October 25, 2014

Gaels spoil Ravens playoff chances with 37-15 win

The Gaels spoiled Carleton's playoff hopes in the final game of the regular season, beating the Ravens 37-15 in Ottawa on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

Queen's

3-5

Carleton

4-4

Final	1	2	3	4	T
Queen's (3-5)	5	17	0	15	37
Carleton (4-4)	3	0	2	10	15

Photo by Valerie Wutti

The Gaels spoiled Carleton's playoff hopes in the final game of the regular season, beating the Ravens 37-15 in Ottawa on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

The early part of the game was dominated by the kickers, as Dillon Wamsley (London, Ont.) of the Gaels and Michael Domagala of the Ravens traded field goals in the first quarter. After Carleton gave up a safety, Queen's took a 5-3 lead into the second quarter.

Wamsley hit another field goal to start a Gaels dominated second quarter. Derek Wiggan (Toronto) scored the first touchdown of his Gaels career in his final game in the tricolour, as the fifth year defensive lineman picked up Carleton quarterback Nick Gorgichuk's fumble deep in Ravens territory and walked it into the end zone.

Curtis Carmichael (Scarborough, Ont.) scored the first offensive touchdown for the Gaels with 10 seconds left in the first half. On the play, Billy McPhee (Burlington, Ont.) threw his 44th touchdown pass for Queen's, overtaking Beau Howes for sole possession of fourth place in all-time touchdown passes in a Gaels career. Howes was the last Queen's quarterback to face the Ravens in 1998.

Following Carmichael's touchdown, Tunde Adeleke returned Wamsley's kickoff 96 yards. As time expired on in the first half, Nick Dowd (Gananoque, Ont.) made a touchdown saving tackle on the three yard line, as the Gaels escaped the first half with their 22-3 lead intact.

The Ravens marched down the field in the third quarter, going 54 yards on seven plays down to the Queen's 13 yard line. Jason Shamatutu (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) intercepted a Gorgichuk pass in the end zone to halt Carleton's attack late in the third quarter.

After Alex Carroll pulled in another Queen's touchdown, Wiggan combined with Wesley Mann (Almonte, Ont.) to stuff Ravens backup quarterback Jesse Mills for no gain on third down. On the ensuing drive, Justin Gleben (Barrie, Ont.) punched in the Gaels final touchdown of the 2014 season from one yard out, as Queen's defeated Carleton 37-15.

Jesse Andrews (Arnprior, Ont.) put his name into the Gaels single-game record book on Saturday, as the third year rushed for 221 yards on 30 carries. Andrews rushing yards total puts him ahead of one of Mike Giffin's games in 11th, while the number of attempts ties him with games had by Ryan Granberg and Jimmy Therrien for seventh.

McPhee ends his Gaels career with 8,305 passing yards, securely in second place for all-time Queen's. With 39 yards on the ground in the game, McPhee lands in second place for most rushing yards in a career by a quarterback with 401 over his five years at Queen's.

Carroll's final season with the Gaels was one for the record books, finishing tied for fifth with James Maclean's 2001 season for most receptions in a season with 52. With 875 receiving yards this season, Carroll moves into seventh in most yards receiving in a season.