TORONTO, ON – Only four games across the OUA last weekend with three teams getting a rest preparing for the final stretch of the regular season. The shortened slate was headlined by the Panda Game winners Ottawa Gee-Gees and the undefeated Laurier Golden Hawks.
Playoffs are just a couple weeks away and with the standings so close every game has an increased level of importance. Now in the home stretch here is how the power rankings shape up after another week of OUA football.
While U SPORTS posts a weekly ranking based on media voting and an ELO system, 49 Sports’ Cameron Moore will publish power rankings each week throughout the season.
1. Western Mustangs (-)
Western has lived at the top of the 49 Sports OUA power rankings since its inception at the beginning of the season. Given their performance this season it is no surprise the back-to-back Yates Cup champions remain atop the OUA so far this year.
The Mustangs are a perfect 6-0 on the season and are one of two undefeated teams through seven weeks of the campaign. It’s not like their schedule is light either, claiming wins over Queen’s, Ottawa, and Windsor in their last three games.
There has been a dominance on the offensive side of the ball leading the conference in yards per game (535.2). Efficiency has been their best asset in both the run and the passing game. Through the air, Evan Hillock and crew lead the OUA in yards per attempt (10.5). On the ground, Keon Edwards and Keanu Yazbeck average 8.2 yards per carry when you combine their attempts.
Defensively the squad has been stellar, only allowing 16.2 points per game. Their best game coming against Windsor holding them to only ten points. They picked off Danny Skelton twice and held the Lancers to their lowest rushing yard total all season.
2. Laurier Golden Hawks (+1)
Capitalizing on Ottawa’s short week, Laurier won a close game 38-30 over the Gee-Gees. Primarily, the Golden Hawks have been praised for their aerial assault, but it was the ground game that led the way. Quentin Scott picked up 194 yards on just 15 carries and he had a touchdown. Even quarterback Taylor Elgersma got in on the rushing attack with a pair of touchdowns of his own.
Elgersma has been dominant, utilizing his arm talent to stretch defenses vertically. The 6’6″ signal caller leads U SPORTS in passing yards (1940), leads the nation in completion percentage (75.7), and only trails Hillock when it comes to touchdowns. Elite quarterback play is a game changer, it’s no surprise the teams with the best players under center are high in the standings
Their schedule hasn’t been the strongest so far, but their last two games will be the toughest tests. Laurier plays Windsor who are coming off a bye week and then they finish the regular season against Western.
3. Windsor Lancers (-1)
The Lancers have an extra week to prepare for another tough test. They fell short against Western losing 21-10 and have to prep for another undefeated team.
Windsor’s run game only managed 112 yards against the Mustangs and are clearly missing running back Joey Zorn. In their two games without Zorn, Windsor has averaged 89.5 rushing yards. It is a far cry from their season average of 224.8 yards.
Their defense has been suffocating, especially for opposing quarterbacks. The Lancers’ pass rush has an OUA-leading 26 sacks. Defensive end Kolade Amusan has a team-high 8.5 sacks. Windsor is joint top of the conference in forced turnovers and they are second in yards allowed per game.
4. Queen’s Gaels (+3)
Jared Chisari has been nothing short of spectacular in the last couple of games. The running back has racked up over 200 yards rushing in two straight games. Queen’s leaned on him in their 35-16 win over the Carleton Ravens. Chisari had 26 carries for 231 yards and shockingly did not reach the end zone. It was Anthony Soles scoring points, reaching pay dirt three times
The loss of Alex Vreeken has forced the Gaels to feed their backs and it has not been a problem. In the last three weeks, Queen’s has averaged over 300 yards on the ground. Stop the run and you stop Queen’s, but with Chisari and Soles in the backfield that’s not an easy task.
Queen’s have a tough defense, allowing the least amount of yards per game (286.5). They are tied for second when it comes to points allowed per game (16.2). Queen’s have the best rush defense in the OUA, which will be tested playing top running backs in back-to-back weeks. First they have Donavin Milloy and then they finish the season against Amlicar Polk.
5. Ottawa Gee-Gees (-)
Quarterback Josh Janssen has settled in nicely in this offense, stepping up for the injured Ryan Licandro. Ottawa losing both Ben Maracle and Licandro, Janssen has been a prime of example of the next man-up mentality.
