Box Score WATERLOO, Ont. - The #2-ranked Golden Hawks made their season debut on home turf under the lights against the Windsor Lancers. After a tight week one match, the Golden Hawks made quick work of the Lancers, winning 30-9. Â
It was no secret that last year's Lancers were a rush heavy team, having the league's third-best running attack in the yards per game category, and it continued into their season opener. On Windsor's first drive of the game, they turned to the run game on seven of the 11 plays. Â
On a drive that ate 5:43 off the clock, the Lancers could only put up three points on a 13-yard field goal from Brady Lidster. At 8:57, Windsor was up 3-0. Â
Then, the purple and gold took the field where Cal Wither and Ethan Jordan picked up right where they left off. At about midfield, Wither sent Jordan 39-yards and he was brought down at the eight-yard line. Windsor delayed the inevitable.Â
Now at first and goal, Will Russell took his first career snap and went right up the middle for his first career touchdown. Russell put the Golden Hawks in front 7-3 midway through the quarter, and that score would stand at the end of 15 minutes. Â
The Golden Hawks started at their own 35 and charged down field to the Windsor 12 where a costly penalty put Windsor's heels right on their goal line. Wither called his own number and bulldozed his way into the endzone for his first rushing touchdown to increase Laurier's lead to 14-3. Â
Dawson Hodge's 70-yard kickoff hemmed the Lancers deep in their own zone, and the two-and-out did them no favours as Windsor would concede the safety, giving Laurier two free points and a 16-3 cushion. Â
The Lancers eventually added two more field goals that separated the score by a touchdown.Â
Laurier found themselves again at first and goal, and Laurier's offensive line gave Wither a perfect pocket where he had enough time to send a pinpoint pass to Ryan Hughes for the touchdown. Â
"I would contribute it to the body of work, the process that we put in throughout the week that prepares us for this. On game day it's more of a celebration of what we worked on throughout the week," Hughes said about the team's success.Â
And spoiler alert, Hughes was not done there. Â
At halftime, the Golden Hawks had the 23-9 advantage. Â
Right off the bat, the Golden Hawks struck. Laurier's offensive line once again shut down Windsor's linemen giving Wither clear sight lines. On the snap, Hughes dropped a gear and disappeared on his defender, bringing the 48-yard pass to the house. Â
Wither showed the fans at Knight-Newbrough Field what they can expect from him all season. He ended the night with 237 passing yards, two touchdowns, a rushing major, and a 69% completion rate. Â
After two games, he leads the OUA and is tied for second in U SPORTS in touchdowns with five.Â
"Almost got flashbacks of 13 being back there, just kind of look the same, launch it up there, it's in a good spot. Love having a guy like 10 back there," Hughes said, crediting his quarterback and giving a nod to Wither's predecessor.Â
"Ryan's a special player," said manager of football operations and head coach Michael Faulds. Â
"We threw a hook and that defender came up aggressively both times, so we knew we could get by him and get over top. That's exactly what we did for that touchdown in the third quarter. He's a special athlete."Â
Hughes had four catches in the game for 74-yards and a pair of majors. He now sits neck-and-neck with Jordan for the team's lead in touchdowns. Â
To his side, Jordan had 10 receptions and a game high 105-yards. Jordan now has 14 games of 100 or more receiving yards, and his second in as many games. Â
"It's like Knuckles and Sonic. That's my duo right there, and we're gonna be running it up all year," said Hughes. Â
Later in the third quarter, it was Maliek Cote time. Windsor's Nick Dimovski aired the pass out and Cote read the play to perfection, coming down with his first career interception. Â
"We were in man coverage. I made sure to stay top down," was all Cote had to say.Â
"The guys have been on him about it," Faulds said. "I will give credit to the DBs. Every single Wednesday throw-around this summer, we would throw extra with the DBs. We knew at some point he was going to get a pick, and he did in week two."Â
Windsor's well dried up as they put up zeros in the second half, thanks in part to the uptick in play from Laurier's defense. Â
"They're a physical team. We like to say we bully the bully. We knew we had to come out and be more physical," said Cote, who had a team-high 5.5 tackles. Â
The Golden Hawks went on to win 30-9 and improved to 2-0 on the season. Â
"Holding a team like that out of the endzone is outstanding," Faulds said.Â
"We knew Windsor was going to be a tough team; they always are. We settled down in the second quarter, played a good third, and ultimately winning by 21 against a good team like Windsor, I'm pleased."Â
UP NEXTÂ
The Golden Hawks head down to Kingston to see the Queen's Gaels on Friday, September 5.Â
"We told our guys that there's no celebration tonight because we have a short week. Queen's is a good football program, and they had a big win at McMaster today. We know we're going to get their best."Â
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