TORONTO, Ont. - After last week's game against Toronto ended in a nail biter, the purple and gold picked up their second straight win in the GTA by a more comfortable margin on Saturday.
Though penalties and an unlucky interception hindered Laurier's ability to get points on the board early, the offence came to life in the second half, while the defence was indomitable through four quarters. The final score was 32-1 for the purple and gold.
The first quarter was one of the more uneventful periods of football you'll ever see, as the only trip to the red zone by either team came when Taylor Elgersma's pass bounced off a couple of players before being intercepted at the Laurier 20-yard line. The Lions managed only four yards before turning the ball over on a botched field goal attempt.
Patrick Burke Jr. did make it into the endzone after York fumbled on a punt return, but the play was called back due to a flag against Laurier.Â
"Playing undisciplined football early on kind of set us back, and then we had a few nerves offensively, so we couldn't consistently put a drive together until the second quarter," said Head Coach and Manager of Football Operations Michael Faulds.
The first score of the game came on a Dawson Hodge field goal in the second quarter, which was followed up with a touchdown from Nick Petermann – his first of the season - on a beautiful pass from Taylor Elgersma.
Leading 10-1 at halftime, the Golden Hawks completely shut down the Lions defensively in the second half. York managed to convert for only four first downs in the third and fourth quarters. The furthest they ventured into Laurier territory was just two yards past mid-field.Â
"As they got into the field goal range, we stood our ground," said Faulds. "Anytime you give up just one point on the scoreboard, that's a good day defensively."
Part of the Lions' second-half struggles were due to their kicker, Derek Giacobbi, suffering an injury late in the second quarter. First-year receiver Darren Bumstead was forced to take over punting duties, allowing Laurier a decent field position to start most of their drives.
The Golden Hawks' offense, meanwhile, was propelled by a tenacious ground attack. Quentin Scott and Tanner Nelmes combined for 271Â rushing yards. Scott also recorded his second touchdown of the year in the third quarter.
Having two dependable running backs is a valuable asset that allowed Laurier to wear down a York defence that seemed dangerous in the first half, but slowed as the game progressed. "Because they have each other, there's constantly a running back that's fresh," said Faulds.
Leading 20-1 heading into the final frame, the purple and gold continued to put pressure on the Lions. After York managed a goal-line stand, the Golden Hawks forced Bumstead to kneel for a safety rather than risk a punt from deep in his own end zone.
On the next drive, after driving his team into the red zone, Elgersma found Ethan Jordan who, after making the catch in the flats, made a nice move to score his second touchdown of the season. Jordan once again led the Golden Hawks with seven receptions. He currently leads the conference in receptions per game.
Finally, Hodge's third field goal of the night tied his career-long, a 41-yard make.Â
With the win, the Laurier's record improves to 2-1 ahead of next week's meeting with the #9 Ottawa Gee-Gees (3-1). The Lions, meanwhile, fall to 1-3.
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Top Performers
Laurier Golden Hawks
Quentin Scott's 172Â rushing yards tops his previous career high, which he set in the playoffs last season against Guelph. It's also the highest rushing total for Laurier since Levondre Gordon had 188 yards on the ground at Ottawa in 2019.
York Lions
Linebacker Dawson Davis led both teams in total tackles (8.5) and co-led in solo tackles (6). One of those tackles came in the Laurier backfield and set the Golden Hawks back seven yards.
Up Next
The purple and gold will be back home next Saturday for Homecoming weekend as they take on the Ottawa Gee-Gees. Tickets are on sale now.
