October 31, 2008
OUA PLAYOFF PUSH: FOOTBALL
HAMILTON, Ont. – Semi-Final Saturday has arrived in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) football and men's rugby, with the winners advancing to their respective OUA championship finals on Nov. 8.
Old rivals take centre stage as the Laurier Golden Hawks (7-2) travel west to take on the No. 3 Western Mustangs (7-1) in one football semi-final. The game can be seen on University Rush on The Score beginning at 1 p.m. and is presented by Wilson.
The Golden Hawks, winners of six straight games, face a Western squad that have won six-straight at the friendly confines of TD Waterhouse Stadium dating back to last season. Whichever team can keep their streak alive will play in the 101st Yates Cup, presented by Pioneer Petroleums.
These teams met at Laurier on Sept. 6, with Western winning 31-20. Georgetown, Ont. product John Leckie rushed for 108 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the victory. Leckie, filling in at running back for the injured Ryan Tremblay (London, Ont.), had a strong first half of the season, but it is Nathan Riva (LaSalle, Ont.) who has become a star in the Western backfield, rushing for 383 yards and seven touchdowns the past three games.
While the Mustangs have scored over 45 points their last three outings, it is the Golden Hawks who are coming off a shutout of the McMaster Marauders in the OUA quarter-final. In a 29-0 victory, McMaster was limited to 299 yards in total offence. Offensively, Ryan Lynch (Waterloo, Ont.) was the Lynch-pin for Laurier, rushing for 229 yards against the Marauders.
The Golden Hawks are 7-3 their last 10 games against the Mustangs, including victories in the last three post-season meetings between these teams. Western's last playoff victory over Laurier was at the 1995 Yates Cup.
In the other semi-final game, the undefeated No. 2 Queen's Gaels (8-0) host the Ottawa Gee-Gees (5-4). All eyes will be on Ottawa running back Davie Mason (Brampton, Ont.) after rushing for an OUA and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) record 327 yards in a 42-37 victory over the Guelph Gryphons.
Two-time OUA rushing champion Mike Giffin (Kingston, Ont.) has not had his best games in the post-season. While he has three touchdowns, Giffin has been limited to under 100 yards in his three previous playoff games. He has broken the 200-yard plateau three times this season.
These teams met on Oct. 11 with Queen's triumphing 38-16 in Kingston. Quarterback Dan Brannagan (Burlington, Ont.) threw for 341 yards and four touchdowns for the victorious Gaels. Ottawa counterpart Josh Sacobie (Fredericton, N.B.), the third-leading passer in CIS history, was limited to 202 passing yards and no majors.
This will mark the 10th post-season meeting between these clubs, going back to their OQIFC days. The Gee-Gees hold a 6-3 advantage over the Gaels in the playoffs. The game can be seen live at 1 p.m. via webcast at SSNCanada.ca and on tape delay on Cogeco Kingston and Rogers Ottawa. Game time on television is at 8 p.m.
Queen's will host the Yates Cup on Nov. 8 with a victory. If the Gaels lose, the winner of the Western-Laurier game will get home field advantage in the OUA final.
OUA PLAYOFFS
FOOTBALL – SEMI-FINALS
November 1, 2008
1 p.m. Laurier @ Western
1 p.m. Ottawa @ Queen's
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
Old rivals take centre stage as the Laurier Golden Hawks (7-2) travel west to take on the No. 3 Western Mustangs (7-1) in one football semi-final. The game can be seen on University Rush on The Score beginning at 1 p.m. and is presented by Wilson.
The Golden Hawks, winners of six straight games, face a Western squad that have won six-straight at the friendly confines of TD Waterhouse Stadium dating back to last season. Whichever team can keep their streak alive will play in the 101st Yates Cup, presented by Pioneer Petroleums.
These teams met at Laurier on Sept. 6, with Western winning 31-20. Georgetown, Ont. product John Leckie rushed for 108 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the victory. Leckie, filling in at running back for the injured Ryan Tremblay (London, Ont.), had a strong first half of the season, but it is Nathan Riva (LaSalle, Ont.) who has become a star in the Western backfield, rushing for 383 yards and seven touchdowns the past three games.
While the Mustangs have scored over 45 points their last three outings, it is the Golden Hawks who are coming off a shutout of the McMaster Marauders in the OUA quarter-final. In a 29-0 victory, McMaster was limited to 299 yards in total offence. Offensively, Ryan Lynch (Waterloo, Ont.) was the Lynch-pin for Laurier, rushing for 229 yards against the Marauders.
The Golden Hawks are 7-3 their last 10 games against the Mustangs, including victories in the last three post-season meetings between these teams. Western's last playoff victory over Laurier was at the 1995 Yates Cup.
In the other semi-final game, the undefeated No. 2 Queen's Gaels (8-0) host the Ottawa Gee-Gees (5-4). All eyes will be on Ottawa running back Davie Mason (Brampton, Ont.) after rushing for an OUA and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) record 327 yards in a 42-37 victory over the Guelph Gryphons.
Two-time OUA rushing champion Mike Giffin (Kingston, Ont.) has not had his best games in the post-season. While he has three touchdowns, Giffin has been limited to under 100 yards in his three previous playoff games. He has broken the 200-yard plateau three times this season.
These teams met on Oct. 11 with Queen's triumphing 38-16 in Kingston. Quarterback Dan Brannagan (Burlington, Ont.) threw for 341 yards and four touchdowns for the victorious Gaels. Ottawa counterpart Josh Sacobie (Fredericton, N.B.), the third-leading passer in CIS history, was limited to 202 passing yards and no majors.
This will mark the 10th post-season meeting between these clubs, going back to their OQIFC days. The Gee-Gees hold a 6-3 advantage over the Gaels in the playoffs. The game can be seen live at 1 p.m. via webcast at SSNCanada.ca and on tape delay on Cogeco Kingston and Rogers Ottawa. Game time on television is at 8 p.m.
Queen's will host the Yates Cup on Nov. 8 with a victory. If the Gaels lose, the winner of the Western-Laurier game will get home field advantage in the OUA final.
OUA PLAYOFFS
FOOTBALL – SEMI-FINALS
November 1, 2008
1 p.m. Laurier @ Western
1 p.m. Ottawa @ Queen's
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
