On a sunny late-October Saturday (Oct. 25) afternoon in Windsor, Ont., the University of Windsor Lancers football team advanced to the OUA semifinals with a 31–24 victory over the Ottawa Gee-Gees in the OUA quarter-finals in front of thousands on Lancer faithful at Alumni Stadium.
STATS
Running back Weagbe Mombo led the ground game for the Lancers with 109 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Colby Ginn added 52 receiving yards and a score through the air. Nathan Guizzetti was electric on special teams, totaling 181 return yards via 116 on kickoffs and 65 on punt returns. Quarterback Nick Dimovski finished an efficient 13-of-20 for 169 passing yards. On defense, Ethan John anchored the unit with a game-high 11 tackles and Kevin Rakowska grabbed a late interception to seal the game. Derek Anderson had three tackles for a loss and a sack.
For the Gee-Gees, quarterback Josh Janssen threw for 307 yards and Emyl Gregoire hauled in 135 receiving yards. Jaxxon Brasher picked up ten tackles.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In a weekend packed with crucial OUA playoff action, Windsor entered the day looking to make a statement, and they wasted no time doing so. Receiving the opening kickoff, quarterback Nick Dimovski led the Lancers down the field with an impressive air attack, finding Tyriq Quayson for a key gain before scrambling right and hitting Colby Ginn in the red zone for the opening touchdown. Brady Lidster added the extra point to make it 7–0 just six minutes into the first quarter.
Ottawa quickly responded, as Charles Asselin punched it in from inches out to tie the game late in the first. Windsor struck back on the ensuing possession on big runs from Andrew Delaney and Weagbe Mombo that pushed the Lancers into Ottawa's half. Dimovski connected with Matteo Trifon for another big gain before Mombo finished the drive with a rushing touchdown, making it 14–7 at the end of the opening frame.
The second quarter saw Windsor's ground game come alive. Delaney broke multiple tackles for a first down, setting up another productive series where Dimovski found Ginn for 16 yards before Talbot capped the drive with a determined 39-yard touchdown run, stiff-arming his way into the end zone. Lidster stayed perfect to make it 21–7 with just over six minutes left in the half. A Quayson catch for 12 yards followed by more runs from Mombo set up a Lidster field goal late in the quarter, extending the lead to 24–7. The Gee-Gees managed a field goal in the dying seconds of the half to make it 24–10 heading into the locker room.
Ottawa opened the second half with the ball but continued to struggle against a stout Lancers defense, led by Ahmad Taylor and company, who forced consecutive punts. The Gee-Gees showed signs of life late in the quarter as Janssen and Gilbert-Thiabault connected multiple times, pushing into the red zone, but the third quarter closed with Windsor still ahead 24–10.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Ottawa's Souleymane Camara found the end zone to cut the deficit to 24–17, setting up a tense finish. Janssen continued to rely on his go-to receiver Gilbert-Thiabault, completing several clutch passes to march deep into Windsor territory. On third down at the Lancers' six-yard line, Janssen connected with Derrick Garraud-Boucard for the touchdown, and with the extra point, the Gee-Gees tied it at 24 with just two minutes remaining. With the game hanging in the balance, Windsor's Nathan Guizzetti delivered a massive 35-yard kick return into Ottawa territory. Delaney powered the ball down to the 21-yard line, and as the clock wound down, Dimovski called his own number, scrambling into the end zone in a dramatic finish. Despite a brief fumble scare, Mombo pounced on the loose ball in the end zone for the go-ahead score with just 20 seconds remaining. Ottawa had one last chance, but Kevin Rakowska's interception sealed the victory as Alumni Stadium erupted in celebration.
UP NEXT
The Lancers advance to the OUA Semifinals, where they will host the Queen's Gaels on Saturday, November 1 at 1 p.m. Once released, tickets can be purchased at golancers.ca/tickets and the action can be streamed live on oua.tv.
