WATERLOO – After dropping their first two games of the season, the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (0-2) look to break into the win column on Saturday afternoon when they face the York Lions (0-1) in Toronto.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at York Stadium. The game can be heard live on RadioLaurier.com and can be viewed on LionsTV.
Saturday’s game marks head coach Michael Faulds return to York where he spent three seasons as the team’s offensive coordinator before being hired in December. It will also mark the unveiling of Lions’ brand new turf field at their stadium which was under construction this summer.
Laurier comes into this game coming off a narrow defeat at the hands of the Toronto Varsity Blues on Labour Day Monday. Despite falling behind by 24 points in the game, the Hawks rallied in the second half as their offence came to life. Quarterback Julien John of Oakville, Ont., helped Laurier score 17 unanswered points and had the team in a position to tie the contest late before eventually falling 27-20. John finished the game with 345 passing yards by completing 25 of 49 attempts and in the process became the first Laurier quarterback in almost two years to eclipse the 300 yard mark.
As for the Lions, they are coming off their bye week and will enter the game on 12 days rest, compared to the Hawks who will only have had four. In York’s first game of the season, the team faced the No. 2 Queen’s Gaels and were soundly beaten by a score of 52-1. Facing a vaunted Gaels squad, the Lions managed to put together just 219 yards of total offence with quarterback Myles Gibbon of Montreal, throwing for just 100 yards in the game.
For Laurier, the key to Saturday’s game will be carryin g over the momentum from their second half performance against the Blues. John and the offence demonstrated that they have the ability to move the football through the air and will need to establish the passing game early on against the Lions. If the team can get off to a quick start, they can ride their strong defence and look for their first win of 2013.
Looking to the Lions, they are a team that will be looking to establish their own identity after a tough opening game and nearly two weeks of rest. Like the Hawks, they are a young team with little in the way of senior players. However, Gibbon showed last season that he has the ability to be a game changer. Laurier will need their front seven to be strong in keeping him contained in the pocket and limiting his ability to get outside to open up his options.
Tickets for Saturday’s game can be purchased at the gate on game day. Adult tickets are available for $10, non- York students and seniors over 55 years of age $7 and youth under 13 are free.
NOTES: Hawks rookie defensive back Taylor Calverley of Kettleby, Ont., will be looking to continue his dominance on defence…the freshman is currently tied for the OUA lead in tackles with 16…receivers Anthony Pizzuti of Hamilton, and Greg Nyhof of Georgetown, Ont., look to continue their strong starts to the season that have both currently averaging nearly 60 yards per game…the Hawks have won their last nine meetings against the Lions, including a 24-20 win at home last season…Laurier also owns the all-time head-to-head matchup at 35 wins to five losses
Photo credit: Thomas Kolodziej
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