Laurier’s playoff hopes fade in setback
Team in ‘dire’ straits after third loss in row, this time to Guelph
WATERLOO — A few weeks back, the talk was about reaching the Yates Cup final for the third straight year.
Three losses later, including a crushing 27-24 setback to the Guelph Gryphons on Saturday, and the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks are talking survival. And it’s not looking good. The Golden Hawks are 2-3 won-lost with three games remaining in the Ontario University Athletics regular-season schedule, which puts them eighth in the 11-team conference and a long-shot to qualify for post-season play.
Laurier takes on the No. 5 nationally ranked Carleton Ravens in its next outing Friday, followed by a home game against the Windsor Lancers, before they finish the regular season in London against the No. 1 Western Mustangs.
To make matters worse, three of the teams the Hawks are chasing — the Gryphons, McMaster Marauders and Waterloo Warriors — would win a tiebreaker against Laurier.
Golden Hawks head coach Michael Faulds doesn’t mince words when asked about his team’s situation.
“It’s extremely dire. I told the guys all week this was a playoff game and you kind of felt the playoff intensity,” he said. “And now the Carleton game is definitely a playoff game, too.”
Meanwhile, in Toronto, the Warriors squandered an opportunity to strengthen their grip on a playoff position by dropping a 34-32 decision to the York Lions. Waterloo fell to 3-3, with games against McMaster and Guelph remaining, while York improved to 2-4.
At University Stadium, before a Homecoming crowd of 4,670, Jewan Jeffrey scored the gamewinning touchdown in the fourth quarter to cap Guelph’s come-from-behind victory over No. 8 Laurier.
Golden Hawks quarterback Tristan Arndt had a dismal outing, completing 18 of 33 passes for 163 yards, with six interceptions. The Gryphons turned his final pick of the day into Jeffrey’s game-winning score. The TD came with 6:35 remaining on the clock and capped a four-play, 56-yard drive. Connor Carusello took over for Arndt after Guelph’s go-ahead score, but didn’t fare much better, connecting on just three of 10 passes for 34 yards.
Arndt struggled for the second straight week — he was also pulled in a 21-20 loss to McMaster — and looks to have lost his starting job in the process.
“We’re going to have to look at the film, but we’re going to have to make a change. That’s just the reality,” said Faulds.
“It just didn’t work out today, it didn’t work out the game before either, so that’s the nature of the beast and we need to play better.”
The loss overshadowed a milestone performance for Laurier’s Kurleigh Gittens Jr., who hauled in 10 passes to move into a tie with Stefan Ptaszek as the school’s all-time leading receiver at 186. Gittens also returned nine punts for 121 yards, including an 80-yard effort for a touchdown that gave Laurier a 14-7 secondquarter lead. Brentyn Hall caught six passes for 63 yards.
The reigning OUA MVP said he wasn’t aware of the record, in a postgame interview, adding he had no idea how many catches he’s had during his brilliant run at Laurier.
“It doesn’t really mean anything to me, to be honest,” he said. “I come out here to do whatever I’ve got to do to help my team win. That’s my mindset every single game. So, yeah, it’s good, but I’m just doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”
Laurier’s defence was outstanding and held Guelph to 269 yards of total offence. Gryphons quarterback Theo Landers completed 16 of 31 passes for 139 yards and was intercepted once. Jeffrey led the Guelph rushing attack with 84 yards on 13 attempts, while Kade Belyk caught five passes for 41 yards.
Golden Hawks running back Levondre Gordon rushed 21 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns, his second one coming on a 16-yard run that put his team ahead 21-7.
Laurier, which led 24-10 at halftime, fell behind early when Tavius Robinson knocked down an Arndt pass near the line of scrimmage. Job Reinhart caught the deflected ball and scampered 72 yards for a Guelph touchdown.
The Golden Hawks responded before the first quarter had expired when Gordon capped a seven-play, 49-yard drive with a two-yard rushing TD.
Guelph closed the gap to 24-19 at 9:32 of the third quarter, when Dotun Aketepe intercepted Arndt and ran 69 yards for a TD.
Linebacker Luke Korol led Guelph with 10.5 tackles; while Hawks linebacker Tommy Bringi had seven tackles and a sack.
York 34, Waterloo 32
At Alumni Field, the Warriors’ comeback attempt fell short when Caleb Girard’s 32-yard field goal attempt was blocked in the dying seconds.
Waterloo quarterback Tre Ford completed 28 of 44 pass attempts for 437 yards and three touchdowns. Gordon Lam was Ford’s favourite target, catching 12 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns. Tyler Ternowski caught 10 passes for 112 yards and a nation-leading 10th touchdown.
York quarterback Brett Hunchak went 23 of 37 for 292 yards, three touchdowns, and added a 34-yard rushing touchdown.
The Lions jumped out to a 26-7 second-quarter lead and led 26-14 at halftime.
Waterloo did manage to gain a 31-26 fourth-quarter lead, but Hunchak responded with a touchdown pass to his brother, Colton, to put York ahead for good.
Waterloo, which is on its bye week, returns to action Oct. 13 at home against McMaster.