WATERLOO, Ont. - The Laurier Golden Hawks delivered their most dominant offensive performance of the season Saturday, rolling to a 68-8 win over the Carleton Ravens on Senior Day in their final regular season home game.
The win improved Laurier to 3-4 as the Golden Hawks piled up 744 yards of total offence, including 468 through the air and 276 on the ground. Laurier recorded 39 first downs and averaged 11.4 yards per play.
Coming out of a bye week, manager of football operations and head coach
Todd Galloway said the performance showed what the Golden Hawks are capable of when playing a cleaner game.
"We were a bit rested coming off the bye and the confidence was high," said Galloway. "I think the guys finally realized a little bit that if we play a cleaner brand and a more confident brand of football, this can be the result."
Quarterback
Will Russell led the offensive outburst, completing 24 of 30 passes for 410 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.
"The key to success was 12-man football," said Russell. "I feel like we were really meshing together on offence. Everyone was doing their assignment, and that's what happens when we play Laurier football."
Three Golden Hawks eclipsed 100 receiving yards.
Logan Moore led the way with six catches for 134 yards and a touchdown,
Ryan Hughes had eight receptions for 131 yards and a score and
Keyon Robinson added 113 yards on four catches.
Moore's breakout performance came after Laurier used the bye week to get the dynamic returner more involved in the offence.
"
Logan Moore is an electric athlete, so we decided on the bye that he's somebody that we just want to get on the field more," said Galloway. "Will has a natural chemistry with him."
That chemistry dates back to Russell and Moore's first year at Laurier, when the two began developing their connection on the scout team.
"We came in together in first year," said Moore. "We were on the scout team, so that was definitely good. Just on scout every single day, building that connection between us two, and we just finally got our shot."
Laurier wasted little time taking control. Russell connected with Hughes for a nine-yard touchdown on the opening possession before
Tayshaun Jackson added a two-yard rushing major. Russell then found Moore for a 53-yard touchdown late in the opening quarter.
Quinten Springer added an 11-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and
Marcus Reypa connected on a 27-yard field goal. After Carleton scored its lone touchdown of the afternoon,
Darion Bacik-Hadden answered with a one-yard rushing major before halftime.
The Golden Hawks continued to pull away after the break. Russell connected with Jackson for a one-yard touchdown before Springer scored his second major of the game in the fourth quarter.
Ethan Sutton and
Zidain Allen also found the end zone on the ground.
Jackson led Laurier's rushing attack with 76 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, while Springer finished with 48 yards and two scores on three attempts.
Defensively, Laurier limited Carleton to 251 yards of offence and held the Ravens scoreless in the second half.
King David Dapaah led the Golden Hawks with six total tackles and forced a fumble.
The victory also provided a fitting sendoff for Laurier's graduating players.
"A lot of great senior contributions today as well," said Galloway. "It was great to see those guys come out with fire and kind of send them off."
The Golden Hawks will now turn their attention to a must-win regular-season finale next Saturday in London against the Western Mustangs. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., with the game live on OUA.tv.
"We did what we needed to do today to give us the chance next week," said Galloway. "We're taking it one moment at a time and making sure that we're doing everything we can to go 1-0 next week to put ourselves in the best position."
Russell was even more direct about the challenge ahead.
"All eyes on Western."
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