September 28, 2007
THE BATTLE OF THE UNBEATENS ON UNIVERSITY RUSH FOOTBALL
HAMILTON, Ont. – Three teams remain undefeated in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) football, however two will come head-to-head this weekend looking to gain an advantage over the rest of the pack and inching closer to a first round bye in the playoffs.
The No. 7 Queen's Golden Gaels (4-0) get set to test their best start in 18 years against the 2005 Desjardins Vanier Cup champion No.4 Golden Hawks (4-0) this Saturday in week four of University Rush football presented by Wilson, on The Score Television Network.
The Gaels and Hawks come into the game as two of only six undefeated teams left in the CIS. Both teams enter this weekend sharing first place in the OUA with the Ottawa Gee Gees, and are looking to move to 5-0 on the 2007campaign. “The season doesn't end for the loser of this game and I think that is the important thing we are drilling into the guys,” said Queen’s head coach Pat Sheahan. “Sure this is a game we want to win but it is all about November and playing on November 10th for the Yates Cup". Last weekend Queen's easily handed the Windsor Lancers a 38-3 loss in Windsor while Laurier defeated their cross town rival Waterloo Warriors 35-3 at home. “Preparation is not one bit different this week form last week or the week before,” insisted Laurier head coach Gary Jefferies. “It doesn't matter who we are playing we prepare the exact same way every week.”
Laurier rolls into town with the top ranked offence and defence in the OUA and have scored more points than any other school in the CIS. Leading their attack is the nation's leading rusher Ryan Lynch (Waterloo, Ont.) who has gained 698 yards on 97 carries scoring eight touchdowns. "Laurier has been the standard of OUA and CIS football the last few years and this is a great test for our team to see if we are ready to take that next step to be recognized as an elite football team", commented Golden Gaels head coach Sheahan.
Golden Hawks quarterback, Ian Noble (West Vancouver, B.C.) has thrown for 845 yards including five touchdowns while being intercepted twice. “Ian has been our significant impact player. In his first year at the helm of our offense he has made things happen which has been great for the program,” said Laurier head coach Gary Jefferies when asked about his go-to players.
Meanwhile the Gaels also enter the game with similar offensive numbers lead by fourth year running back Mike Giffin (Kingston, Ont.). Giffin leads the CIS in touchdowns scored with nine and is the nations third best rusher with 506-yards.
Queen’s quarterback Dan Brannagan (Burlington, Ont.) is also coming off an impressive performance against Windsor where he threw for 358 yards on 23 attempts with two touchdowns. "Mike and Danny both worked tremendously hard this off-season. They really believed that they had something to prove to the rest of the league like our whole program did in the sense that people were starting to overlook Queen's football,” says head coach Sheahan. “As a coaching staff we knew that the sky was the limit for their talents so what they are doing right now is not a surprise it is just confirmation of how we assessed their respective abilities.”
With the impressive offensive numbers put up by both teams it is their defences that set the tone for this key OUA match-up. Laurier leads the OUA in fewest yards allowed (1036) and fewest points allowed (56) while the Gaels are third in the league in those stats giving up 1241 yards and 57 points through four games. "Our defence is being terribly overlooked. They have kept us in games when the offence has started slowly and last week against Windsor they turned the ball over for us and gave the offence a short field to work with,” said Sheahan. “As the game wears on we seem to get stronger and especially Mike Giffin and our offensive line enjoy pounding the ball in the fourth quarter. I think against Laurier we get to face a team that runs and passes the ball very well and they play a physical style of defence which should make for an entertaining game for the fans." Laurier is led on defence by middle linebacker Anthony Maggiacomo (Waterloo, Ont.), who is the top tackler in the country with 28.
Saturday's game will also mark the 125th anniversary of Queen's Golden Gaels football. Special celebrations are being planned and kickoff will take place at 1:25pm. The University Rush on The Score begins at 1:00 pm with a special 25 minute pre-game show.
Tickets are available for the game by calling (613) 533-6000 ext 74715.
Queen’s Leaders
Passing
Danny Brannagan – 53 completions, 110 attempts, 1014 yards, 7 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
Rushing
Mike Giffin – 91 rushes, 506 yards, 7 touchdowns
Receiving
Rob Bagg- 23 catches, 392 yards, 2 touchdown
Defence
Thaine Carter - 24 solo tackles, 3 assisted tackles, 1 sack
Chris Smith – 22 solo tackles, 5 assisted tackles, 2 sack, 1 interception
Laurier Leaders
Passing
Ian Noble – 61 completions, 79 attempts, 845 yards, 5 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
Rushing
Ryan Lynch – 97 rushes, 698 yards, 8 touchdowns
Receiving
Andy Baechler – 12 catches, 157 yards
Defence
Anthony Maggiacomo – 25 solo tackles, 6 assisted tackles
Luke Pinder – 17 solo tackles, 5 assisted tackles
- OUA -
Michelle Church
Communications & Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Tel: (905) 540-5156
Fax: (905) 574-2840
E-mail: michelle.church@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
The No. 7 Queen's Golden Gaels (4-0) get set to test their best start in 18 years against the 2005 Desjardins Vanier Cup champion No.4 Golden Hawks (4-0) this Saturday in week four of University Rush football presented by Wilson, on The Score Television Network.
