Hot teams renew interest in the Battle of Waterloo
Laurier has long been the victor, but the Warriors could change that
WATERLOO — One team is getting the love and the other is quietly going about its business and winning football games.
The Battle of Waterloo resumes Saturday afternoon at Warrior Field and, for the first time in a long time, the annual clash between the Waterloo Warriors and Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks actually has the potential to be a competitive one.
The upstart Warriors, a team that went two entire seasons without a victory, go into the contest with a 4-0 record and a No. 9 national ranking. The ragsto-riches story has captured local and national interest and a crowd of 5,000-plus fans is expected to take it all in.
“It’s a nice situation for us but it’s not really unexpected. We’ve worked hard for this and expected to be in a position to win this year,” said Warriors linebacker Brandon Corelli, a fifth-year player from Sault Ste. Marie. “There’s no denying they’re the best team we’ve played to date but we’re not intimidated at all.
“This is a great opportunity for us, for the program, and we’re trying to get the ‘W’ this Saturday,” he added.
The Warriors mounted a dramatic second-half comeback against the Carleton Ravens last week to record a 45-43 win and pass their stiffest test to date. Still, their perfect season has come against teams — Windsor, York and Toronto are the other three — with a combined record of 3-12.
The Golden Hawks, the defending Yates Cup champion, sport a 3-0 record and a No. 5 national ranking. Their toughest games are also ahead of them as the teams they’ve defeated — Queen’s, Toronto and Carleton — have a combined 2-9 record.
Laurier has won the past 13 meetings against Waterloo and players are confident they’ll add to that total. “They’re a good team but we’re a great team,” said Brandon Calver, a fifth-year linebacker from London. “As long as we do our job, everything should be good.”
University of Waterloo students have embraced their football team and Calver said the boys on the other side of University Avenue have noticed. Local and national media have also jumped on Waterloo’s feelgood story, a fact that has been talked about in the Laurier locker-room.
“The whole city is around them right now so we just have to come out and show everyone that we’re still the best team in this city,” said Calver.
“We are preparing for them like we prepare for every other team … we won’t take them lights but we’re definitely not scared of them.”
Golden Hawks receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr., a fourth-year player from Ottawa, echoes his teammate’s comments.
He’s OK with the Warriors getting most of the attention and he’s glad their resurgence has made Saturday’s game such a hot ticket.
Still, he expects that attention will shift to the Golden Hawks after Saturday’s game is in the books.
“We know all the pressure is on us and we’re OK with that,” said Gittens Jr.
“We’re preparing for them like it’s just another game and we feel pretty confident.”
Waterloo’s rookie quarterback Tre Ford is expected to be ready for Saturday’s game after missing last week’s win with an injury. That means Waterloo will likely return to the platoon system that worked so well through the first weeks of the season, with Ford splitting reps with Lucas McConnell.
McConnell, a fourth-year player out of Waterford, was named OUA offensive player of the week Thursday for throwing for 477 yards and two touchdown passes in the win against Carleton. He added 34 rushing yards and one rushing TD.