A PANDA REMATCH?
City rivals on playoff track
Panda Game 2?
There won’t be 23,000 people in the stands next Saturday, but chances are pretty good the Ottawa Gee-Gees will get another crack at the Carleton Ravens. The game won’t be played at TD Place, either — there’s a Fury FC game scheduled.
Heading into the final weekend of the OUA football season, nine teams remain in contention for six playoff spots.
The country’s sixth-ranked Ravens (5-2) travel to Waterloo to take on the winless Warriors on Saturday, while the ninth-ranked Gee-Gees (5-2) travel to Kingston face the desperate Queen’s Gaels, who likely need a win to make the playoffs.
Western, Laurier, McMaster, Carleton and Ottawa have all clinched a post-season berth heading into the final weekend. Most of the possible playoff scenarios have the Ravens lining up against the Gee-Gees as the fourth- and fifthranked teams.
It’s possible, maybe even likely, that Western and Laurier both wind up 7-1 and get first-round byes. There could be three 6-2 teams in the next three playoff positions, with the possibility of a three-win team taking the final playoff spot. A Laurier loss to Windsor could have the Ravens finishing as high as second. If that doesn’t happen, a McMaster win over Western could move the Ravens up to third.
“It’s unbelievable, this season has been crazy,” said Carleton coach Steve Sumarah, whose Ravens handed Western its only loss of the season.
While Carleton is preparing for different scenarios, plenty of attention is being paid to the Gee- Gees, who the Ravens whacked 43-23 in the Panda Game on Oct. 1.
“We have to mentally start thinking about what’s next, that’s the advantage of being in the playoffs,” said Sumarah. “Not that we’re really looking past Waterloo, but it seems we’re destined to play Ottawa U.”