September 21, 2006
YATES CUP REMATCH ON UNIVERSITY RUSH
WATERLOO - There are plenty of similarities between the 2006 editions of the Western Mustangs and the Laurier Golden Hawks. Each is an elite program which has lost a wealth of high-end talent from last season. Both Ontario University Athletics teams have strong defences and new offensive coordinators. Another common denominator for last year's two Yates Cup finalists is the genuine dislike they possess for one another. Those emotions will be on display Saturday, September 23 when Western (2-1-0) travels to University Stadium to take on Laurier (2-1-0) in The Score Television Network's University Rush broadcast (2:00 pm ET). The game is presented by RCA.
The Mustangs and Hawks last hooked up on November 12, 2005, when Laurier handed the visitors from London a 29-11 loss en route to a berth in the Uteck Bowl and eventually, the Vanier Cup.
"We're playing the team that ended our season," says Western running back Donnovan Bennett (Toronto, Ont.), acknowledging that the defending OUA and CIS champs have had the better of the Mustangs of late. "We've had this one marked on our calendar for quite some time."
"We're two teams that just don't like each other," says Hawks linebacker Jesse Alexander (Kitchener, Ont.).
Earning the bragging rights this year will simply come down to execution. Both Laurier and Western are teams in transition trying to solidify all three areas of the game, while forging new identities. On offence, the Mustangs are without last year's Hec Crighton winner Andy Fantuz, who achieved every major receiving record in the OUA after just four seasons before starting his pro career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Bennett says that losing a weapon like Fantuz obviously hurts but the benefit is that the responsibility of moving the ball has become a collective effort for a unit run by former CFL Coach of the Year Greg Marshall.
"We're forced to be more balanced," says Bennett, the Mustangs leading rusher with 37 carries for 209 yards. "In the past, we could call anything and Andy would get open. The Ottawa game (a 17-3 win by the Gee-Gees in the season opener three weeks ago) was a feeling out process. Since then, receivers like Jay Leroy and Josh Starr have stepped up.
"You can see things improving as the guys get more comfortable."
Bennett says that the quarterback Michael Faulds (Rockwood, Ont.) has continued to adapt to the Canadian game after spending some time in the United States, another plus for the offence this season. And while the aerial attack is in a transitional period, the running game remains status quo as Bennett continues to share the rock with explosive backs Jay Akindolire (London, Ont.) and Randy McAuley (London, Ont.). The trio helped lead the most potent ground game in the country in 2005 with 248.6 yards per outing.
"It's good for us to have Coach Marshall come in," Bennett says of the former Western back field star. "He has a mindset for the position and he gets the most out of his running backs."
The No. 8 Hawks will try and counter Western with a defence designed to stop the run. Laurier lost a few of their own key personnel on that side of the ball with Joel Wright and Ian Logan being drafted into the CFL. The secondary may be thinner without the two but the core of the unit is up front and when Laurier's defence is rolling, points are still hard to come by for most opponents, something the York Lions found out last week as the Hawks pitched a 24-0 shut-out.
"The D is still intact from last year," says Alexander, whose 24 total tackles through three games ranks second in the country behind Ottawa linebacker Joe Barnes. "We know we have to be leaders. We think our front seven is one of the best in the country."
The offence, led by new coordinator and former all-Canadian Ryan Pyear, has been steady through the first three games. Fifth-year quarterback Jamie Partington (Stoney Creek, Ont.) has racked up 604 passing yards, with veterans Dante Luciani (Oakville, Ont.) and 2004 Yates Cup MVP Andy Baechler (Ayr, Ont.) being on the receiving end of many looks. Running back Ryan Lynch (Waterloo, Ont.) has proved to be a solid replacement for departed all-Canadian Nick Cameron, rushing for 339 yards (third in the OUA and fifth in the CIS).
Last week's blanking of York showed some of the character of the Vanier champions as they rebounded from their first regular season loss in almost three years when the nationally-ranked Gee-Gees rallied from a 12-3 deficit to win 29-19 two weeks ago in Waterloo.
"It's a little disappointing but sometimes a loss is a good thing," says Alexander. "We were controlling the Ottawa game and if we had scored a few touchdowns instead of field goals, it might have been different. They got some turnovers and capitalized.
