BOX SCORE OTTAWA (September 21, 2013) - The No. 3 Gaels (4-0) used their defence, combined with timely scoring, to shut down the Ottawa Gee-Gees (2-3) 36-21 in wet conditions at Gee-Gee field in Ottawa on Saturday afternoon.
The rain was steady all day and Queen's took advantage on defence finishing the afternoon with four interceptions, one fumble recovery and two sacks.
It was then the Gaels run game was able to turn those big defensive plays into points on the board for Queen's.
Jesse Andrews (Arnprior, Ont.) led the Gaels on the ground with 92 yards rushing and two touchdowns while
Ryan Granberg (Sherwood Park, Alta.) added a score of his own and 74 yards.
Andrews first score came after Ottawa fumbled deep in their own territory and
Ryan Farrell (Halifax, N.S.) recovered the ball. After a
Sam Sabourin (Stittsville, Ont.) interception in the third quarter it was then Granberg who was able to make the turnover hurt that much more for Ottawa with a four yard score.
The Gee-Gees were able to make a game of it late in the third quarter after quarterback Aaron Colbon had a 63-yard run that set up a touchdown pass to Maxime Mireault to cut the Gaels lead to 23-9. Ottawa followed up with and Andrew Mullings 11 yard catch and score to make it 23-15 after a blocked extra point.
Queen's got the big play in the passing game they were searching for as
Aaron Gazendam (Kingston, Ont.) hauled in an 80-yard touchdown pass to give Queen's some breathing room, extending their lead to 29-15.
Billy McPhee (Burlington, Ont.) hit
Giovanni Aprile (Scarborough, Ont.) late in the fourth for a seven yard score and Ottawa's Miereault added another score through the air to bring the game to a 36-21 final.
On defense, the Gaels had solid efforts from a number of contributors.
Yann Dika-Balotoken (Toronto) finished with a pair of interceptions, Sabourin and
Matt Webster (Calgary) added the others for Queen's. Sabourin specifically was all over the scoresheet adding two tackles, a forced fumble, a pass breakup and a blocked extra point.
Sean Plumley (Sault St. Marie, Ont.) led the Gaels in tackles with six while Farrell finished two tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery.
Ottawa was led by Ty Rusznak who finsihed with 5.5 tackles a pass breakup and a fumble recovery.
McPhee finished 16-32 with 305 yards passing and two touchdowns while Colbon had a 19-39 day with 254 yards and three touchdowns depsite briefly missing time due to injury.
Queen's will hit the road once again next week when they travel to London to take on the Mustangs while Ottawa visits York.
