THE LOW-DOWN
The #1-ranked Golden Hawks clash with the #9 Queen's Gaels in the first of two OUA semifinal games. The purple and gold look to defend Knight-Newbrough Field and punch their second consecutive ticket to the Yates Cup. On the other hand, the Gaels are riding high from their quarterfinal win and hope to take advantage of their well-rested opponents.
 
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The teams last met a month ago for Laurier's Senior Day where the Golden Hawks put up a season high in points and collected their largest margin of victory on the year, winning 51-21.
 
You will have to go back to 1991 to get the first playoff match between the two in the Churchill Bowl, not the Uteck Bowl, where Laurier won 42-22. The Gaels, however, have the advantage having won three of four OUA postseason games over the Hawks.
 
A Golden Hawks-Gaels playoff matchup has not happened since the 2012 quarterfinal where Queen's won 34-0.
 
SATURDAY STORYLINES
Laurier Golden Hawks
Laurier enters this weekend's semifinal off of a much needed bye-week after their first happened in week two of the regular season.
 
Previously, the Golden Hawks clinched the OUA's top seed for the first time since 2005, where they won the triple crown of trophies in the Yates Cup, Uteck Bowl, and Vanier Cup. Undoubtedly, the high-flying Hawks are looking to repeat history 19-years later.
 
Queen's Gaels
While the Gaels dominated the Windsor Lancers in every statistical category during last weekend's quarterfinal, it did not exactly show on the field. Both teams relied heavily on their kicking units, combining for 22 points on field goals.
 
However, with five seconds remaining in the game and Queen's down 19-14, the Gaels scored their only touchdown of the game and completed the two-point conversion to come from behind, winning 22-19.
 
This is the Gaels' fourth straight year appearing in the OUA semifinals and have a 2-1 record.
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Laurier Golden Hawks
OFFENCE
#13 – Taylor Elgersma and #2 – Tanner Nelmes
Against the Carleton Ravens two weeks ago, Elgersma left the game with a new season and career high 464 passing yards, also tallying four touchdowns. But he was a nightmare for the Gaels in their meeting a month prior, going for 417 passing yards, five touchdowns, and 51 rushing yards. Elgersma can get it done in the air and on the ground, and the run game is where Nelmes factors in.
 
Nelmes had 104 of Laurier's 219 rushing yards and picked up one touchdown against the Gaels. Going up against this Queen's team that has struggled containing the rush, allowing 186-yards against Windsor, Nelmes adds another layer to Laurier's dynamic offence.
 
DEFENCE
#45 – Jessie Wilkins-Flaricee
Wilkins-Flaricee had 38 tackles during the regular season, picking up 3.5 against the Gaels along with one sack, one forced fumble and recovery, and one pass break-up.
 
With the Gaels, who have struggled protecting their quarterback, allowing six sacks worth 40-yards against Windsor, Wilkins-Flaricee and the Laurier defence have the opportunity to stifle the Queen's offence, in turn putting their own offensive weapons back on the field quicker.
 
Queen's Gaels
OFFENCE
#29 – Jared Chisari
Chisari only played in seven of his team's eight regular season games, but he made a difference in every single one, surpassing the century mark four times in rushing yards, scored seven touchdowns, and he led the OUA in rushing yards per game.
 
Against the Golden Hawks, he had 63 of the team's 91 rushing yards and one touchdown.
 
DEFENCE
#30 – Josh McBain
McBain made his presence felt against Windsor last weekend, leading the Gaels in tackles by a mile with nine, seven solo and four assists, while also recording one sack worth nine yards.
 
He had five tackles against Laurier, four solo and two assists, enough for second highest on his team.