WATERLOO, Ont. - The #1-ranked Golden Hawks booked their ticket to the Yates Cup for the third straight year and look to be back-to-back winners after defeating the Guelph Gryphons 37-30 in the semifinals.  

Here are the Laurier football Players of the Week, presented by Nothers The Award Store, for the team's win: 

OFFENSE 

Ryan Hughes – Wide Receiver 

Hughes carried over his impressive regular season performance into the playoffs. He had nine catches for 161-yards and two touchdowns, one of which was a 53-yard reception that he brought to the house with ease.  

The third-year receiver played all eight regular season games for the Golden Hawks and now has 690-yards and 11 touchdowns on the year.  

This was Hughes's third Player of the Week nomination.  

DEFENSE 

Josh Connors – Linebacker  

Connors got his first taste of OUA playoff action on Saturday. He had four tackles, three solo and two assists, and made the plays the Golden Hawks needed him to make.  

He had one sack for eight yards late in the fourth quarter that helped dash Guelph's late-game heroics. His sack was one of four the Laurier defense made.  

This was Connors's first career Player of the Week nod.  

SPECIAL TEAMS 

Dawson Hodge – Kicker/Punter 

Laurier's veteran kicker put on another outstanding performance for the Golden Hawks on Saturday. He was called to punt seven times and collected 294-yards, and five kicks were within Guelph's 20-yard line. He also had five kickoffs for 309-yards. 

Hodge went 2-2 on field goal attempts, was 4-4 on extra points, and had a rouge. He scored 11 of Laurier's 37 points in the game.  

This was Hodge's third Player of the Week award.  

SCOUT TEAM 

The Laurier football scout team Players of the Week are Darius France (WR) on offense, Liam Jackson (LB) on defense, and Diego Rosas Zamora (LB) on special teams.