Gibbons throws five touchdowns in Lions win over Ravens

Quarterback Myles Gibbon amassed 443 yards and threw five touchdown passes to lead the York University Lions football team to a 50-34 victory over the host Carleton Ravens on Saturday (Sept. 21) at Keith Harris Stadium in Ottawa.

The fifth-year pivot from Montreal completed 23-of-29 passes for 381 yards and the five major scores, and also picked up 62 yards on the ground on 13 carries. He did not throw an interception on the afternoon and completed passes to seven different receivers.

Fifth-year wideout William Austin (St. Catharines, Ont.) was the top pass-catcher on the day, completing six receptions for 147 yards and two touchdowns.

Also grabbing a pair of touchdowns was rookie Jason Charland (Quebec City), part of his seven-catch, 53-yard day.

The Lions wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the game, scoring a touchdown on the opening drive when running back Errol Brooks (Toronto) punched it in from two yards out. The Lions padded their lead on Austin’s first, a gorgeous catch on the edge of the end zone that came after a bad snap and a fumble by Carleton quarterback Jesse Mills (Halifax). Brooks finished with 66 yards on 11 carries.

York added a third touchdown before the end of the first when Charland was on the receiving end of a 15-yard throw by Gibbon to give the Lions a quick 21-0 lead.

The Ravens got on the board early in the second on a one-yard plunge by Mills. Carleton also conceded a safety to give the Lions another two points, and then Andrew Banerjee (Regina) converted a 16-yard field goal to round out the scoring in the first half, and the Lions led 23-10 at the break.

The Ravens tried to put another three points on the board before the half but Banerjee’s field goal attempt was blocked by defensive lineman Kellen Aiken (Guelph, Ont.). The play was one of many standout ones by Aiken on the day, as he also had two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and five tackles, including one for a loss of seven yards.

The Lions poured it on again to start the third, with touchdown passes by Gibbon to Charland and Austin and a field goal by Nick Naylor (Abbotsford, B.C.) gave the Lions a 40-10 advantage.

Just before the end of the third quarter, and after a touchdown by Carleton cut the lead to 40-17, Gibbon connected with Damone Williams (Mississauga, Ont.), on the first play of the drive for a stellar 69-yard touchdown. Gibbon pump-faked to draw the defence in and then hit a wide-open Williams down the sideline, and Williams ran it in for his first score with the Lions.

The Ravens closed the game with three touchdowns in the final quarter, and Naylor kicked a 26-yard field goal for York’s final points. Their quarterback, Mills, went 26-of-42 for 450 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception, as well as the major on the ground. The interception was grabbed by York defensive back Connor Pritty (Markham, Ont.), who returned it 56 yards.

York’s leading rusher on the day was rookie Martin Hovi (Kenora, Ont.), who accumulated a remarkable 119 yards on just 14 carries, and also added 48 yards on four receptions.

Fourth-year defensive end James Tuck (Aurora, Ont.) led the Lions in tackles with 5.5, and cornerback Josh Small (Pickering, Ont.) had five tackles and a fumble recovery.

The win improves the Lions’ record to 2-2, and after two weeks on the road, they will return home next Saturday (Sept. 28) against the Ottawa Gee-Gees in their annual Homecoming game. Kick-off is set for 1pm at York Stadium.

Source:  Alyson Fisher, York Lions Sports Information

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 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, Carleton clawed their way back and refused to roll over in the final quarter of action.

The Ravens 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 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:  Michael Beasley, Carleton Ravens Sports Information