October 27, 2006
PLAYOFFS START WITH BATTLE AT THE BRIDGE, LIVE ON UNIVERSITY RUSH
Hamilton, Ontario - It's the biggest OUA football game in recent memory without a team named Laurier or McMaster.
For the third time in as many weeks, the Windsor Lancers will be competing in front of a nationally televised audience as they host their first playoff game since 1976 live on University Rush on The Score. Their opponent is no stranger to the national spotlight, as fifth-seeded Western Ontario travels to University of Windsor Stadium for what could be, legendary coach Larry Haylor's final game. The OUA game of the week is presented by RCA and is being dubbed the "Battle at the Bridge" by Windsor organizers. It's an OUA quarter-final matchup that has all of the makings for a football classic.
The Lancers defeated the defending Vanier Cup champion Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in Week Eight and finished the regular season with a 6-2 record, leaving them in a three-way tie with Wilfrid Laurier and McMaster. After the tiebreaking procedure, Windsor was seeded fourth in the playoffs and given the right to play their first home postseason competition in 30 years. Ironically, that last home playoff game was against the Mustangs. With their recent success, the Lancers have earned a No. 8 ranking among CIS teams.
Each team's road to the Yates Cup is always exciting. Having your first home playoff game since Pierre Elliott Trudeau was prime minister, makes the event something special. How a team can keep its eyes on the prize often becomes the biggest obstacle.
"The fact that we are playing Western makes things easy for the players," said Lancers Head Coach Mike Morencie. "The history of the two programs easily fires up any player from Windsor. However, the challenge for our team will be for us to be fired up but still remained focused. Since we are entering the playoffs, it's a win or go home attitude."
On top of the playoff implications for both teams and the excitement surrounding Windsor, Saturday's University Rush could also symbolize farewell to a coaching icon from Western Ontario.
Larry Haylor, the all-time wins leader amongst football coaches in Canadian university history, is completing his 22nd and final season as the head coach of the Mustangs. He owns one of the most amazing career records of any football coach in North America at 172-43-4 (.809). Haylor has led the Mustangs to two Vanier Cup victories in 1989 and 1994 and eight Yates Cup titles (1985-86, 1988-90, 1994-95 and 1998). He will step down at the conclusion of this season and hand the reins over to Greg Marshall, former Mustangs Hec Creighton winner, and Marauders and Hamilton Tiger Cats head coach. Marshall is currently the offensive coordinator for the Mustangs.
"I don't feel it as an issue (coaching last season) and we certainly haven't tried to use it as a motivational tool," explained Haylor. "I think every team that's successful has leaders that inspire confidence, courage, trust in one another and demonstration of a great work ethic. These are attributes that players will rally around. Our team(s), I think, have always competed hard for the right reasons and we haven't had to focus upon issues like my final season or final game as a reason for us to play well."
Western Ontario lost the final game of the regular season, 28-9 to Queen's, dropping them to fifth place in the final standings (5-3). If they want a final Yates Cup for Haylor, it will mostly likely have to be done through wins each week on the road. The Mustangs enter the postseason on a bit of a downer but the team carries on their back a winning tradition that is unparalleled in OUA football.
"Experience in winning is important. It becomes a positive habit and expectation, stated Haylor. "All successful teams develop that identity and I think our teams have generally had that quality. At the same time, each season is unique and each team is unique and the character-chemistry of each team is different. Windsor, for example, might not have good playoffs experience, but they've generated great momentum and confidence throughout the regular season. I would much rather have ended our regular season with a positive win against Queens because of the 'carry over' effect heading into the playoffs."
During their regular season meeting September 30 in London, Western Ontario put the game out of reach with two touchdowns in the third quarter en route to the 28-18 victory over the Lancers. Three different Mustangs rushed for majors as both quarterbacks struggled in the air. Michael Faulds (Rockwood, Ontario) was 12-for-27, totalling 145 yards and one interception for UWO, while Dan Lumley (Windsor) was good on 14-for-31 attempts with 228 yards, one touchdowns and two interceptions. The most prolific running back in the CIS, Darryl Stephenson (London) finished the day with 20 carries for 91 yards and four receptions for an additional 63 yards.
"A combination of things happened in the September 30 game," explained Morencie. "I felt that Western played like they were a desperate football team. As a result, they came out hungrier than we were and ended up beating us in all three facets of the game."
Morencie insists that his team is different from four weeks ago and looks forward to the challenge that lies ahead.
"Since that time, we have really improved our running game," he added. The Lumley-to-MacKay (Glenn) combination is really starting to click, so that helps balance the attack. On the defensive side of the ball, I feel that we are more consistent. Although we still have being giving up some big plays."
