After only one game in their last 21 days, the Western Mustangs will return home to TD Stadium to take on the University of Ottawa Gee-Gee’s on Saturday afternoon.
Despite the long layoff in the middle of the season, the Mustangs did not lose focus last week as they came away with a 58-2 victory against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.
The victory saw two season high performances from two key offensive pieces. Quarterback Will Finchthrew for a season high 473 yards and running back Alex Taylor supported him with his own season high of 203 yards. Even though it was their second lowest scoring performance of the year, the key cogs within the Mustang offence seem to exploding for big plays more often, something that can make or break a game in the playoffs. Transfer receiver Jamal Kett enjoyed his best game in a Mustang uniform, hauling in two touchdowns and racking up 71 yards.
The Mustangs will be looking to exploit a Gee-Gee offence that is giving up 43.2 points per game.
The Mustangs continue to lead the OUA in almost every offensive statistical category. However, the one thing that continues the plague the Mustang’s is their tendency to take penalties.
When asked about his impressions of the team so far by CHRW sideline man Dave Woodey at halftime in Toronto, head coach Greg Marshall was quick to point out that flaw.
“One thing that’s bothered me is the penalties we’ve taken,” he said.
Western took 16 penalties for 185 yards against Toronto and continues to lead the OUA in the category with 770 on the year, a distinction they have held since the first week of the season.
Meanwhile, Ottawa started the season 2-1 but a three game skid has left them reeling. They enter fresh off of a 65-30 loss at Laurier. After an OUA semi-final appearance last year, the Gee-Gee’s will be fighting for their playoff lives on Saturday, as a fall to 2-5 does would not bode well for a berth in the post-season. This fact means the Gee-Gee’s will be playing with a high level of desperation, something the Mustangs have maybe not seen so far this season.
Quarterback Derek Wendel is having a good season and is the key to an Ottawa offence that ranks second in the OUA in yards per game with 521. So far in 2015 he has thrown for 19 touchdowns and 2,369 yards and, while his completion rate is only at 60 percent, he is safe with his misses, only throwing five interceptions.
His preferred target is receiver Ian Stewart, who is averaging 138.2 yards a game and accounts for six of his quarterback’s touchdowns. Locking down Stewart will be a key for the Mustang defence.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday at TD Stadium. Fans can watch the action live on OUA.tv and on Rogers Cable 13, or listen on CHRW Radio 94.9 FM and on Newstalk 1290 CJBK.
Source: Tony Von Richter, Western Mustangs Sports Information
Photo credit: Eric Bouget
Battle of the stallions in London
The Gee-Gees (2-4) will be hoping to rekindle some of the late-season magic they captured a year ago when they travel to face the no. 3 ranked Western Mustangs (6-0) this Saturday in London, Ont.
Ottawa was in a similar situation last season, facing then undefeated McMaster with a spot in the playoffs hanging in the balance, and emerged with a 38-18 win. This time, the challenge in front of the team is to earn its first win over Western since a 20-19 thriller 2010.
The Mustangs ground attack has been particularly dominant this season, averaging 358.7 yards per game – 85.7 yards more than the second best running team in the country. Western does not only have the best running game in the country but they can also air it out and average 409.2 passing yards and per game. The combination has resulted in big scoring all season long, with the lowest point total of the year standing at 48 points. The Mustangs defensive unit leads the country in interceptions with 13 and sacks with 23.
Ottawa head coach Jamie Barresi recognizes the challenge he faces and is hoping his defence is less timid than the unit that took the field last week against the Laurier Golden Hawks. “Watching us against Laurier I thought we sat back too much on defence. I didn’t think we attacked things like the kids used to do it. I’ve seen them play much differently and much more aggressively and I was really stunned that they played with the hesitation they played with.”
For most of the year, Barresi felt that in game consistency was main issue plaguing his players. The last two weeks have caused him to change his tune. Despite having the third ranked passing offence in CIS and one of the most prolific passers in the country in Derek Wendel, Barresi says that the continuing mistakes when throwing are hurting the Gee-Gees. “We need to catch the ball. We had so many deep balls thrown that were there and it could have made a difference,” says Barresi. Citing early interceptions in against Carleton and Laurier, Barresi says that Wendel has to be “better with his decision making.”
