Written by Mason Bugaresti
The Carleton Ravens got back in the winning column on Saturday afternoon at TAAG Park with a 45-14 win over the visiting York University Lions. With the win, the Ravens’ record improves to 2-1 with both wins coming in front of the home fans.
York got the scoring started in the opening quarter. After taking an early 1-0 lead, Alfred Olay (Courtice, Ont.) returned a missed Carleton field goal 109 yards for a touchdown. The Lions would miss the extra point but held the lead.
The Ravens answered before the end of the quarter with some impressive special teams of their own. After the Lions fumbled a punt return, Shaiheem Charles-Brown pounced on and recovered the loose ball in the endzone for a touchdown and extra point to tie the game 7-7 at the end of the opening 15 minutes.
Carleton began to put this game out of reach in the 2nd quarter outscoring the Lions 28-0 in the frame. The Ravens’ passing attack began finding holes in the Lions’ secondary racking up 106 yards through the air just in the second quarter. Quarterback Tanner DeJong (Brockville, Ont.) first found Kasseem Ferdinand (Ottawa, Ont.) in the endzone for a 25-yard touchdown to put Carleton in front. DeJong went back to work later in the quarter finding Frederick Hachey (Laval, Que.) for a 75-yard score.
Special teams and defence both got involved in the scoring for Carleton as well. Eljames Aiguomudu (Montreal, Que.) returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown, and Denny Ferdinand (Ottawa, Ont.) returned a punt 57 yards as Carleton carried a commanding 35-7 lead into the half. With the touchdowns by Denny and Kasseem, the Ferdinand brothers became the first ever Carleton brothers to score a touchdown in the same game.
In the second half, the Ravens protected their lead with solid pass defence which hindered the Lions’ offence. Ben Huckabone (Pembroke, Ont.) blocked a second punt for the Ravens and returned it to the endzone which put the Ravens ahead 45-14, continuing what was a field day for Carleton’s Special Teams.
“We just came in trying to win every play. The coaches did a great job getting the guys prepared, and that was the difference today,” head coach Corey Grant said after the game.
The Ravens’ next game is on the road in Kingston, Ont. where they will take on the 2021 Yates Cup finalist Queen’s Gaels at 6 p.m. The game will be streaming on OUA TV.
Carleton’s next home game at TAAG Park will be Throwback on Sep. 24 where they will take on the Windsor Lancers at 1 p.m. Tickets are available now!
