November 1, 2007
A TRIP TO THE 100TH YATES CUP ON THE LINE ON UNIVERSITY RUSH
HAMILTON, Ont. -With a trip to the 100th Yates Cup Championship on the line, two teams come into this week's semifinal match up with two very distinctive pasts. The Guelph Gryphons are coming off their first playoff victory since 1996 ( a win over Waterloo 23-13), while the Laurier Golden Hawks have relished the success of their program in recent years, and look to make their fifth consecutive appearance in the Yates Cup Championship. This week the Guelph Gryphons will travel to Waterloo, Saturday to take on the Laurier Golden Hawks in semi final action of OUA football playoffs on University Rush presented by belairdirect. The road to the 100th Yates Cup will kick-off at 1:00 pm on The Score Television Network.
Arguments can be made for both teams on who will enter the game with the momentum. The Laurier Golden Hawks have had a week of rest earning themselves a first round bye in the playoffs finishing in second place at the end of the OUA regular season. \"It looks like we are going to have everyone back on board and take a healthy team back into this one,\" commented Laurier head coach Gary Jeffries on the 11 athletes who missed the last regular season game at York. \"The game off, and bye helped us health wise to prepare for this post season.\"
Guelph on the other hand is coming away from a dramatic last minute victory over their quarter-final opponent McMaster Marauders 25-21. Guelph quarterback, Justin Dunk (Guelph, Ont.) scored a 10 yard rushing touchdown with 33 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to seal the victory for his Gryphons and a trip to the semi finals. \"Guelph is a different challenge then McMaster,\" said Jeffries when asked about the possible opponent McMaster or Guelph. \"Both possibilities were going to be a handful, and the group that features a scrambling quarterback is the one that we've got to work with. They are a very talented offensive core and a strong defense.\"
It has been a short four weeks since these two teams last faced off which saw the Golden Hawks take the win 37-27 in a rain drenched, lightening filled battle. \"In our last meeting, they outplayed us,\" commented Jeffries on the regular season competition. \"We made some big plays in special teams, and it was big plays that got us through the competition and not any dominance by us.\" Veteran defensive back Brent Hickey (Burlington, Ont.) blocked two punts, returning one for his first touchdown of the season in their October 6th match up which saw both teams accumulate six fumbles and five interceptions on the day. "They really hurt us on special teams the last time we played which will need to be cleaned up this week," comment Gryphon's head coach Kyle Walters.
Laurier will be looking to their home town crowd to provide the momentum they need for the game. \"We relish the opportunity to play at home this time,\" said Jeffries on the playing at Knight-Newbrough Field, University Stadium. \"It was tough to play on the muddy grass during the rain in Guelph and this time will be an advantage for us to play in our stadium.\"
Guelph will need another strong performance by quarterback Justin Dunk this week. Dunk finished last week's quarter-final with 12 completions on 25 attempts and one touchdown, while also rushing 82 yards for two touchdowns. 2006 OUA Rookie of the Year Nick Fitzgibbon (Puslinch, Ont.) will need to regain some momentum after the Marauders held him to just 39 yards on the ground and 20 through the air.
The Golden Hawks enter the post season riding the stellar play of quarterback Ian Noble (West Vancouver, B.C.) and running back Ryan Lynch (Waterloo, Ont.) Noble finished the season with 107 completions on 166 attempts for 1388 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. Lynch finished with 180 carries for 1019 yards and nine touchdowns on the season. "Laurier is a very solid, well rounded team. There are no weaknesses on their team. Offensively they have the best running attack in the OUA which is a tribute to their system, offensive line and a terrific running back. Their quarterback is very accurate and delivers the ball very quickly to an athletic group of receivers that make plays after the ball is in their hands," states Walters.
"Laurier has been in many big games over the last few years, they played in the Yates Cup last year and there are still players around from the 2005 Desjardins Vanier Cup team," commented Walters. "Experience in big games will be an advantage for their players and staff. We need to control our emotions and keep the game close until we settle down."
