PREVIEW: Ottawa to close regular season at #8 Queen’s, sneak peek at playoff matchup

October 20, 2023

• The Matchup: Ottawa Gee-Gees (4-3) at #8 Queen's Gaels (4-3)
• Location: Richardson Memorial Stadium – Kingston, ON
• Kickoff: 1:00 p.m.
• Tickets: Queen's Gaels Tickets
• Last meeting: Queen's 35, Ottawa 5 – Nov. 5, 2022 (OUA semi-final)
• All-Time Record: Ottawa leads 67-58-5 since 1885
• Broadcast: OUA.tv   

OTTAWA LEADERS:

• Major Stat Leaders (per game)
• • Passing yards: Josh Janssen – 239.5
  • Rushing yards: Amlicar Polk – 117.7
  • Receiving yards: Nicholas Gendron – 71.7
  • Tackles: Max Charbonneau – 8.1 

QUEEN'S LEADERS:

• Major Stat Leaders (per game)
• • Passing yards: Alex Vreeken – 227.7
  • Rushing yards: Jared Chisari – 148.0
  • Receiving yards: Aidan O'Neal – 59.3
  • Tackles: Olivier Muembi – 4.8

GAME OVERVIEW: 

Two of the oldest football foes in North America meet once again to close the 2023 OUA regular season. With identical records and different stories on the season, the two know they are set for back-to-back matchups, knowing that regardless of the result, they will face each other again in the quarterfinals.

Both Ottawa and Queen's sport high-octane rushing attacks, with Jared Chisari breaking out as the nation's top rusher in the past three weeks. Both teams have also lost their starting quarterback throughout the season, Queen's has not established much of a passing attack since losing Alex Vreeken in their third game, while for Ottawa, Josh Janssen has done a strong job, becoming the fifth-leading passer per game in the OUA.

With both defenses relatively even matched, the first battle of the year between Eastern Ontario rivals is set to be a marquee matchup heading into playoffs.