WATERLOO – The #3 nationally ranked Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks successfully defended their Yates Cup Championship with a convincing 29-11 win over the #8 ranked Western Mustangs, in a game dominated by defense and penalties.

The win continues Laurier's dominance over OUA opponents, running their current streak to 20 games. It also means that Laurier will now travel to Halifax to play the #10 nationally ranked Acadia Axemen in the Uteck Bowl – the first meeting between these two teams in their histories.

Hawk running back Nick Cameron lead Laurier's #2 rushing attack with 167 yards on 23 carries and three touchdowns – good enough to earn him the Dalt White Trophy as the player of the game. For Western, they failed to get their top ranked running game going, amassing only one yard on eight carries entering halftime, and finishing the game only 37 yards on the ground.

Penalties also played a big part in the game as both teams combined for 37 infractions (18 for Laurier, 19 for Western) over 301 yards.

Western opened the scoring with a conceded safety just one minute into the game. However, the lead didn't last long. After exchanging field goals before the second quarter, OUA First-Team All-Star Nick Cameron showed why he was the player of the game, breaking off a 55-yard run for six, and then going up the gut with a one yard plunge to put the Hawks ahead for good, 19-5.

Not only did Mustang rushers Randy McAuley, Jay Akindilore and Donnovan Bennett struggle on the ground, but quarterback Michael Faulds had trouble moving the ball in the air in the first quarter. Faulds was sacked five times and picked off twice. He finished the game going 23 for 39 over 288 yards and one touchdown. Cornerback Joel Wright was successful in shutting down OUA MVP Andy Fantuz, who caught six balls for 75 yards, with four of those catches coming in the final two minutes, with the game already well in hand.

Nick Cameron sealed the deal in the third quarter with his third touchdown of the game on a short nine-yard burst up the middle, making the score 29-5. A late Ryan Clutterbuck touchdown proved to be too little too late for the Mustangs.

The Laurier defense was simply outstanding. Down lineman David Montoya had five tackles and two big sacks. Linebackers Jesse Alexander, Gavin Cond and Anthony Maggiacomo were also big contributors. Alexander had four tackles, two sacks and a knockdown. Maggiacomo sacked Faulds in the end-zone for a safety. However, Cond was all over the field with seven tackles, an interception, a blocked punt and a fumble recovery.

The stage is now set for the National Semi-Finals. As mentioned, the Hawks (10-0) will travel to Halifax, Nova Scotia to play the Acadia Axemen (6-3) for the Uteck Bowl, while the Laval Rouge et Or (10-0) will play the Saskatchewan Huskies (10-0) in Regina for the Mitchell Bowl. Game time for the Uteck Bowl is 12:00 p.m. EST, the Mitchell Bowl will follow at 3:00 p.m. EST.

Scoring Summary

#8 Western Mustangs (UWO) 11 vs. #3 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (WLU) 29
(University Stadium, November 12, 2005)

Quarters 1 2 3 4 FINAL
UWO 5 0 0 6 11
WLU 3 16 10 0 29

First Quarter

1:06 UWO –Safety (conceded by Brian Devlin)
13:12 WLU – FG Brian Devlin, 12 yards
15:00 UWO – FG Derek Schiavone, 44 yards

Second Quarter

0:25 WLU – TD Nick Cameron, 55 yard run (Devlin kick)
2:14 WLU – Safety (Michael Faulds sacked in the end zone by Anthony Maggiacomo)
5:08 WLU – TD Nick Cameron, 1 yard run (Devlin kick)

Third Quarter

4:53 WLU – FG Brian Devlin, 33 yards
7:35 WLU – TD Nick Cameron, 9 yard run (Devlin kick)

Fourth Quarter

8:50 UWO – TD Ryan Clutterbuck, 8 yard pass from Michael Faulds (2 point conversion failed)