The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees football team will return home to Beckwith Park this Saturday as they host the Waterloo Warriors after spending two straight weeks on the road. Despite a 0-5 start, the Gee-Gees still have a chance to make the playoffs, and a win against Waterloo is crucial to University of Ottawa’s post-season aspirations. Last weekend, the Gee-Gees finally won their first game of the season in fine fashion, dominating the Toronto Varsity Blues en route to an easy 34-6 win. On the other hand, the Warriors were shut out 12-0 against their cross-town rivals in Laurier on Oct. 4. Both teams are currently tied in the OUA standings with 1-5 records.
The Waterloo Warriors are led by quarterback Jamie Cook, who also happens to be the top rushing threat on the team. Cook has thrown for 718 yards and four touchdowns and six interceptions while rushing for 213 yards. The Warriors also boast one of the best receivers in the country in Nick Anapolsky who has 621 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns to date. Anapolsky is currently the number two ranked receiver in the CIS right now. However, the Warriors are not a strong running team as they are ranked second last in the CIS in rushing yards per game; the key for the Gee-Gees defence would be to shut down the Warriors’ passing attack.
The Gee-Gees are one of the better running teams in the CIS, as they are ranked seventh in the country in rushing offence. Fourth-year running back Brendan Gillanders has rebounded from a slow start and in the past two weeks, he has gained 249 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Gillanders scored all three offensive touchdowns that the Gee-Gees scored against Toronto last weekend. On the defensive side of the ball, the Gee-Gees managed to smother the improving Toronto offence last week, allowing just six points thanks to the strong play of second-year defensive lineman Ettore Lattanzio. Lattanzio was named the Desjardins University of Ottawa athlete of the week as he had two sacks and a forced fumble against Toronto; he is now ranked in the top ten in the country with six sacks this season.
This will be the first meeting between the two teams since the 2009 season when Ottawa crushed the Warriors 45-11. The Gee-Gees are 19-1 all-time against Waterloo.
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