, as this season, they only allowed 201.9 passing yards per game (8th in U SPORTS).
Two 5-3 teams, but two completely different stories.
Toronto Varsity Blues (4-3) vs #3 Queen’s Golden Gaels (7-1)
When: Saturday, October 29 at 1 PM EDT
Where to watch: OUA TV
Queen’s and U of T will give us another week 1 rematch as the Varsity Blues will travel to Richardson Stadium once more.
For the Gaels, it’s become clear that postseason success will rest on the shoulders of quarterback Alex Vreekan - who’s taken over in relief of the injured James Keenan.
Vreekan threw for 220 yards and rushed for one touchdown last week in the Gaels’ 30-11 win over Laurier. If Vreekan can continue to move the ball through the air when needed, and manage this offence, Queen’s is still in a great spot to make a run at a Yates Cup
Asides from that, It’s Queen’s. The third-ranked team in the nation. Need we say anymore?
U of T defeated McMaster for the first time in 26 years last week to punch their ticket to the playoffs for the second season in a row.
Varsity Blues quarterback Kinsale Philip didn’t put up spectacular numbers, but his aggressive, and fearless style of play showed this program is ready for playoff football.
In 2022, Philip has thrown for 1,207 yards as well as six touchdowns, while picking up 255 yards on the ground. His backfield tandem of Adam Williams and Luka Stoikos have combined for 914 yards and eight touchdowns.
Many may look at Queen’s as the easy favourite to win this game, but It’s worth noting that in week 1, the Varsity Blues put up 25 points on the Gaels, the third most any team was able to put up on Steve Snyder’s defence all season.
With Queen’s fielding an offence that will rely heavily on the run due to the absence of Keenan, U of T will rely heavily on defensive leaders such as Jackson Mayer, as well as Dominic Ciraco and Blake Zarubiak - both of whom are former Gaels - to stop Anthony Soles.
About 57th Vanier Cup
The 2022 Vanier Cup is the 57th edition of the championship and will be hosted at Western Alumni Stadium in London, Ontario on November 26th with kick-off at 1pm. The winner of the Uteck and Mitchell Bowl will face off against one another for the right to engrave their school’s name onto this historic trophy. The Western Mustangs are the defending champions, making it only the second time in U SPORTS history that the defending champions will be hosting the game and have the opportunity to defend their title on home turf. Tickets are on-sale now starting at only $25! Visit www.VanierCup.com to learn more and to purchase your tickets today!
About PRSVRE
Serving Canadian sports fans from coast-to-coast, PRSVRE is a Canadian athlete empowerment brand and sports media company that delivers Canadian university sports coverage, and storytelling, while sitting at the intersection of sports, culture and innovation. Creating multimedia content that captures the imagination of sports fans while shedding light on the journeys of Canadian athletes, PRSVRE is also Canada’s largest sports media company that is primarily dedicated to covering Canadian university sports. To view more PRSVRE content, follow us on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.