Blues look to topple mighty Gee Gees

There is a legitimate David against Goliath match up this weekend at Varsity Stadium in Toronto.

The No. 2 nationally ranked Ottawa Gee Gees head across highway 401 to face the University of Toronto Varsity Blues on Saturday in Ontario University Athletics football.

When they line up to smash heads at 1 p.m. there will be two similarities between the clubs: they’re football teams and both will be playing at the same stadium.

When they line up to smash heads at 1 p.m. ET, there will be only one similarity: the football teams will be playing at the same stadium.

Aside from that, there is nothing to suggest the Blues have much of a chance.

Superior offensive numbers

The numbers aren’t even close, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

Ottawa [5-0] averages 500 yards of total offence, while the Blues [1-3] are last in the OUA, with only 225.

Gee Gees quarterback Brad Sinopoli leads the league in passing yards [2,116] and is No. 1 in touchdowns with 17.

Meanwhile, Toronto pivot Andrew Gillis has 378 yards though the air in four games with two touchdowns.

Sinopoli has an embarrassment of riches at the receiving position as Matthew Bolduc, Steve Hughes and Cyril Adjeitey are all in the top 5 in yards.

The ever dangerous let down

Gee Gees head coach Jean-Philippe Asselin is down playing the perception that his club should rumble onto the field and brush aside the Blues.

“Guelph beat Queen’s easier than we did and Guelph only beat Toronto by two points; so there is nothing to take for granted,” Asselin told the University of Ottawa website.

The Blues should be well rested and full of confidence.

They earned their first win of the year on Sept. 18, a 24-19 victory over York, and coming off a bye week.

More comparable numbers

Defensively, the numbers are more comparable. Both teams are middle of the pack in the OUA in terms of points and yards allowed.

Ottawa gives up 342 yards a game while Toronto is yielding 424.

The law of average is also in Toronto’s favour. The Blues haven’t beaten the Gee Gees since Nov. 9 1974, a 24-21 win in the Yates Cup.

It’s fair to say that both squads are heading in opposite directions.

While it’s dangerous to assume anything, Ottawa is a confident team with a lot to play for.

The Gee Gees haven’t lost a conference game this year, and seems headed for a possible Yates Cup appears in November.

As always, the Blues are just trying to grind out the rest of the season and end on a positive note.

About this article

By: Gordon Anderson
Posted: Sep 30 2010 8:57 pm
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Filed under: Football Sports
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