OTTAWA– It was a stellar day for the return of the Panda Game at Gee-Gees Field on Saturday, October 5. The Ottawa teams’ rivalry was at an all-time high, both on the field and in the stands. In the end, Ottawa reclaimed their title as the Panda Game champs posting a final score of 35-10.
Ottawa put up 651 yards of offence on the day and had a strong start in front of the home crowd. The Gee-Gees kept Carleton off the scoreboard while captain Brendan Gillanders and receiver Simon Le Marquand each recorded a touchdown. Gillanders was the top rusher in the game with 164 yards and was named the Porter Airlines Player of the Game by the Sportsnet 360 broadcast crew. The Ottawa native is sitting top ten in the CIS ranks for his rushing yards this season – he now averages 92.6 per game.
Carleton had just a field goal on the board, scored by Andrew Banerjee in the second frame, until a performance by defensive back Tunde Adeleke shook things up. Following a missed field goal by the Gee-Gees, Adeleke seized his opportunity and dashed 129 yards to the opposite end zone. This feat, which ties the CIS record, has only been accomplished three times in the history of the CIS and Carleton is now in the record book.
In response, the always reliable receiver Andrew Mullings marked one of his own, connecting with quarterback Colbon for a six-yard pass just before halftime. Mullings now has seven touchdowns this season to lead the Gee-Gees.
Ottawa held a 21-10 advantage at half and shut out the Ravens in the second half.
Colbon, who passed for 295 yards, sees the Panda Game as a “healthy rivalry” between the teams and was honoured to have made his school proud. “We knew we had to win our last two games for a chance at the playoffs, so that’s how we looked at it. Win this game, win next week.”
The sold-out event was everything that head coach Jamie Barresi could have hoped for from the “Sons of Ottawa.” “Really nice venue, the people were conducting themselves well,” he said. “It was very positive. I was impressed with the crowd and the atmosphere. It was something to come and bring your kids to.”
Aaron Colbon and Le Marquand rounded out the points for uOttawa in the third quarter, with Colbon’s coming on a nine-yard run.
Fifth-year Le Marquand had mixed feelings about playing against his former coaches, but all in all was satisfied with the game. “Even when the play is not coming to me or the ball is not coming to me, I work hard for my teammates to perform.”
After a day of Panda craze, the Gee-Gees are looking forward to their final match of the regular season. The garnet and grey will enjoy their bye week in the schedule next weekend while preparing to host the Windsor Lancers on October 29th.
Photo credit: Richard Whittaker
Source: Ottawa Gee-Gees Sports Information
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Welcome back Pedro, it’s been awhile since anybody has seen you.
But like a long-time friend the precious Panda was embraced with open arms on a beautiful, autumn day after a 15 year absence away from CIS football.
Now that Carleton Ravens football is back in the picture, the annual Panda game can return to being an annual event.
And there it was in all its football glory on Saturday afternoon as the Carleton Ravens and Ottawa Gee-Gees squared off in the 45th Panda game at the University of Ottawa’s Lees Avenue athletic field.
For the record, Ottawa defeated Carleton 35-10 but the game will be remembered for several things.
The first is that the Panda Game has not lost any of its lustre despite being absent for a decade and a half.
Two rival universities going head to head on the gridiron is great entertainment along with thousands of cheering fans from both schools trying to outduel each other with cheers and taunts.
The action in the stands was almost as entertaining as the excitement on the field especially when Tunde Adeleke (Ottawa, ON) returned a Gee-Gees punt 129 yards for a Carleton touchdown in the second quarter.
Adeleke tied a CIS record with the riveting run.
To put his gallop into perspective, Adeleke caught the punt inches from the line at the back of the end zone and zigzagged his way down the field and through the entire Ottawa team for the sensational six points.
“I never get too many opportunities to run back punts so I wanted to make something happen,” Adeleke said during a crowded post game media scrum.
“I saw an opening and took off, their kicker almost took me down but as a return guy you never want to let that guy tackle you, it’s kind of an unwritten rule.”
Adeleke’s spectacular scamper made the score 14-10 for Ottawa but it gave the Ravens and their loyal fans something special to cheer and get loud about.
The Gee-Gees took some wind out of the Ravens sail as they scored a TD with 13 seconds left in the opening half to go ahead 21-10.
Ottawa (4-3) picked up another 14 points in the second half to secure the win but the Ravens competed and gave it their all until the final whistle.
“I told the team to embrace the excitement of the game and remember this moment along with their role in the history of Panda as a member of the Carleton Ravens,” said head coach Steve Sumarah.
“We (Carleton) ran out of gas as the game went but the final score is not as important as the progress the team is making. That’s what I’m looking for and I think we made tremendous strides in the right direction today.”
Carleton (0-6) is back in action on Friday night, October 11 when they play host to the Guelph Gryphons (6-0) in Friday Night Nights. Game time at Ravens Field is7:00 PM.
Source: Mike Beasley, Carleton Ravens Sports Information
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