The Gaels and Hawks come into the game as two of only six undefeated teams left in the CIS. Both teams enter this weekend sharing first place in the OUA with the Ottawa Gee Gees, and are looking to move to 5-0 on the 2007campaign. “The season doesn't end for the loser of this game and I think that is the important thing we are drilling into the guys,” said Queen’s head coach Pat Sheahan. “Sure this is a game we want to win but it is all about November and playing on November 10th for the Yates Cup". Last weekend Queen's easily handed the Windsor Lancers a 38-3 loss in Windsor while Laurier defeated their cross town rival Waterloo Warriors 35-3 at home. “Preparation is not one bit different this week form last week or the week before,” insisted Laurier head coach Gary Jefferies. “It doesn't matter who we are playing we prepare the exact same way every week.”
Laurier rolls into town with the top ranked offence and defence in the OUA and have scored more points than any other school in the CIS. Leading their attack is the nation's leading rusher Ryan Lynch (Waterloo, Ont.) who has gained 698 yards on 97 carries scoring eight touchdowns. "Laurier has been the standard of OUA and CIS football the last few years and this is a great test for our team to see if we are ready to take that next step to be recognized as an elite football team", commented Golden Gaels head coach Sheahan.
Golden Hawks quarterback, Ian Noble (West Vancouver, B.C.) has thrown for 845 yards including five touchdowns while being intercepted twice. “Ian has been our significant impact player. In his first year at the helm of our offense he has made things happen which has been great for the program,” said Laurier head coach Gary Jefferies when asked about his go-to players.
Meanwhile the Gaels also enter the game with similar offensive numbers lead by fourth year running back Mike Giffin (Kingston, Ont.). Giffin leads the CIS in touchdowns scored with nine and is the nations third best rusher with 506-yards.
Queen’s quarterback Dan Brannagan (Burlington, Ont.) is also coming off an impressive performance against Windsor where he threw for 358 yards on 23 attempts with two touchdowns. "Mike and Danny both worked tremendously hard this off-season. They really believed that they had something to prove to the rest of the league like our whole program did in the sense that people were starting to overlook Queen's football,” says head coach Sheahan. “As a coaching staff we knew that the sky was the limit for their talents so what they are doing right now is not a surprise it is just confirmation of how we assessed their respective abilities.”
With the impressive offensive numbers put up by both teams it is their defences that set the tone for this key OUA match-up. Laurier leads the OUA in fewest yards allowed (1036) and fewest points allowed (56) while the Gaels are third in the league in those stats giving up 1241 yards and 57 points through four games. "Our defence is being terribly overlooked. They have kept us in games when the offence has started slowly and last week against Windsor they turned the ball over for us and gave the offence a short field to work with,” said Sheahan. “As the game wears on we seem to get stronger and especially Mike Giffin and our offensive line enjoy pounding the ball in the fourth quarter. I think against Laurier we get to face a team that runs and passes the ball very well and they play a physical style of defence which should make for an entertaining game for the fans." Laurier is led on defence by middle linebacker Anthony Maggiacomo (Waterloo, Ont.), who is the top tackler in the country with 28.
Saturday's game will also mark the 125th anniversary of Queen's Golden Gaels football. Special celebrations are being planned and kickoff will take place at 1:25pm. The University Rush on The Score begins at 1:00 pm with a special 25 minute pre-game show.
Tickets are available for the game by calling (613) 533-6000 ext 74715.
Queen’s Leaders
Passing
Danny Brannagan – 53 completions, 110 attempts, 1014 yards, 7 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
Rushing
Mike Giffin – 91 rushes, 506 yards, 7 touchdowns
Receiving
Rob Bagg- 23 catches, 392 yards, 2 touchdown
Defence
Thaine Carter - 24 solo tackles, 3 assisted tackles, 1 sack
Chris Smith – 22 solo tackles, 5 assisted tackles, 2 sack, 1 interception
Laurier Leaders
Passing
Ian Noble – 61 completions, 79 attempts, 845 yards, 5 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
Rushing
Ryan Lynch – 97 rushes, 698 yards, 8 touchdowns
Receiving
Andy Baechler – 12 catches, 157 yards
Defence
Anthony Maggiacomo – 25 solo tackles, 6 assisted tackles
Luke Pinder – 17 solo tackles, 5 assisted tackles
- OUA -
Michelle Church
Communications & Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Tel: (905) 540-5156
Fax: (905) 574-2840
E-mail: michelle.church@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
