CIS: Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks look to snap losing streak

Laurier enters the game coming off their second straight loss to start the year, a 42-16 setback to the No. 6 Queen’s Gaels, the second time that has happened in three seasons. After a close game early on, the Gaels scored two quick touchdowns late in the second quarter to blow the game wide open. While the Hawks defence did an admirable job in shutting down the Gaels running game, thanks to the 7.5 tackles effort of linebacker Mitchell Bosch of Langley, B.C., they struggled to shut down quarterback Billy McPhee of Burlington, Ont. McPhee, who despite being sacked four times, finished with 333 yards passing and two touchdowns.

Offensively, Laurier moved the ball better than they did against Toronto in Week 1, as they were able to find the endzone on two occasions. As a team the Hawks had 148 yards rushing, compared to the Gaels 83 but were outgunned through the air 387 yards to 178 yards.

Although it is only two weeks into the season, the Hawks find themselves in a position where a loss on Saturday will put their playoff hopes in jeopardy. This is all due to the fact that their opponent, the York Lions, are coming off a 47-36 upset win over the Ottawa Gee-Gees last week. York, who defeated a team other than the Waterloo Warriors for the first time since 2007-08, was led by NCAA transfer quarterback Myles Gibbon of Montreal, Que. Gibbon finished the game 23-for-39 for 341 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Kyle Exume of Whitby, Ont., also starred for the Lions, as he had 180 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

With a confident Lions team coming to Knight-Newbrough Field on Saturday, the Hawks will need to tighten up their game and eliminate the mistakes that have plagued them over the first two weeks. It will start on the defensive side of the ball for Laurier as they will need their front seven to continue to cause havoc in the backfield for their opposition. Bosch, Asante Mizan of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Ese Mrabure-Ajufo of Mississauga, Ont., have all been excellent for Laurier so far this year and they will need to continue to be so this week.

“York’s doing a lot of things well offensively,” commented Head Coach Gary Jeffries going into the game. “He [Exume] plays a good game and puts up some good yardage. It’s going to be a challenge and if we’re going to have success, it’s going to start on defence.”

Offensively, all eyes will be on the receiving core that has yet to put forth their best effort this year. If the group is able to make some plays early on, it will take the pressure off the Hawks running game and open up the field. Look for starting quarterback Travis Eman of Brampton, Ont., to go to his veterans Alex Anthony of Victoria, B.C., and Anton Bennett of Toronto, early on to establish a rhythm.

Saturday’s game will be broadcast live on RogersTV in both Toronto and Waterloo, will be webcast live on Hawk TV Live and will be audio webcast on Radio Laurier.

NOTES: Laurier leads the all-time series against York 34-5-0 the Hawks have never lost to the Lions under Gary Jeffries time as head coach going 9-0-0 over that span last year, Laurier defeated York by a score of 46-7 after his 7.5 tackles last week, Bosch needs just 4.5 tackles on Saturday to become Laurier’s all-time leading tackler