In their loss to Laurier, the second-year passer threw for 233 and two touchdowns. Janssen is one of four starters who complete over 70 percent of their passes. The other three who accomplish this feat are Elgersma, Hillock and Guelph freshman Tristan Aboud. That’s some solid company. The future under center is bright for Ottawa.
Despite the loss to Laurier, Ottawa stocks should remain high with the development of Janssen. Now with the introduction of the passing game, there is less pressure on Polk. The running back has the most touches in the OUA, having his number called 113 times.
6. Guelph Gryphons (-2)
Guelph’s last game was an upset loss to the Waterloo Warriors. The Gryphons’ record of 3-3 might be the most appropriate thing about their season. Some weeks this team makes real strides like their season opener against Toronto and this week not getting a win over a team they should beat.
Their biggest bright spot has been running back Donavin Milloy. He has taken over the backfield, and Milloy has 771 yards on just 61 carries. With those numbers it’s no shock he leads all backs in yards per carry (10.8).
While their strength on offense is the run game, their defense struggles with dealing with the run. Guelph allows 230.8 yards per game, only York allows more on the ground. Their run defense is in trouble next week, they will have to find a way to slow down Jared Chisari.
7. Carleton Ravens (-1)
The Ravens only had five days to recover from their heartbreaking Panda Game loss. They did not recover enough, dropping their second straight game. Although they have a 2-4 record, Carleton currently holds the final playoff spot.
Their good defense is keeping them in games, they’ve allowed more than twenty points only twice. The Ravens concede just under 310 yards per game, third least in the OUA.
They haven’t figured it out on the ground yet. Against Ottawa they put up 233 yards, they couldn’t replicate that against Queen’s amassing a season-low 39 yards. They’ve been more consistent through the air, Tristan Lefebvre averages 253 yards per game. He’s only thrown under 200 yards a single time this campaign.
Last season, 4-4 was a good enough record to sneak into the playoffs. Carleton wraps up the season playing Waterloo and Guelph, both games this team is capable of winning.
8. Toronto Varsity Blues (+2)
From 0-4 with playoffs looking like a pipe dream to two wins on the bounce and back into the thick of the playoff race. Sitting at 2-4 there is still a chance the Varsity Blues might rally and head to post-season once again.
Toronto’s defense has scored 42 points, which represents roughly 33 percent of their total points. They have four touchdowns, including a pair of pick-sixes in their last game against York. Other than that the Varsity Blues defense ranks bottom five in points allowed, yards allowed, and rush yards allowed. However, they are top five in pass yards allowed per game (222.8).
Toronto is 2-0 when Scott Barnett starts with wins over McMaster and York. In his starts, Barnett has completed 21 of 28 passes for 385 yards four touchdowns, and two interceptions. The majority of those yards came against the Lions.
One loss likely ends all hopes of a playoff berth, with a loss they will finish below .500 on the season
9. McMaster Marauders (-1)
Only McMaster and Carleton have positive point differentials despite having a losing record. The Marauders hold a 2-5 record, given last year’s playoff landscape it effectively makes the playoffs out of reach. As mentioned earlier, 4-4 was the magic record to get into the playoffs.
Just one game remains for the Marauders, but there is hope and it all starts with beating Ottawa. Against Waterloo, they were without their starting quarterback Keagan Hall, which severely hampered their passing attack.
10. Waterloo Warriors (-)
One week after stunning Guelph, Waterloo took a step back and lost to McMaster. They have a 2-4 record and will need to win out and get some help to make it in the post-season.
Waterloo has the second-worst point differential in the OUA (-67). They concede the third-most points per game (33.2) and fourth-most yards per game (389.2).
Both of their wins this season happened because of establishing the run. In wins their average rushing yard total is 382. In losses, it’s 123.75. When this team is forced to move the ball through the air they struggle, completing over 60 percent of their attempts in less than half their games.
11. York Lions (-)
York remains at the bottom of the 49 Sports power rankings once again. They only managed to score three points against a struggling Toronto squad. The offense got over 300 yards, but they turned over the ball four times.
This program is in some serious disarray, winning once in the last three seasons. That one win was a forfeit victory against McMaster who had an ineligible player.
The Lions find themselves at the bottom, or near the bottom of every statistic this campaign.