It's desperation time for the Carleton Ravens as they host the York Lions on Saturday afternoon for the team's annual Throwback Game. The Ravens (1-4) host a Lions team that enters the contest after their first non-forfeit win since 2019.
Despite the 1-4 record, Carleton is fourth in the OUA with 137 points (27.4 per game) and welcomes the worst offence in the league in York. The Lions have scored only 10.5 points per game with 19 of their 42 points coming last week against Toronto.
The Ravens must win if they want to keep any hope of qualifying for the OUA playoffs just one week before the Panda Game.
It's been a difficult year for the Ravens who have had to rely on a next-man-up mentality each week. After garnering much pre-season attention, Ife Onyeka continues to be a force, leading the Ravens with 7.0 sacks. In the middle of the field Xavier Malone and Christopher Toupin are far and away the physical leaders of the Ravens' defence. Combining for 58.0 tackles the two linebackers are each averaging over 5.5 tackles per game.
Offensively, Tristan Ready has overtaken All-Canadian Kaseem Ferdinand as the team leader in all-purpose yards. Pinching in on punt returns, Ready's 86-yard return for a touchdown Saturday has helped jump him to 580 yards while also leading the team with 407 receiving yards.
The next man up at running back saw Ethan Rocha run for a career-high 130 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries Saturday. Before Saturday Rocha had only 13 carries for 55 yards. Rocha split carries with Keyshawn Reid, getting his first reps in the OUA after a massive kick-return touchdown against Toronto, Reid had six carries for 66 yards on Saturday before appearing to suffer a leg injury.
Among the most penalized teams in the league, the Lions have been able to keep scores close with exceptional special teams, with a second-best punting average of 47.0 yards per kick on 32 punts.
Quarterback Matt Linn leads the Lioins in both passing (579 yards) and rushing (121 yards). Linn is passing 50% at 50-100 and will need to be better against a Carleton defence that has a league-best 9 interceptions and has recorded 12 sacks.
