VARSITY BLUES COME CLOSE BUT WATERLOO PULLS OUT WIN

Waterloo 29 Toronto 27

The Waterloo Warriors defeated the Toronto Varsity Blues 29-27 in front of 2,544 boisterous Waterloo fans to even their season record at 1-1.

The Warriros led 16-5 at haltime and 29-13 in the fourth quarter. However, the Blues made it close scoring twice in the final period. On the last play of the game the Blues scored to make the the score 29-27. The two-point convert attempt failed cementing victory for the hometown Warriors.

Waterloo quaterback Jon Morbey finished the game 24-37 for 294 yards. Travis Gellatly ran for 83 yards on 18 carries. Morbey also ran for 35 yards on 7 carries.

(Source: Chris Gilbert, Waterloo Sports Information)


Queen’s 40 York 7

The Queen’s Golden Gaels scored their first victory of 2005 with a commanding 40-7 performance against the York Lions. A leg injury early in the first quarter to the Lions’ star running back Andre Durie neutralised the core of York’s offensive assault. Queen’s piled up 26 second-quarter points to secure a comfortable lead.

Mike Giffin opened the scoring on a three-yard rushing touchdown in the opening minute of the second quarter, followed just over five minutes later by a similar three-yard major from David Weese. Unable to move the ball after Weese’s touchdown, York conceded a safety. Queen’s place kicker thereafter added three more points on a 15-yard field goal. After the three-minute warning, Danny Brannagan connected with Scott Valberg for a stunning 53-yard scoring play that gave the Gaels a 26-0 halftime advantage.

York’s sole points of the afternoon came on a three-yard rushing major by Bryan Wheatle at the 11:20 mark of the third frame. Chris Rogan and Mike Giffin added additional touchdowns for the Gaels to round out the scoring.

For the Tricolour, rookie pivot Danny Brannagan, earning the starting nod in just his second CIS game, completed 21 of 31 passes for 341 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Tight end Alex Vanags reeled in an 87-yard pass from Brannagan, en route to a team-leading 124 yards. Mike Giffin led the Gaels ground game with 51 yards on 10 carries, including two touchdowns. The Gaels had 450 yards of offence, compared to 185 for the Lions.

Before his exit, Durie carried the ball three times for 10 yards. Quarterback Bart Zemanek was the visitor’s leading rusher with just 13 yards, toward a net of 25 yards of ground gains. Zemanek was somewhat more successful in the air, completing 22 of 42 for 207 yards, with one interception by Queen’s Ryan Bechmanis.

(Source: Ian Speers, Queen’s Sports Information)


Laurier 47 Windsor 27

Joel Wright and Nick Cameron each scored 3 touchdowns helping the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks beat up on the Windsor Lancers 47-24 – extending their OUA regular season winning streak to 11 games.

It was the second straight year the Golden Hawks defeated the Windsor Lancers at home in Week 2 of the season – this time it was in front of a mostly frosh crowd of 4,454.

Windsor's Justin Nolan stunned the home crowd 3 minutes into the game as he picked off a Ryan Pyear pass intended for Andrew Agro and ran it back the remaining 40 yards to put the Lancers up by 7. However, the lead didn't last long. Joel Wright answered back 2 minutes later with a spectacular catch in the endzone. He followed that up with another 15 yard touchdown in the second quarter putting the Hawks up 15-10 and giving them the lead for good. Wright finished the game with 5 catches (3 of them for touchdowns) and 125 yards.

“We played strong on all aspects tonight – offense, defence and special teams,” said Head Coach and Manager of Football Operations Gary Jeffries. “I'm really proud of our guys for keeping their cool on the field. Last week (against Queen's) we found ourselves running into penalty trouble; this week we were much better.”

In the second and third quarters Nick Cameron took control as he scored the Hawks next three touchdowns. The first one coming on a 40 yard dash down the sideline; the second on a 23 yard pass from quarterback Ryan Pyear; and the third on another 25 yard rush right up the middle. He finished the game with 141 rushing yards on 15 carries and 2 receptions for 39 yards.

“It's not about personal accomplishments,” said Cameron following the game. “Every game we play, someone different steps up and has a big day,” he continued. “What matters is that we won, and we can start preparing for the game next week against Ottawa.”

Lancer cornerback Justin Nolan brought his team back to within two scores 3 minutes into the second half on a fumble recovery touchdown to cut the Hawk lead to 29-17. However, Cameron quickly restored Laurier's 3 score lead on his third touchdown, putting the game out of reach at 36-17.

Ryan Pyear quietly put together a strong game completing 64% if his passes, connecting on 4 touchdowns for over 216 yards in just 3 quarters of work before giving way to sophomore QB Dante Luciani.