The Lancers and Mustangs have split their past two postseason meetings. Most recently, Windsor defeated Western Ontario, 21-18, in an OUA quarter-final held in London on October 25, 2003. The previous season, the home team Mustangs dominated their first-round matchup, crushing Windsor 65-10.
It's history versus momentum in Windsor this Saturday. So much is on the line during the University Rush broadcast; will it be a Mustangs win adding to a program rich in tradition or a victory for the up-tempo Lancers and adieu to a staple on the OUA sidelines?
"I sense our team knows that, for me, this year is different and unique and we would like to be successful," expressed Haylor. "We have tried hard not to have my departure as a central theme. The central theme has to be the players and the team. However, we have bright young men and they know the meaning of last time for me. I'm not sure, at times, that I do."
Windsor Leaders
Passing
Dan Lumley - 88 completions, 176 attempts, 1716 yards, 12 touchdowns, seven interceptions
Rushing
Daryl Stephenson - 175 rushes, 1140 yards, 11 touchdowns
Nick Romain - 27 rushes, 370 yards, seven touchdowns
Receiving
Glenn MacKay - 32 receptions, 767 yards, nine touchdowns
Mike Harrington - 11 receptions, 242 yards, one touchdown
Bryan Dufour - 12 receptions, 224 yards
Defence
John Celestino - 32 solo tackles, 21 assisted tackles, two sacs
Sasha Glavic - 26 solo tackles, six assisted tackle, one sac, one interception
Kyle Boutette - 24 solo tackles, nine assisted tackles, one interception
Western Ontario Leaders
Passing
Michael Faulds - 130 completions, 243 attempts, 1596 yards, eight touchdowns, 10 interceptions
Rushing
DJ Bennett - 94 rushes, 491 yards, five touchdowns
Randy Mcauley - 64 rushes, 398 yards, two touchdowns
Receiving
Jesse Bellamy - 20 receptions, 364 yards, two touchdowns
Josh Starr - 22 receptions, 305 yards, two touchdowns
Jay Leroy - 21 receptions, 291 yards
Defence
Tyler Cook - 42 solo tackles, 10 assisted tackles, two sacs
Corey McNair - 40 solo tackles, 15 assisted tackles, two sacs, one interception
Chris Greenwood - 34 solo tackles, three assisted tackles, one interception
- OUA -
For the third time in as many weeks, the Windsor Lancers will be competing in front of a nationally televised audience as they host their first playoff game since 1976 live on University Rush on The Score. Their opponent is no stranger to the national spotlight, as fifth-seeded Western Ontario travels to University of Windsor Stadium for what could be, legendary coach Larry Haylor's final game. The OUA game of the week is presented by RCA and is being dubbed the "Battle at the Bridge" by Windsor organizers. It's an OUA quarter-final matchup that has all of the makings for a football classic.
The Lancers defeated the defending Vanier Cup champion Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in Week Eight and finished the regular season with a 6-2 record, leaving them in a three-way tie with Wilfrid Laurier and McMaster. After the tiebreaking procedure, Windsor was seeded fourth in the playoffs and given the right to play their first home postseason competition in 30 years. Ironically, that last home playoff game was against the Mustangs. With their recent success, the Lancers have earned a No. 8 ranking among CIS teams.
Each team's road to the Yates Cup is always exciting. Having your first home playoff game since Pierre Elliott Trudeau was prime minister, makes the event something special. How a team can keep its eyes on the prize often becomes the biggest obstacle.
"The fact that we are playing Western makes things easy for the players," said Lancers Head Coach Mike Morencie. "The history of the two programs easily fires up any player from Windsor. However, the challenge for our team will be for us to be fired up but still remained focused. Since we are entering the playoffs, it's a win or go home attitude."
On top of the playoff implications for both teams and the excitement surrounding Windsor, Saturday's University Rush could also symbolize farewell to a coaching icon from Western Ontario.
Larry Haylor, the all-time wins leader amongst football coaches in Canadian university history, is completing his 22nd and final season as the head coach of the Mustangs. He owns one of the most amazing career records of any football coach in North America at 172-43-4 (.809). Haylor has led the Mustangs to two Vanier Cup victories in 1989 and 1994 and eight Yates Cup titles (1985-86, 1988-90, 1994-95 and 1998). He will step down at the conclusion of this season and hand the reins over to Greg Marshall, former Mustangs Hec Creighton winner, and Marauders and Hamilton Tiger Cats head coach. Marshall is currently the offensive coordinator for the Mustangs.
