Gaels hold off rain, Gee-Gee's offence to punch ticket in to Yates Cup final

A strong second half allowed Queen's to pull away for a 45-27 victory and will host Western next Saturday.

The Queen's Gaels football team fought through the elements, a couple of blocked punts and a stubborn Gee-Gees team to advance to the Yates Cup championship game.

The Gaels overcame early special teams miscues to beat Ottawa 45-27 in the OUA semifinal game on Saturday.

The offence was led by running back Jayce Baldwin and wide receiver Cedric Smith. Baldwin had 195 yards on 13 carries including a 94-yard run for his second touchdown of the game to seal the win for Queen's.

He says the team broke it open in the second half after the Gee-Gees kept the game close.

Smith had two touchdown catches in the first quarter. 

Receivers Russell Weir and Ben Falkowsky also had big games. Falkowsky had seven receptions for 109 yards with a touchdown while Weir caught six passes for 95 yards.

For Weir, it was his first game back since suffering an injury in the Western game in Week 5.

He says he was not going to miss this game.

Head coach Steve Snyder says Weir's return to the line up provided a spark.

After the Gaels scored on the opening drive, the Gee-Gees answered back to tie the game at 7-7. Then Matt Driver's punt was blocked on Queen's second possession and Ottawa ran it back in for a touchdown to take a 14-7 lead.

The Gee-Gees also had another punt block later in the game.

Snyder says special teams was a bit shaky but were able to get it straightened out.

The second half saw the Gaels defense hold the Gee-Gees to 3 points allowing Queen's to build a cushion that Ottawa could not overcome.

Alex Vreeken completed 22 of 28 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns for the Gaels.

Josh Janssen was 33 of 44 for 410 yards with a pair of touchdowns and one interception. Emyl Gregoirehad seven catches for 135 yards for Ottawa.

The Gaels will host the Western Mustangs in the Yates Cup championship game next Saturday at Richardson Stadium. Western defeated Windsor 43-33 in the other semifinal game in London.

Story by Ken Hashizume