THE LOW-DOWN 

The #1-ranked Golden Hawks host the Guelph Gryphons for the OUA semifinal match, and will be the third year in a row Knight-Newbrough Field will be home to the semifinal game. Laurier cruised into the postseason while Guelph snuck in with a 3-5 record, having the tie-break over the Carleton Ravens.  

Both teams have something in common, however. Their road to this point has been highlighted by wins over the #8 Western Mustangs. The Golden Hawks earned the first-round bye by beating Western 60-13 in the regular season finale. As for the Gryphons, they upset the Mustangs in the quarterfinals, 18-17. 

HEAD-TO-HEAD 

These two faced each other in the OUA season-opener in Guelph 10 weeks ago. The Golden Hawks walked away with the 33-28 win, but Guelph made things interesting with their 21-point third quarter after being shutout in the first half.  

The Golden Hawks are riding a four-game winning streak against their Highway 7 rivals and have a 40-17 all-time regular season record. But, in the last 10 games, Laurier is 5-5.  

This will be the eighth playoff match between the teams, and Laurier has the slight upper hand with a 4-3 record. This is also the fifth semifinal game featuring these teams, and Laurier is 2-2.  

They last met in the playoffs in the 2021 quarterfinals where Guelph won 31-18. Their last meeting in the semifinals was in 2007 with the Gryphons also winning 31-24.  

SATURDAY STORYLINES 

Laurier Golden Hawks 

The Golden Hawks are not the same team that the Gryphons saw all the way back in week one. They finished with their second straight 8-0 season for the first time since the 2004 and 2005 seasons and are looking to make their third consecutive Yates Cup appearance.  

Laurier's offense is balanced between passing and rushing. They finished the regular season with the best yards per game average (509.4), third in both total passing yards (2,542) and rushing yards (1,533), and third in both of those per game categories.  

The defense has also been a difference-maker all season long. They allowed only 19.8 points per game, fourth fewest total yards per game allowed, and have the best defense against the run.  

This will be pivotal against the Gryphons who rely on the run-game, but the Golden Hawks have proved they can handle whatever is thrown at them. 

Guelph Gryphons 

Last year, the Gryphons' season came to an end in the semifinals, falling to the Mustangs. But this year, the Gryphons are riding high after defeating the Mustangs in dramatic fashion, winning on the walk-off rouge 18-17, and became the first ever #7-seed to win an OUA playoff game.  

Guelph will have their hands full against one of the nation's top offenses. The Gryphons have allowed 30.0 points per game, and 423.6 total yards per game that is split between 289.9 pass yards and the second least rushing yards allowed with 133.8.  

The Gryphons also have a heavy rushing offense, racking up 1,618-yards and 17 touchdowns. Their passing front has been a couple steps behind all season with 290.9 passing yards per game and 11 touchdowns.  

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Laurier Golden Hawks 

OFFENSE 

#3 – Ryan Hughes and #10 – Cal Wither 

Hughes is one of many weapons available for Wither through the air. He has 529 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on the season, two of those coming against Western, and he has back-to-back multi-touchdown games.  

Hughes is a proven playoff performer, being the standout and focal point of last year's playoff run. He had 393 receiving yards and six touchdowns in four postseason games in 2024.  

Wither poses a big threat to the Guelph defense. In their week one matchup, Wither had 243 passing yards and three touchdowns. Since then, Wither has only improved. He is first in completion percent (72.7%), passing touchdowns (26), and pass efficiency (190.7).  

He is coming off a huge performance against the Mustangs where he threw for 352-yards and five touchdowns. This will be Wither's first taste of OUA playoff football, but he is ready for the big stages ahead.  

DEFENSE 

#2 – Jessie Wilkins and #55 – Matteo Laquintana 

Both Wilkins and Laquintana have been anchors for the Laurier defense. Against Guelph in week one, Wilkins had a season and career high 8.5 tackles, split between seven solo and three assists. He leads the team with 40.5 total tackles and leads the OUA in fumble recoveries with four.  

On the defensive line, Laquintana had 20.5 total tackles through eight regular season games, six sacks worth 32-yards, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Against Western, he had 4.5 tackles and was a major part in limiting their rushing attack to 129-yards.  

Guelph's offensive line has allowed their quarterback to be sacked 22 times this season, so look for Laquintana to make himself acquainted with Tristan Aboud.  

Guelph Gryphons 

OFFENSE 

#8 – Tristan Aboud 

Aboud is averaging just over 264 passing yards per game this season and had seven touchdown passes. Aboud is also a dual threat with his ability to run the ball, tallying 326 rushing yards. He will need to clean up the turnovers if the Gryphons are going to come away with the upset as he has thrown seven interceptions this year.   

Against Laurier earlier in the year, Aboud had 407 passing yards, 96 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.  

DEFENSE 

#43 – Braeden MacDougall 

Guelph's linebacker has liked playing against Laurier throughout his career, averaging 5.7 tackles per game, and had 6.5 tackles in week one. He leads the Gryphons in total tackles with 31.5.