Guelph Regular Season Leaders
Passing
Justin Dunk - 133 completions, 251 attempts, 1811 yards, 17 touchdowns, 10 interceptions
Rushing
Nick Fitzgibbon - 129 rushes, 794 yards, 5 touchdowns
Receiving
David Harrison - 25 catches, 421 yards, 3 touchdowns
Nick Fitzgibbon- 32 catches, 376 yards, 8 touchdowns
Defence
Chris Decker - 37 solo tackles, 22 assisted tackles, 1 sack
Taggart Russell - 35 solo tackles, 15 assisted tackles, 1 sacks, 1 interceptions
Laurier Regular Season Leaders
Passing
Ian Noble - 107 completions, 166 attempts, 1388 yards, 10 touchdowns 6 interceptions
Rushing
Ryan Lynch - 180 rushes, 1019 yards, 9 touchdowns
Receiving
Andy Baechler - 24 catches, 270 yards, 1 touchdown
Defence
Anthony Maggiacomo - 49 solo tackles, 23 assisted tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception
Luke Pinder - 30 solo tackles, 11 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
Arguments can be made for both teams on who will enter the game with the momentum. The Laurier Golden Hawks have had a week of rest earning themselves a first round bye in the playoffs finishing in second place at the end of the OUA regular season. \"It looks like we are going to have everyone back on board and take a healthy team back into this one,\" commented Laurier head coach Gary Jeffries on the 11 athletes who missed the last regular season game at York. \"The game off, and bye helped us health wise to prepare for this post season.\"
Guelph on the other hand is coming away from a dramatic last minute victory over their quarter-final opponent McMaster Marauders 25-21. Guelph quarterback, Justin Dunk (Guelph, Ont.) scored a 10 yard rushing touchdown with 33 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to seal the victory for his Gryphons and a trip to the semi finals. \"Guelph is a different challenge then McMaster,\" said Jeffries when asked about the possible opponent McMaster or Guelph. \"Both possibilities were going to be a handful, and the group that features a scrambling quarterback is the one that we've got to work with. They are a very talented offensive core and a strong defense.\"
It has been a short four weeks since these two teams last faced off which saw the Golden Hawks take the win 37-27 in a rain drenched, lightening filled battle. \"In our last meeting, they outplayed us,\" commented Jeffries on the regular season competition. \"We made some big plays in special teams, and it was big plays that got us through the competition and not any dominance by us.\" Veteran defensive back Brent Hickey (Burlington, Ont.) blocked two punts, returning one for his first touchdown of the season in their October 6th match up which saw both teams accumulate six fumbles and five interceptions on the day. "They really hurt us on special teams the last time we played which will need to be cleaned up this week," comment Gryphon's head coach Kyle Walters.
Laurier will be looking to their home town crowd to provide the momentum they need for the game. \"We relish the opportunity to play at home this time,\" said Jeffries on the playing at Knight-Newbrough Field, University Stadium. \"It was tough to play on the muddy grass during the rain in Guelph and this time will be an advantage for us to play in our stadium.\"
Guelph will need another strong performance by quarterback Justin Dunk this week. Dunk finished last week's quarter-final with 12 completions on 25 attempts and one touchdown, while also rushing 82 yards for two touchdowns. 2006 OUA Rookie of the Year Nick Fitzgibbon (Puslinch, Ont.) will need to regain some momentum after the Marauders held him to just 39 yards on the ground and 20 through the air.
The Golden Hawks enter the post season riding the stellar play of quarterback Ian Noble (West Vancouver, B.C.) and running back Ryan Lynch (Waterloo, Ont.) Noble finished the season with 107 completions on 166 attempts for 1388 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. Lynch finished with 180 carries for 1019 yards and nine touchdowns on the season. "Laurier is a very solid, well rounded team. There are no weaknesses on their team. Offensively they have the best running attack in the OUA which is a tribute to their system, offensive line and a terrific running back. Their quarterback is very accurate and delivers the ball very quickly to an athletic group of receivers that make plays after the ball is in their hands," states Walters.
"Laurier has been in many big games over the last few years, they played in the Yates Cup last year and there are still players around from the 2005 Desjardins Vanier Cup team," commented Walters. "Experience in big games will be an advantage for their players and staff. We need to control our emotions and keep the game close until we settle down."
Guelph Regular Season Leaders
Passing
Justin Dunk - 133 completions, 251 attempts, 1811 yards, 17 touchdowns, 10 interceptions
Rushing
Nick Fitzgibbon - 129 rushes, 794 yards, 5 touchdowns
Receiving
David Harrison - 25 catches, 421 yards, 3 touchdowns
Nick Fitzgibbon- 32 catches, 376 yards, 8 touchdowns
Defence
Chris Decker - 37 solo tackles, 22 assisted tackles, 1 sack
Taggart Russell - 35 solo tackles, 15 assisted tackles, 1 sacks, 1 interceptions
Laurier Regular Season Leaders
Passing
Ian Noble - 107 completions, 166 attempts, 1388 yards, 10 touchdowns 6 interceptions
Rushing
Ryan Lynch - 180 rushes, 1019 yards, 9 touchdowns
Receiving
Andy Baechler - 24 catches, 270 yards, 1 touchdown
Defence
Anthony Maggiacomo - 49 solo tackles, 23 assisted tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception
Luke Pinder - 30 solo tackles, 11 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