(Source: Ari Grossman, Laurier Sports Information)


Western 29 Guelph 10

With Canadian Idol finalist Aaron Walpole in the house to perform live in front of 6,252 screaming fans, the Western Mustangs (2-0) cruised past the Guelph Gryphons (0-2) 29-10 Saturday night under the lights at TD Waterhouse Stadium in London, Ont.

Fifth-year running back Jay Akindolire led the Mustang stampede scoring the first touchdown of the game at the 3:15 mark of the first quarter. The Waterloo Warriors’ transfer finished with 117 yards on 11 carries.

Third-year running back Randy McAuley and first-year quarterback Michael Faulds added a pair of rushing touchdowns for Western in the second quarter to push the halftime lead to 21-3.

Faulds, who is a transfer from the University of Toledo (NCAA), completed 17 of 22 passes for 253 yards. His primary target was Andy Fantuz, the all-time receiving yards leader in Canadian university history, as the fourth-year receiver finished with 136 yards on eight receptions.

First-year Derek Schiavone recorded a pair of field goals for the Mustangs in the fourth quarter.

Defensively, the Mustangs were led by third-year defensive back Nick Kordic and fifth-year linebacker Marty Robertson who compiled five tackles apiece. Second-year defensive backs Andrew Bain and Corey McNair each added an interception.

Londoner Jeff Keegan tallied the lone Guelph touchdown in the third quarter while Parkhill’s Peter De Gouw added a first quarter field goal.

***

Lenny Shaw, a fourth-year Philosophy major, won the free tuition giveaway of $4,500 Saturday night at TD Waterhouse Stadium as the Western Mustangs defeated the Guelph Gryphons 29-10.

Western student staffers delivered 3,000 numbered wrist bands to their fellow students during a 10-day period leading up to September 10 game.

All full-time and part-time students at Western or an affiliated college, registered for the 2005-06 academic year, were eligible.

(Source: Jeff Renaud, Western Sports Information)


McMaster 28 Ottawa 18

It took one week for the McMaster Marauders (2-0) to determine who may succeed the likes of Kojo Aidoo, Kyle Pyear, and Jesse Lumsden for the lead of the McMaster Marauders' vaunted running attack.

Rookie running back Jordan Kozina, a true freshman from Brantford, ON who has spent time in the under-21 national rugby program, rushed 29 times for 193 yards on Saturday. Kozina's powerful, compact running style wore down the Gee Gee defence, as he carried the ball 18 times for 140 yards in the second half, leading the Marauders to a 28-18 victory.

For two quarters, the Marauder offence gave the Ottawa Gee Gees (1-1) every opportunity to take an early lead. However, All-Canadians on the defensive side of the ball kept the Gee Gees offence at bay, and quarterback Adam Archibald threw two touchdown passes early in the third quarter to pace the Marauders to a 28-18 victory.

Ottawa's David Crane scored the only touchdown of the first half, a 33-yd reception on a beautifully thrown ball by quarterback Josh Sacobie. Ottawa would go into the break with an 11-7 advantage, however with four drives starting in Mac territory, the Gee Gees squandered many opportunities to take a more sizable lead.

McMaster defensive all-Canadians Andrew Jones and Jason Pottinger both contributed to keeping the score close in the first half, as Jones blocked a short field goal and Pottinger had a sack and forced fumble inside the Marauder five-yard line.

The third quarter proved to be the pivotal frame as McMaster scored two touchdowns in the first seven minutes of the second half. Adam Archibald made some key adjustments during the break, as he completed 4 of 5 passes for 60 yards and two touchdowns during those drives, and McMaster opened up a 21-11 lead.

Mac's defence and special teams continued their outstanding play into the fourth quarter, as special teams ace Nick Burns blocked a punt, and Frank Longo returned the blocked kick 38 yards for the touchdown, widening McMaster's lead to 17.

Archibald recovered from a tough first half to complete 11 of 33 passes for 174 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. B.J. Malott led the receiving corps with three catches for 62 yards and a score. Pottinger accumulated four tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble. Jones had 7.5 tackles to go along with his blocked kick, and Eugene Boakye had 8 tackles to lead the team for the second consecutive week. With six sacks, two fumble recoveries, two blocked kicks, and a touchdown, the McMaster defence and special teams once again dominated their portion of the game, as they did last week.

Sacobie completed 18 of 33 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns. David Crane caught seven passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. Sacobie also led Ottawa with 39 yards rushing. Linebacker Joe Barnes had three tackles and an interception for Ottawa, while Jay Peterson and Cheeler Lindor led the team with 7 tackles each.

(Source: Chris Black, McMaster Sports Information