"But we came out strong against York and got ourselves back on track."
Western experienced a similar feeling after losing to Ottawa before defeating the Lions 49-26 and the Guelph Gryphons 25-23 last week on a last-second field goal by Derek Schiavone (Port Colborne, Ont.). The Mustangs are also back on track and with the retirement of the legendary Larry Haylor looming, every player on the team wants to send the winningest head coach in Canadian Interuniversity Sports history out on top.
"We look at it as a great opportunity," Bennett says, still amazed that two coaches like Haylor and Marshall are together on the same sideline. "Coach Haylor is one of the biggest names in the game and we know that the microscope is on us.
"It's a chance to be part of history."
Western Leaders
Passing
Michael Faulds - 59 completions, 112 attempts, 607 yards, four touchdowns, three interceptions
Rushing
Donnovan Bennett - 37 rushes, 209 yards
Jay Akindolire - 29 rushes, 184 yards, three touchdowns
Receiving
Jay Leroy - nine receptions, 131 yards
Josh Starr - 10 receptions, 126 yards, two touchdowns
Anthony Adderley - seven receptions, 116 yards, one touchdown
Defence
Tyler Cook - 14 solo tackles, five assisted tackles, two sacks
Chris Greenwood - 14 solo tackles, one assisted tackle, one interception
Corey McNair - 14 solo tackles, eight assisted tackles, one sack
Laurier Leaders
Passing
Jamie Partington - 55 completions, 106 attempts, 630 yards, four touchdowns, four interceptions
Rushing
Ryan Lynch - 62 rushes, 339 yards
Receiving
Andy Baechler - 15 receptions, 216 yards, two touchdowns
Dante Luciani - 10 receptions, 141 yards, one touchdown
Will Nortchcote - 10 receptions, 128 yards
Defence
Jesse Alexander - 19 solo tackles, 10 assisted tackles, one sack, three interceptions
Yannick Carter - 1- solo tackles, six assisted tackles, three sacks
Josh Maltin - eight solo tackles, five assisted tackles, one interception
- OUA -
(Photo: Three Laurier defenders gang tackle an Ottawa player in a recent match-up of the two nationally-ranked teams. The Hawks dominant front seven will face a stiff test from the Western Mustangs this Saturday on The Score in a rematch of the 2005 Yates Cup. Photo by Mike Whitehouse.)
The Mustangs and Hawks last hooked up on November 12, 2005, when Laurier handed the visitors from London a 29-11 loss en route to a berth in the Uteck Bowl and eventually, the Vanier Cup.
"We're playing the team that ended our season," says Western running back Donnovan Bennett (Toronto, Ont.), acknowledging that the defending OUA and CIS champs have had the better of the Mustangs of late. "We've had this one marked on our calendar for quite some time."
"We're two teams that just don't like each other," says Hawks linebacker Jesse Alexander (Kitchener, Ont.).
Earning the bragging rights this year will simply come down to execution. Both Laurier and Western are teams in transition trying to solidify all three areas of the game, while forging new identities. On offence, the Mustangs are without last year's Hec Crighton winner Andy Fantuz, who achieved every major receiving record in the OUA after just four seasons before starting his pro career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Bennett says that losing a weapon like Fantuz obviously hurts but the benefit is that the responsibility of moving the ball has become a collective effort for a unit run by former CFL Coach of the Year Greg Marshall.
"We're forced to be more balanced," says Bennett, the Mustangs leading rusher with 37 carries for 209 yards. "In the past, we could call anything and Andy would get open. The Ottawa game (a 17-3 win by the Gee-Gees in the season opener three weeks ago) was a feeling out process. Since then, receivers like Jay Leroy and Josh Starr have stepped up.
"You can see things improving as the guys get more comfortable."
Bennett says that the quarterback Michael Faulds (Rockwood, Ont.) has continued to adapt to the Canadian game after spending some time in the United States, another plus for the offence this season. And while the aerial attack is in a transitional period, the running game remains status quo as Bennett continues to share the rock with explosive backs Jay Akindolire (London, Ont.) and Randy McAuley (London, Ont.). The trio helped lead the most potent ground game in the country in 2005 with 248.6 yards per outing.
