RECAP: Gee-Gees earn playoff win at Toronto, advance to semi-final

On Saturday, the Gee-Gees football team defeated the Toronto Varsity Blues by a final score of 27-17 to advance to the OUA semifinals. The win was the program's first playoff victory since the 2014 season. 

Ottawa opened the scoring at Varsity Stadium with a 42 yard field goal strike from Campbell Fair to give the Gee-Gees a 3-0 lead that held through the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Gee-Gees engineered at 76-yard drive down the field into Toronto territory that was capped off with a one-yard J-P Cimankinda touchdown run.

The Varsity Blues responded to get on the board in the waning seconds of the first half with a 26-yard field goal.

The Gee-Gees got their second turnover of the game on the opening kickoff of the second half, recovering a fumble and turning it into points on another Fair field goal to extend their lead to 13-3.

Later in the third, the Varsity Blues brought the game back within striking distance on a 55-yard touchdown pass from Clay Sequeira. The Gee-Gees wasted no time responding marching down the field and finding the end zone again on a 13-yard touchdown scamper by Dawson Odei.

Ottawa iced the game moments later when Chris Ciguineau picked off Sequeira and returned the ball 40 yards for the touchdown.

Toronto's comeback bid came too late, scoring again with 2:10 remaining in the game. A two-point conversion and onside kick attempt were both unsuccessful and the Gee-Gees were able to run out the clock to secure the win. 

Ottawa posted 193 rushing yards on the day and did not turn the ball over. Defensively, they limited Toronto to 93 rushing yards and added two interceptions and two sacks.

In all, Cimankinda led the Gee-Gees with 124 yards on the ground and a touchdown, while quarterback Ben Maracle threw for 141 yards and ran for 30.

Ottawa will now advance to the OUA semifinals where they will face the Queen's Gaels for the third time this season with a trip to the Yates Cup on the line.

Kickoff from Richardson Stadium in Kingston is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday.