September 18, 2009
BATTLE OF WATERLOO FEATURED ON UNIVERSITY RUSH
HAMILTON, Ont. – Ontario University Athletics (OUA) is back on The Score Television Network this Saturday at 1 p.m. ET as the No. 9 nationally-ranked Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (1-1) host their cross-town rival Waterloo Warriors (0-2) for Kitchener-Waterloo bragging rights.
The Battle of Waterloo proved to be Napoleon Bonaparte's downfall. For these teams, a loss in this game may prove costly as the 2009 OUA football season is played out.
The Golden Hawks are coming off a tough 30-7 loss against the No. 2-ranked Western Mustangs, and look to get back into the win column and preserve their Top 10 ranking. Waterloo has dropped two games to McMaster and Ottawa to open the season and is on the hunt for its first victory of the 2009 campaign.
The Golden Hawks have played their first two games on the road, and look forward to playing four of their next six games in the friendly confines of Knight-Newbrough Field at University Stadium.
"It's always an advantage to come back home in familiar surroundings and certainly having the great fan support," said Laurier head coach Gary Jeffries. "We look forward to staying put this week."
It should be a terrific atmosphere both at the stadium and on television as a bi-partisan crowd invades University Stadium.
"We certainly expect a full house, and it's always exciting regardless of where the teams are in the standings," said Jefferies, who has seen his share of the Battle of Waterloo. "Both teams want to be the best on University Avenue."
Laurier had difficulties on offence last week, as quarterback Luke Thompson (London, Ont.) was held to under 100 passing yards while running back Michael Montoya (Burlington, Ont.) was limited to under 50 rushing yards.
"Execution on offence is something that we definitely have to take care of and we need to be better," said Jefferies. "I think we addressed this this week. We need to be precise; we have to run better routes. I think we did a reasonable job protecting the quarterback, but it's just a matter of execution and our good players have to be our good players."
The Warriors return to the stadium they once called home for the first time since moving to Warrior Field at the start of the 2008 season. The game marks the first time reigning Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) and OUA rookie-of-the-year Jordan Verdone (pictured) of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. will perform in front of the nation. His 52.5 total tackles and 44 solo tackles were good for second place in OUA and top six in CIS in 2008.
A bright spot for the Warriors this season is the play of receiver Sean Cowie (Dundas, Ont.) who leads OUA in receptions with 16, good for 202 yards. He is still looking to get into the end zone in 2009.
Wilfrid Laurier has won the last six meetings between these two rivals. The Golden Hawks will make a third appearance on University Rush on Oct. 3 when they host the Ottawa Gee-Gees in a 1 p.m. start.
Now in its eighth season, last Saturday's University Rush telecast between Wilfrid Laurier and Western drew a record audience for an OUA football game, averaging 108,000 viewers with a peak of 181,000 at 3 p.m., according to BBM Canada metrics.
Play-by-play announcer and 2009 OUA Media Award winner Tim Micallef returns for an eighth season calling games on Saturdays and is be joined by former OUA and CFL star Mike Morreale who is back in the booth for his sophomore season.
WATERLOO LEADERS
Passing
Luke Balch (London, Ont.)
22 completions, 31 attempts, 215 yards, 0 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
Rushing
Luke Balch (London, Ont.)
11 attempts, 71 yards, 2 touchdowns
Receiving
Sean Cowie (Dundas, Ont.)
16 receptions, 202 yards, 0 touchdowns
Defence
Mitch Nicholson (Grand Haven, Mich.)
16 solo tackles, 1 interception
Jordan Verdone (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.)
10 solo tackles
Bashir Moallim (Waterloo, Ont.)
7 solo tackles
WILFRID LAURIER LEADERS
Passing
Luke Thompson (London, Ont.)
19 completions, 36 attempts, 255 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception
Rushing
Michael Montoya (Burlington, Ont.)
29 attempts, 205 yards, 3 touchdowns
Receiving
Josh Bishop (Mississauga, Ont.)
7 receptions, 141 yards, 0 touchdowns
Defence
Courtney Stephen (Brampton, Ont.)
