The Carleton Ravens football team played their first homecoming game since 1998 against the York University Lions Sept. 21.
The spirit of homecoming was alive in the crowd, appearing when a Carleton student disguised as the superhero The Flash ran onto the field, before being detained by security officials at the other end.
Before another huge crowd at Keith Harris Stadium, the Ravens looked sloppy coming out of the gate in the first quarter with offensive miscues. Fumbles on back-to-back series in the first quarter, both recovered by York defensive lineman Kellen Aiken, were capitalized on by the Lions and they built a three-touchdown-lead early in the game.
“In every game so far, we have really blown the first quarter, and in most cases the first half,” Ravens head coach Steve Sumarah said.
However, the Ravens managed to add 10 points in the second quarter, and ended the game with their biggest offensive output of the season. Quarterback Jesse Mills passed for 450 yards and three touchdowns, and had a one-yard touchdown on the ground.
“I feel like the team came out and we knew what we had to do,” Mills said. “We really executed on offence.”
The rain both teams had to endure didn’t seem to stop them when it came to the offensive side of the ball.
Myles Gibbon threw for five touchdowns and 381 yards for York, and was barely pressured in the pocket by the Ravens’ defensive line, suffering no sacks on the day.
“We’ve struggled with our pass rush all year. It hasn’t been a strength of ours for sure,” Sumarah said. “Not only do you have to get after the quarterback, but you have to contain the quarterback, and our guys are struggling with that.”
Gibbon also proved his versatility in the ground game, running for 62 yards.
After a successful onside kick by the Ravens was called back due to an interference call, Gibbon found Damone Williams wide open for a 69-yard touchdown to make it 47-17.
At the end of the third quarter, fans incensed by a call made by the officials, pelted the Lions’ bench with objects and forced them to move to the other side of the field.
This delayed the game and the Lions’ bench went over to the other side of the field to ensure their own safety.
Campus Safety community liaison officer Mark Hargreaves said no arrests were made in response to the fan interference. Hargreaves said there was an Ottawa Police presence, but said he couldn’t comment on whether there would be more security at future games.
The action seemed to spark the Carleton Ravens, who were then down by 30 points in the wet conditions. But in the fourth quarter the Ravens made things interesting with a field goal and two huge touchdowns.
Mills played the entire game for Carleton, as opposed to the previous matches in which backup quarterback Nick Gorgichuk had come in to relieve him.
“I really appreciate the opportunity that they trust me to stay in the whole game, that means a lot to me,” Mills said.
The fourth quarter ended up being Carleton’s best, with touchdown passes to wide receivers Kyle Van Wynsberghe and Dexter Brown and a field goal from Andrew Banerjee. However, a fumble on the opposing goal line by Mills on the Ravens’ last drive marked the end of the high-scoring affair.
In the end, it wasn’t enough and they were defeated 50-34 by the Lions, handing the Ravens their fourth loss of the season.
Next up, the Ravens will travel to Toronto to take on the University of Toronto Varsity Blues Sept. 27.
