WINDSOR, Ont. - The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (4-4) claimed a home playoff game as a result of Saturday afternoon's 56-16 win over the Windsor Lancers (2-6) in week nine of Ontario University Athletics action.

The result, coupled with Guelph's loss to Ottawa puts the Hawks in fourth place in the standings where they will host the Gryphons at University Stadium on October 30th at 1:00 p.m.

"Coming down here hasn't been easy but today our kids played outstanding in all three phases," commented manager of football operations and head coach Gary Jeffries on the fact that the team hasn't won in Windsor since the 49-0 rout in 1999. "I'm really proud of them today."

Laurier quarterback Shane Kelly of Basking Ridge, N.J. finished the game completing 28 of 42 for 342 yards and a touchdown. Special teams picked up two majors in the contest, including a 101-yard kickoff return by Shamawd Chambers (Markham, Ont.) and a 76-yard punt-return by Dillon Heap (Waterloo, Ont.).

"The playoffs started two weeks ago for us," commented Kelly post-game on the need to win against Queen's and Windsor to qualify for the playoffs. "We knew we had to come out here and execute and we really got it done today."

Heap opened scoring in the game with a three-yard pass reception in the end zone.  Rashad La Touche (Whitby, Ont.) also picked up two touchdowns rushing while Isaac Dell (Niagara Falls, Ont.) added the only other major for the purple-and-gold.

"That's one of the positions that we are really deep," said Kelly on the eight different receivers who contributed to the 342 yards in the air. "We've got a lot of quality receivers and no matter who's out there, we have the confidence that they are going to make plays."

The ground game of 118 yards was led by La Touche.

Samuel Aird (Ancaster, Ont.) led the team defensively with eight tackles in the contest. The defence only allowed 257 yards in the game, which was due to the consistent pressure on Lancer quarterback Austin Kennedy. The rookie pivot was sacked four times including by Stephen Cormack (Waterloo, Ont.) who finishes the season with 4.5. Safety Mitch Nicholson (Grand Haven, Mi.) picked up the only interception in the game for Laurier which puts him in top spot for the year.

Kicker Nathan Hawkes (Kitchener, Ont.) added a field goal and became the team's single-season record holder for kickoff yardage. He finished with 2,513 yards.

Tickets for the quarter-final will be available through the Golden Hawk ticket system at http://tickets.laurierathletics.com