Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Richardson Stadium and the game can be listened to live on RadioLaurier.com.
It’s been a turbulent year for the Hawks as the team has experienced the highs of winning on the road in Ottawa to the lows of being shutout twice for the first time in team history. However, according to head coach Gary Jeffries, the slate has been wiped clean with Laurier qualifying for the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season.
“That’s always the first goal when you come to camp in August is to m ake the playoffs,” commented Jeffries earlier on Thursday. “We’ve earned that right [to play for the Yates Cup], whether it was pretty or not. We welcome the chance to go to Kingston and see what happens.”
Saturday’s game will be the second time that the Hawks and Gaels have tangled on the gridiron in 2012. The two teams last met back on Week 2 for Lauriers home opener, with Queen’s walking away with a 42-16 victory. Although the scoreline was lopsided, the Hawks put on their best performance against a Top 10 opponent in that game, playing snap-for-snap with the Gaels for much of the first half. However, Jeffries knows that the Hawks will need to play a full 60 minutes if they’re to come away with the upset in Kingston.
“They’re a good football team on both sides of the ball,” said Jeffries. “They’re extremely fast and can make plays. Our goal is to execute on both sides of the ball but it s all about limiting turnovers. They’re well coached and its imperative that we don’t make any mistakes.”
Any success that the Hawks will have in the game will start from their defence, especially against a Queen’s team known for having a good ground game. Laurier finished the season ranked fourth in the conference in run defence and the Hawks front seven, anchored by interior lineman Alex Brouwers of Campbellford, Ont., and Asante Mizan of Brooklyn, N.Y., as well as linebacker Drew Galpin of Kitchener, Ont., will have to be at the top of their game.
However, the biggest obstacle that the Hawks will most likely have to overcome this weekend is finding a way to get the ball in the endzone. Laurier hasn’t scored a touchdown since the second quarter of their Homecoming game against Guelph but Jeffries believe that the return of quarterback Steve Fantham of London, Ont., could turn the Hawks’ fortunes around. However, all three quarterbacks will have their chance to win the game if it comes down to it.
“Steve is back,” said Jeffries of his veteran pivot. “He’s not quite as mobile [as Eman and Fracas] but he’s accurate in throwing the football and reads defences well. It’ll come down to performance and how they’re doing as to who will see the most playing time.”
NOTES: The Hawks have won two of the five playoff games in their history against the Gaels. Queen’s has won three straight meetings with Laurier, including last seasons 14-10 victory in the quarter-finals. Gaels starting running back Ryan Granberg of Sherwood Park, Alta., is listed as doubtful for Saturday
Photo Credit: Thomas Kolodziej
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