The offensive line play is also an area of concern for Barresi, but he understands that he must put the group in situations where they can develop all aspects of their game not just pass blocking. “We really need to be more patient in the run game. When you’re down 21, 28 you get in modes where you have to throw and that really takes away from the development of the offensive line.”
In season, issues can often addressed during the bye week. However, for the Garnet and Grey, their bye came on the very first week of the season. Though Barresi has often stated that their early bye week is good for quick turnarounds and a great advantage “because we had to get some kids ready”, he also admits that having one at this time “would have been a big thing at this stage.”
For Barresi, the ending of the Panda Game still looms with the team. Not controlling their playoff fate is not as frustrating as the decisions that put the team in this situation. “I take more frustration out of my performance. Had I gone for two at the end of the first overtime, the game would have been over and we’d have been in a different mindset right now. ”
The game will be streamed on OUA.tv and carried on Rogers Cable 22 in Ottawa, courtesy of Rogers Cable 13 in London.
Source: Ottawa Gee-Gees Sports Information
RB Brandon Gordon stiff arms a Windsor defender on Oct. 4, 2014
Gryphons Host Lancers in Final Home Game of Regular Season Schedule
Much like their young quarterback, the Lancers defence has also shown flashes of brilliance in 2015. In Week 5, the Lancers pulled off an upset over the Golden Hawks in Waterloo and spoiled Laurier’s Homecoming. In that game Laurier QB Eric Morelli, who was just recently named CIS Player of the Week after throwing six touchdown passes versus Ottawa, was limited to just 136 yards passing by the Lancer ‘D’. In fact, the Windsor defence was able to keep the Golden Hawks out of the endzone all game that day. Lancers Defensive Coordinator Donnovan Carter will incorporate a variety of fronts in an attempt to confuse opposing offensive lines. Fortunately for the Gryphons, they are led up front by a senior group of O-linemen who have played an instrumental role in helping the Gryphons average 42.2 points per game in 2015, the third highest total in the CIS.
The Gryphons come into this Week 8 matchup following their first loss of the 2015 season. Turnovers were an issue for the Gryphons in Kingston two Saturdays ago when they were on the wrong end of a 23-15 decision. However, the Gryphons should like their chances of improving in that category this week as the Lancers rank dead last in the OUA this season in creating turnovers with just 6 on the year (2 INT, 4 fumble recoveries). Quarterback James Roberts ranks in the Top 10 in the CIS with 12 TD passes (T-6th), 114 completions (T-5th) and 1,602 passing yards (8th in CIS). The Cambridge native has also eclipsed the 300-yard mark in three of his six games played this season. Gryphons running back Johnny Augustine continues to be a force on the ground. Last week, Augustine was Guelph’s best player, rushing for a career-high 174 yards against Queen’s. On the year, Augustine has 9 rushing touchdowns, the second highest total in the country (next only to Western’s Alex Taylor who has 10).
Defensively, the Gryphons have lived up to lofty preseason expectations thanks to some solid play from returning veterans. Linebackers John Rush and Curtis Newton have led the way for a Gryphon front seven that has been dominant against the run in 2015. The Gryphons are limiting opponents to just 88.3 rushing yards per game, giving them the No. 2 ranked rush defence in the CIS (behind Sherbrooke who are allowing 85.6). 2014 OUA All-Star free safety Tristan Doughlin has once again anchored a strong Gryphon secondary. His three interceptions on the season leave him tied for 2nd in the OUA in INTs. As a team, the Gryphons have also racked up 17 sacks on the season, the fourth highest total in the CIS.
Following Saturday’s game versus Windsor, the Gryphons will hit the road and head to the nation’s capital to wrap up their OUA regular season schedule with a game in Ottawa onOctober 24th against the Carleton Ravens.
Receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. has been a key part of Laurier’s offence this season (Photo Credit: Trevor Mahoney)
Game Date/Time: Saturday, October 17 – 1 p.m.
Game Location: University Stadium, Knight-Newbrough Field, Waterloo
Live Webcast/Stats: OUA.tv
Audiocast: RadioLaurier.com
Tickets: tickets.laurierathletics.com or at the box office on Game Day
THE SKINNY
The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (3-3) look to punch their ticket to the OUA playoffs on Saturday afternoon as they host the No. 6 McMaster Marauders (5-1) on Seniors Day at University Stadium.
