Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Beckwith Park, just outside of Carleton Place, Ontario The game will be audiocast live on Radio Laurier.
Laurier enters Week 4 of the 2012 campaign after picking up an elusive first win of the year by defeating the York Lions (1-2) by a score of 24-20 at University Stadium last Saturday. The Hawks had a strong first half, which saw them put up 17 points on the Lions and was highlighted by touchdowns from quarterback Travis Eman of Brampton, Ontario, and running back Lance Freeman of Denver, Colorado. The second half was a different st ory for the purple and gold though as York scored 17 unanswered points to take the lead before Freeman scored his second major of the game to give Laurier the victory.
Freeman had an outstanding game for the Hawks, picking up 100 total yards (40 rushing and 60 receiving) to go along with his two touchdowns. Mitchell Bosch of Langley, British Columbia, starred for the defence as he had a game-high 5.5 tackles to become Lauriers all-time tackles leader.
Meanwhile, the Gee-Gees’ struggles to start the year continued last week as they were soundly beaten by the No. 1 McMaster Marauders (3-0) by a score of 45-16. The Marauders scored 23 first quarter points to defeat Ottawa, who continued to struggle with their passing game as starting quarterback Aaron Colbon of Ottawa, had just 92 yards through the air. It is the second consecutive week that the Gee-Gees have failed to crack the 100 yard passing mark.
One highlight for Ottawa was the play of running back Franck Ngandui of Laval, Quebec, who had 65 rushing yards on just nine attempts.
If the Hawks are to return to the .500 mark this weekend and make a push for the playoffs, one key will be to shut down the Gee-Gees running game. Ottawa’s game plan on offence this year has been pretty clear as the team is third in the OUA in rushing yards per game with 221.0 but last in passing yards per game at just 95.7. Look for the Hawks to stack the box against the Gee-Gees which will mean tackles Asante Mizan of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Alex Brouwers of Campbellford, Ontario, along with middle linebacker Drew Galpin of Kitchener, Ontario, will need to have big performances for Laurier to earn the victory. With the Hawks leading the OUA in rushing defence, allowing just 106.3 yards per game, it is foreseeable that they will have success in this area.
Offensively, look for the Hawks to tak e to the air against Ottawas 10th-ranked passing defence, which has allowed over 400 yards per game. Receivers Alex Anthony of Victoria, British Columbia, and Karsten Beney of Waterloo, Ontario, could be expected to have strong days for the Hawks if the team can get their passing game going early on.
NOTES: Saturday’s game will also be webcast on SSN Canada…while the Gee-Gees have had the Hawks number over their last 10 games, winning six of them, Laurier is coming off a 51-16 victory on Homecoming last season…a victory on Saturday could move the Hawks into sole possession of sixth place in the conference…Beney is on pace to crack the Top 10 all-time at Laurier for kick returns and kick return yards in a season
(Photo credit: Thomas Kolodziej)
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