12 solo tackles
Giancarlo Rapanaro (Niagara Falls, Ont.)
10 solo tackles, 2.5 sacks
Mitchell Bosch (Langley, B.C.)
8 solo tackles, 1 interception, 1 sack
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
The Battle of Waterloo proved to be Napoleon Bonaparte's downfall. For these teams, a loss in this game may prove costly as the 2009 OUA football season is played out.
The Golden Hawks are coming off a tough 30-7 loss against the No. 2-ranked Western Mustangs, and look to get back into the win column and preserve their Top 10 ranking. Waterloo has dropped two games to McMaster and Ottawa to open the season and is on the hunt for its first victory of the 2009 campaign.
The Golden Hawks have played their first two games on the road, and look forward to playing four of their next six games in the friendly confines of Knight-Newbrough Field at University Stadium.
"It's always an advantage to come back home in familiar surroundings and certainly having the great fan support," said Laurier head coach Gary Jeffries. "We look forward to staying put this week."
It should be a terrific atmosphere both at the stadium and on television as a bi-partisan crowd invades University Stadium.
"We certainly expect a full house, and it's always exciting regardless of where the teams are in the standings," said Jefferies, who has seen his share of the Battle of Waterloo. "Both teams want to be the best on University Avenue."
Laurier had difficulties on offence last week, as quarterback Luke Thompson (London, Ont.) was held to under 100 passing yards while running back Michael Montoya (Burlington, Ont.) was limited to under 50 rushing yards.
"Execution on offence is something that we definitely have to take care of and we need to be better," said Jefferies. "I think we addressed this this week. We need to be precise; we have to run better routes. I think we did a reasonable job protecting the quarterback, but it's just a matter of execution and our good players have to be our good players."
The Warriors return to the stadium they once called home for the first time since moving to Warrior Field at the start of the 2008 season. The game marks the first time reigning Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) and OUA rookie-of-the-year Jordan Verdone (pictured) of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. will perform in front of the nation. His 52.5 total tackles and 44 solo tackles were good for second place in OUA and top six in CIS in 2008.
A bright spot for the Warriors this season is the play of receiver Sean Cowie (Dundas, Ont.) who leads OUA in receptions with 16, good for 202 yards. He is still looking to get into the end zone in 2009.
Wilfrid Laurier has won the last six meetings between these two rivals. The Golden Hawks will make a third appearance on University Rush on Oct. 3 when they host the Ottawa Gee-Gees in a 1 p.m. start.
Now in its eighth season, last Saturday's University Rush telecast between Wilfrid Laurier and Western drew a record audience for an OUA football game, averaging 108,000 viewers with a peak of 181,000 at 3 p.m., according to BBM Canada metrics.
Play-by-play announcer and 2009 OUA Media Award winner Tim Micallef returns for an eighth season calling games on Saturdays and is be joined by former OUA and CFL star Mike Morreale who is back in the booth for his sophomore season.
WATERLOO LEADERS
Passing
Luke Balch (London, Ont.)
22 completions, 31 attempts, 215 yards, 0 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
Rushing
Luke Balch (London, Ont.)
11 attempts, 71 yards, 2 touchdowns
Receiving
Sean Cowie (Dundas, Ont.)
16 receptions, 202 yards, 0 touchdowns
Defence
Mitch Nicholson (Grand Haven, Mich.)
16 solo tackles, 1 interception
Jordan Verdone (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.)
10 solo tackles
Bashir Moallim (Waterloo, Ont.)
7 solo tackles
WILFRID LAURIER LEADERS
Passing
Luke Thompson (London, Ont.)
19 completions, 36 attempts, 255 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception
Rushing
Michael Montoya (Burlington, Ont.)
29 attempts, 205 yards, 3 touchdowns
Receiving
Josh Bishop (Mississauga, Ont.)
7 receptions, 141 yards, 0 touchdowns
Defence
Courtney Stephen (Brampton, Ont.)
12 solo tackles
Giancarlo Rapanaro (Niagara Falls, Ont.)
10 solo tackles, 2.5 sacks
Mitchell Bosch (Langley, B.C.)
8 solo tackles, 1 interception, 1 sack
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