"It's good for us to have Coach Marshall come in," Bennett says of the former Western back field star. "He has a mindset for the position and he gets the most out of his running backs."
The No. 8 Hawks will try and counter Western with a defence designed to stop the run. Laurier lost a few of their own key personnel on that side of the ball with Joel Wright and Ian Logan being drafted into the CFL. The secondary may be thinner without the two but the core of the unit is up front and when Laurier's defence is rolling, points are still hard to come by for most opponents, something the York Lions found out last week as the Hawks pitched a 24-0 shut-out.
"The D is still intact from last year," says Alexander, whose 24 total tackles through three games ranks second in the country behind Ottawa linebacker Joe Barnes. "We know we have to be leaders. We think our front seven is one of the best in the country."
The offence, led by new coordinator and former all-Canadian Ryan Pyear, has been steady through the first three games. Fifth-year quarterback Jamie Partington (Stoney Creek, Ont.) has racked up 604 passing yards, with veterans Dante Luciani (Oakville, Ont.) and 2004 Yates Cup MVP Andy Baechler (Ayr, Ont.) being on the receiving end of many looks. Running back Ryan Lynch (Waterloo, Ont.) has proved to be a solid replacement for departed all-Canadian Nick Cameron, rushing for 339 yards (third in the OUA and fifth in the CIS).
Last week's blanking of York showed some of the character of the Vanier champions as they rebounded from their first regular season loss in almost three years when the nationally-ranked Gee-Gees rallied from a 12-3 deficit to win 29-19 two weeks ago in Waterloo.
"It's a little disappointing but sometimes a loss is a good thing," says Alexander. "We were controlling the Ottawa game and if we had scored a few touchdowns instead of field goals, it might have been different. They got some turnovers and capitalized.
"But we came out strong against York and got ourselves back on track."
Western experienced a similar feeling after losing to Ottawa before defeating the Lions 49-26 and the Guelph Gryphons 25-23 last week on a last-second field goal by Derek Schiavone (Port Colborne, Ont.). The Mustangs are also back on track and with the retirement of the legendary Larry Haylor looming, every player on the team wants to send the winningest head coach in Canadian Interuniversity Sports history out on top.
"We look at it as a great opportunity," Bennett says, still amazed that two coaches like Haylor and Marshall are together on the same sideline. "Coach Haylor is one of the biggest names in the game and we know that the microscope is on us.
"It's a chance to be part of history."
Western Leaders
Passing
Michael Faulds - 59 completions, 112 attempts, 607 yards, four touchdowns, three interceptions
Rushing
Donnovan Bennett - 37 rushes, 209 yards
Jay Akindolire - 29 rushes, 184 yards, three touchdowns
Receiving
Jay Leroy - nine receptions, 131 yards
Josh Starr - 10 receptions, 126 yards, two touchdowns
Anthony Adderley - seven receptions, 116 yards, one touchdown
Defence
Tyler Cook - 14 solo tackles, five assisted tackles, two sacks
Chris Greenwood - 14 solo tackles, one assisted tackle, one interception
Corey McNair - 14 solo tackles, eight assisted tackles, one sack
Laurier Leaders
Passing
Jamie Partington - 55 completions, 106 attempts, 630 yards, four touchdowns, four interceptions
Rushing
Ryan Lynch - 62 rushes, 339 yards
Receiving
Andy Baechler - 15 receptions, 216 yards, two touchdowns
Dante Luciani - 10 receptions, 141 yards, one touchdown
Will Nortchcote - 10 receptions, 128 yards
Defence
Jesse Alexander - 19 solo tackles, 10 assisted tackles, one sack, three interceptions
Yannick Carter - 1- solo tackles, six assisted tackles, three sacks
Josh Maltin - eight solo tackles, five assisted tackles, one interception
- OUA -
(Photo: Three Laurier defenders gang tackle an Ottawa player in a recent match-up of the two nationally-ranked teams. The Hawks dominant front seven will face a stiff test from the Western Mustangs this Saturday on The Score in a rematch of the 2005 Yates Cup. Photo by Mike Whitehouse.)
