Crunch time for Warriors, Golden Hawks
WATERLOO — Win and they’re in.
Not as easy at it sounds, to be sure, but that is the reality for the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks and Waterloo Warriors as they wrap up their OUA regularseason schedules Saturday. Both football teams will advance to the playoffs with a victory and both will need help from others to advance with a loss.
The Golden Hawks (4-3) travel to London to face the Western Mustangs (7-0) in their first meeting since last year’s Yates Cup final, a 75-32 Western win. The Warriors (4-3) hit the road to take on the Guelph Gryphons (4-3), a team that defeated the Warriors 53-49 last season and prevented them from making their first post-season appearance since 2003.
Golden Hawks head coach Michael Faulds didn’t expect to be in this position at the start of the current campaign, but an unexpected three-game losing streak put his team in the position it’s in, needing a win against Canada’s No. 1 team — on homecoming weekend, no less — or help from others.
“We’re in a position where we don’t have to rely on other teams, we actually control our fate by winning this football game,” said Faulds.
“Obviously, we have a great challenge. Everyone knows how great Western is, everyone knows they have a 19-game winning streak. But our intent is to go in there and play sound football in all three phases and come away with a victory.”
A Laurier victory could even propel the Golden Hawks to a second-place finish and a firstround playoff bye. A loss and they’ll need help from at least two teams.
Heading into the final weekend, Western is a lock for first but the rest of the playoff picture remains somewhat muddled. The Ottawa Gee-Gees (5-2) and Carleton Ravens (5-3) will also move on, meaning five teams will slug it out Saturday for three available spots. The York Lions, Toronto Varsity Blues and Windsor Lancers have been eliminated.
Warriors head coach Chris Bertoia didn’t expect to be in this position either, but a mistakefilled 34-32 loss to York pushed his team into “must-win” territory. After a week off to their lick their wounds, the Warriors rebounded with a 34-16 win over the McMaster Marauders last Saturday to put them in control of their post-season destiny.
“We’d obviously like to take that York game back, but we can’t keep dwelling on that. We have to keep motoring and we’re excited for a great game against Guelph, a very talented football team,” Bertoia said. “Really, the playoffs started for us last week against Mac and continue this week against Guelph.”
The Warriors could also finish as high as second place with a victory. Of note for Waterloo, talented rookie linebacker Jack Hinsperger will miss his second straight game with a knee injury sustained against York.
Faulds and Bertoia both downplayed the scenarios that saw them losing their games and moving on but, as per the OUA website, this is what it’s going to take.
Waterloo — “A win from the Warriors against Guelph will see the Black and Gold get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2003. A win combined with corresponding wins from Western, McMaster, and Queen’s would even see Waterloo jump to the No. 2 seed and earn the bye.
A Waterloo loss, however, coupled with wins by Western, Queen’s and Windsor would see the Warriors miss the playoffs, as would a Warriors loss combined with victories by McMaster, Laurier and Ottawa, or McMaster, Laurier and Queen’s.”
Laurier — “Laurier is currently on the outside looking in, but that can all change Saturday. The Purple and Gold will be in tough ... but a victory against Western not only guarantees them a spot in the playoffs, but also sparks three scenarios that can get them ranked as high as second. A loss to the Mustangs means they’ll need ... help. In that case, wins from Waterloo and Queen’s, among others, would be their last hope, putting them as the sixth seed, but a loss from either of those squads will leave Laurier on the outskirts this season.”