"I don't feel it as an issue (coaching last season) and we certainly haven't tried to use it as a motivational tool," explained Haylor. "I think every team that's successful has leaders that inspire confidence, courage, trust in one another and demonstration of a great work ethic. These are attributes that players will rally around. Our team(s), I think, have always competed hard for the right reasons and we haven't had to focus upon issues like my final season or final game as a reason for us to play well."
Western Ontario lost the final game of the regular season, 28-9 to Queen's, dropping them to fifth place in the final standings (5-3). If they want a final Yates Cup for Haylor, it will mostly likely have to be done through wins each week on the road. The Mustangs enter the postseason on a bit of a downer but the team carries on their back a winning tradition that is unparalleled in OUA football.
"Experience in winning is important. It becomes a positive habit and expectation, stated Haylor. "All successful teams develop that identity and I think our teams have generally had that quality. At the same time, each season is unique and each team is unique and the character-chemistry of each team is different. Windsor, for example, might not have good playoffs experience, but they've generated great momentum and confidence throughout the regular season. I would much rather have ended our regular season with a positive win against Queens because of the 'carry over' effect heading into the playoffs."
During their regular season meeting September 30 in London, Western Ontario put the game out of reach with two touchdowns in the third quarter en route to the 28-18 victory over the Lancers. Three different Mustangs rushed for majors as both quarterbacks struggled in the air. Michael Faulds (Rockwood, Ontario) was 12-for-27, totalling 145 yards and one interception for UWO, while Dan Lumley (Windsor) was good on 14-for-31 attempts with 228 yards, one touchdowns and two interceptions. The most prolific running back in the CIS, Darryl Stephenson (London) finished the day with 20 carries for 91 yards and four receptions for an additional 63 yards.
"A combination of things happened in the September 30 game," explained Morencie. "I felt that Western played like they were a desperate football team. As a result, they came out hungrier than we were and ended up beating us in all three facets of the game."
Morencie insists that his team is different from four weeks ago and looks forward to the challenge that lies ahead.
"Since that time, we have really improved our running game," he added. The Lumley-to-MacKay (Glenn) combination is really starting to click, so that helps balance the attack. On the defensive side of the ball, I feel that we are more consistent. Although we still have being giving up some big plays."
The Lancers and Mustangs have split their past two postseason meetings. Most recently, Windsor defeated Western Ontario, 21-18, in an OUA quarter-final held in London on October 25, 2003. The previous season, the home team Mustangs dominated their first-round matchup, crushing Windsor 65-10.
It's history versus momentum in Windsor this Saturday. So much is on the line during the University Rush broadcast; will it be a Mustangs win adding to a program rich in tradition or a victory for the up-tempo Lancers and adieu to a staple on the OUA sidelines?
"I sense our team knows that, for me, this year is different and unique and we would like to be successful," expressed Haylor. "We have tried hard not to have my departure as a central theme. The central theme has to be the players and the team. However, we have bright young men and they know the meaning of last time for me. I'm not sure, at times, that I do."
Windsor Leaders
Passing
Dan Lumley - 88 completions, 176 attempts, 1716 yards, 12 touchdowns, seven interceptions
Rushing
Daryl Stephenson - 175 rushes, 1140 yards, 11 touchdowns
Nick Romain - 27 rushes, 370 yards, seven touchdowns
Receiving
Glenn MacKay - 32 receptions, 767 yards, nine touchdowns
Mike Harrington - 11 receptions, 242 yards, one touchdown
Bryan Dufour - 12 receptions, 224 yards
Defence
John Celestino - 32 solo tackles, 21 assisted tackles, two sacs
Sasha Glavic - 26 solo tackles, six assisted tackle, one sac, one interception
Kyle Boutette - 24 solo tackles, nine assisted tackles, one interception
Western Ontario Leaders
Passing
Michael Faulds - 130 completions, 243 attempts, 1596 yards, eight touchdowns, 10 interceptions
Rushing
DJ Bennett - 94 rushes, 491 yards, five touchdowns
Randy Mcauley - 64 rushes, 398 yards, two touchdowns
Receiving
Jesse Bellamy - 20 receptions, 364 yards, two touchdowns
Josh Starr - 22 receptions, 305 yards, two touchdowns
Jay Leroy - 21 receptions, 291 yards
Defence
Tyler Cook - 42 solo tackles, 10 assisted tackles, two sacs
Corey McNair - 40 solo tackles, 15 assisted tackles, two sacs, one interception
Chris Greenwood - 34 solo tackles, three assisted tackles, one interception
- OUA -