FAN INFORMATION
– Laurier students can attend the game for just two dollars if they purchase their game ticket prior to game day either online at tickets.laurierathletics.co m, or at the Hawk Desk or U-Desk on campus
– Saturday is Autograph Day for the men’s football team and the Hawks will be on the field post-game to sign autographs for fans
– Prior to the game, the team will recognize the Hawks’ 17 graduating players who could potentially be playing their last game at University Stadium
NEED TO KNOW
– Laurier comes into the game riding a two-game winning streak following wins over the Waterloo Warriors and Ottawa Gee-Gees
– McMaster enters Week 8 on a winning streak of their own as they haven’t lost in three games, picking up wins over York, Windsor and Waterloo during that stretch
– The Marauders have won five straight games against the Hawks, including a 27-10 victory last season
– Laurier’s last home victory over McMaster came in the OUA Quarter-finals back in 2008 when they shut them out 29-0
– A win over the Marauders will send Laurier to the playoffs for the sec ond straight season as they own the tiebreaker over both Ottawa and Toronto, with only one team able to catch them at four wins this season
ALL-TIME SERIES
Laurier leads the all-time series against McMaster with a 39-17-1 record dating back to the 1963 season. However, the Marauders have won the last five meetings with the purple and gold with the Hawks last win coming back in September of 2009.
MEET THE TEAMS
Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (3-3)
The mood around the Golden Hawks has changed dramatically in the past two weeks thanks to a couple of big wins for the purple and gold. After reaching their lowest point of the season following the Homecoming loss to Windsor, Laurier has responded with their best two games of the season to put them into the playoff picture.
A big part of the Hawks’ success has been improved play in all facets of the game, combined with an increased focus on discipline. Over the last two games, Laurier has scored over 100 points while allowing just 30, and they are down to an average of 12 penalties per game in their last two contests, a big difference from the 20 they took against the Lancers three weeks ago.
Leading the offensive surge over the past two weeks has been quarterback Eric Morelli of Burlington, Ont. After managing a tough weather conditions game against Waterloo, he put up one of the best games by a quarterback in school history as he completed 20-of-42 passes for 298 yards and six touchdowns last week against Ottawa. Spreading the ball around to six different receivers, Morelli kept Ottawa’s defence off balance all night and is now fifth in the conference in completion percentage at 64.7 percent.
Laurier will need Morelli to be at his best against a stingy Marauders defence that currently ranks first in the OUA in passing yards allowed per game, at 220.8 a contest, and second in rush defence that is giving up just ov er 100 yards per game.
Defensively, the Hawks, who have given up less than 20 points per game in their last three contests, have been led by the play of Nakas Onyeka of Brampton, Ont. The third year linebacker currently ranks fourth in the OUA in tackles this season, with 39, and if he keeps up the current pace he’s on, he’ll finish the year with the seventh most tackles in a season in team history.
The Hawks will be challenged with trying to shut down another potent passing attack this week as the Marauders rank third in the province in passing yards per game.
McMaster Maraduers (5-1) – No. 6 in Canada
A year after reaching the Vanier Cup, the Marauders have not suffered any let down as they currently sit in a tie for second in the conference through six games this year.
The story of the season for the Marauders has been the play of quarterback Asher Hastings of Regina. Taking over from Marshall Ferguson, Hastings has been arguably the top quarterback in the country this year, averaging over 300 yards passing per game and as well as owning a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 25-to-2. His 25 touchdowns has already established a new OUA single-season record and he sits just five touchdown passes away from matching the all-time CIS single-season record.
Hastings benefits from having two of the top receivers to throw to as both Daniel Petermann of Stoney Creek, Ont., and Danny Vandervoort of Barrie, Ont., both rank in the Top 5 in the OUA for receiving yards this season. The pair also sits one-two in receiving touchdowns on the year with Vandervoort having caught nine while Petermann has six to his name.
Defensively for McMaster, the Hawks offensive line will have to contend with a pair of talented defensive linemen as Mike Kashak of Courtice, Ont., and Mark Mackie of London, Ont., are ranked fourth and fifth respectively in the conference in sacks this year. Kashak has 4.5 through six games while Mackie has four.
Source: Jamie Howieson, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks Sports Information
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