October 3, 2009
GEE-GEES UPEND NO. 8 GOLDEN HAWKS ON UNIVERSITY RUSH
WATERLOO, Ont. - The Ottawa Gee-Gees (3-2) spoiled the No. 8 nationally-ranked Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (3-2) homecoming game with a 27-25 win over the home team in front of 7,607 fans. The game was delayed at half-time due to a thunder and lightening storm.
Laurier had an opportunity to tie the game after Mike Montoya (Burlington, Ont.) scored a one-yard touchdown with five seconds left to play in the contest. On the ensuing PAT attempt, the Gee-Gees incurred a pass interference call that brought the Hawks to the one-yard line. Quarterback Evan Pawliuk (Kingston, Ont.) kept the ball and took the plunge only to be called short to end Laurier's comeback attempt.
On the Hawks final drive the purple and gold took the ball from on their own 45 with 1:38 minutes left and ran 12 plays for 65 yards and the score.
"Ottawa had a good defence and it came down to the last second," said Pawliuk after the game. "That's life and you have to deal with it but it shows the true character of the team when you cannot get the ball much in the second half and still be there at the end of the game."
Pawliuk was 17-of-29 passing for 258 yards with one touchdown. He also rushed 14 times for 78 yards.
"Laurier is so athletic and they can hurt you in so many ways," said Ottawa head coach Dennis Piché post game. "They are always well prepared and we knew this was going to be really hard."
Chris Mamo (London, Ont.) hit his 103rd covert on the Hawks first touchdown, a five yard reception to Josh Bishop (Mississauga, Ont.), to tie Brian Devlin in first place in career converts at Laurier.
Dillon Heap (Waterloo, Ont.) again led all Golden Hawks in all-purpose yards with 274, including 112 in punt returns, 102 in receiving and 52 in kickoffs. His punt return yardage moves him up to 553 on the season, which is good for third place in the Laurier record books behind Corey Grant who has 616 and Paul Bennett who has 686. Heap already holds first place in kick-return yards in a season with 386.
"You have to give Ottawa some credit they made a lot of plays," said Laurier manager of football operations and head coach Gary Jeffries. "They are a very talented team."
Ottawa quarterback Brad Sinopoli (Peterborough, Ont.) went 23-of-35 throwing for 341 yards and two touchdowns. The third year pivot also ran for another 97 yards and an additional major.
Sinopoli's favourite target was No. 5 Steven Hughes (Ottawa, Ont.) who collected 183 yards on seven receptions. He scored one touchdown and had a long of 68 yards.
"Our offence stalled throughout the second and the defence was getting tired. It was really hard for us to get the momentum going," commented Pawliuk.
The Gee-Gees held an advantage over the Hawks in time of possession, holding the ball for 35:34, while Laurier had it for 24:26.
Laurier's top defenders were Mitchell Bosch (Langley, B.C.) with 7.5 tackles (six solo, three assisted) and Courtney Stephen (Brampton, Ont.) with 6.5 (six solo, one assisted). Giancarlo Rapanaro (Niagara Falls, Ont.) added another sack to his total, giving him 13.5 in his career. He needs 1.5 more to tie Yannick Carter for the record with 15.
For the Gee-Gees, Mike Cornell (Hamilton, Ont.) picked up nine tackles (seven solo, four assisted) and Tyler Sawyer (Metcalfe, Ont.) had 8.5 (seven solo, three assisted). Maxime Bedardm (Granby, Que.) was also a force for the visitors as he picked up a sack and an interception.
"The Hawks will have a good second half to the season and we'll probably see them in the playoffs," concluded coach Piché .
Laurier's next game will be against the Windsor Lancers at University Stadium on Sat., Oct. 10. The Gee-Gees return home and host the No. 10 Guelph Gryphons (3-2) in a key game on Fri., Oct. 9.
Source: Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
Laurier had an opportunity to tie the game after Mike Montoya (Burlington, Ont.) scored a one-yard touchdown with five seconds left to play in the contest. On the ensuing PAT attempt, the Gee-Gees incurred a pass interference call that brought the Hawks to the one-yard line. Quarterback Evan Pawliuk (Kingston, Ont.) kept the ball and took the plunge only to be called short to end Laurier's comeback attempt.
On the Hawks final drive the purple and gold took the ball from on their own 45 with 1:38 minutes left and ran 12 plays for 65 yards and the score.
"Ottawa had a good defence and it came down to the last second," said Pawliuk after the game. "That's life and you have to deal with it but it shows the true character of the team when you cannot get the ball much in the second half and still be there at the end of the game."
Pawliuk was 17-of-29 passing for 258 yards with one touchdown. He also rushed 14 times for 78 yards.
"Laurier is so athletic and they can hurt you in so many ways," said Ottawa head coach Dennis Piché post game. "They are always well prepared and we knew this was going to be really hard."
Chris Mamo (London, Ont.) hit his 103rd covert on the Hawks first touchdown, a five yard reception to Josh Bishop (Mississauga, Ont.), to tie Brian Devlin in first place in career converts at Laurier.
Dillon Heap (Waterloo, Ont.) again led all Golden Hawks in all-purpose yards with 274, including 112 in punt returns, 102 in receiving and 52 in kickoffs. His punt return yardage moves him up to 553 on the season, which is good for third place in the Laurier record books behind Corey Grant who has 616 and Paul Bennett who has 686. Heap already holds first place in kick-return yards in a season with 386.
"You have to give Ottawa some credit they made a lot of plays," said Laurier manager of football operations and head coach Gary Jeffries. "They are a very talented team."
Ottawa quarterback Brad Sinopoli (Peterborough, Ont.) went 23-of-35 throwing for 341 yards and two touchdowns. The third year pivot also ran for another 97 yards and an additional major.
Sinopoli's favourite target was No. 5 Steven Hughes (Ottawa, Ont.) who collected 183 yards on seven receptions. He scored one touchdown and had a long of 68 yards.
"Our offence stalled throughout the second and the defence was getting tired. It was really hard for us to get the momentum going," commented Pawliuk.
The Gee-Gees held an advantage over the Hawks in time of possession, holding the ball for 35:34, while Laurier had it for 24:26.
Laurier's top defenders were Mitchell Bosch (Langley, B.C.) with 7.5 tackles (six solo, three assisted) and Courtney Stephen (Brampton, Ont.) with 6.5 (six solo, one assisted). Giancarlo Rapanaro (Niagara Falls, Ont.) added another sack to his total, giving him 13.5 in his career. He needs 1.5 more to tie Yannick Carter for the record with 15.
For the Gee-Gees, Mike Cornell (Hamilton, Ont.) picked up nine tackles (seven solo, four assisted) and Tyler Sawyer (Metcalfe, Ont.) had 8.5 (seven solo, three assisted). Maxime Bedardm (Granby, Que.) was also a force for the visitors as he picked up a sack and an interception.
"The Hawks will have a good second half to the season and we'll probably see them in the playoffs," concluded coach Piché .
Laurier's next game will be against the Windsor Lancers at University Stadium on Sat., Oct. 10. The Gee-Gees return home and host the No. 10 Guelph Gryphons (3-2) in a key game on Fri., Oct. 9.
Source: Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
