WATERLOO, Ont. – Behind a 100-yard rushing performance from Tayshaun Jackson and a late game-winning touchdown by quarterback Will Russell, the #4 ranked Laurier Golden Hawks overcame multiple deficits to earn a 33-28 victory over the Guelph Gryphons in their season opener Saturday night at University Stadium.
The win marked the first for manager of football operations and head coach Todd Galloway since taking the reins of the Golden Hawks program.
Russell completed 20 of 28 passes for 242 yards and added two rushing touchdowns as Laurier opened its campaign with a hard-fought win over its Highway 401 rival.
"Super proud of the guys," said Galloway. "It wasn't our prettiest win, but I'm very proud of how they fought. Despite some of the first-week mistakes that sometimes rear their head, they gutted one out. We'll get back in and clean that up and hopefully be better next week."
Laurier (1-0) trailed 13-7 after the first quarter and 28-20 midway through the second half before scoring 13 unanswered points over the final 10 minutes to secure the comeback victory.
The Gryphons struck first when quarterback Tristan Aboud connected with Thomas Rodehutskors on a 10-yard touchdown pass midway through the opening quarter after a Laurier turnover deep in its own territory gave Guelph a short field.
The Golden Hawks responded with a quick scoring drive of their own. A 36-yard completion from Russell to Keyon Robinson moved Laurier deep into Gryphon territory before Jackson punched in a one-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 14-13 with 6:26 remaining in the quarter.
Jackson, who finished with a game-high 105 rushing yards on 17 carries, provided a spark for the Laurier offence throughout the game as the Golden Hawks accumulated 383 yards of total offence.
Guelph answered later in the opening frame, marching 68 yards on eight plays before Aboud found Jaxson Zurby for a seven-yard touchdown to restore the visitors' advantage.
Jackson responded with an electrifying play early in the second quarter. After Trey Thompson's 51-yard field goal attempt sailed wide, the veteran running back fielded the ball at the back of the end zone and raced 120 yards for a touchdown, tying the game at 14-14 and igniting the home crowd.
The return marked the second time in Jackson's career that he has registered a 120-yard missed field goal return, having first accomplished the feat against Windsor in 2024. This time, however, he reached the end zone.
The only other Laurier player to achieve the feat was Lonny Taylor, who returned a missed field goal 120 yards for a touchdown against Western in 1992.
Laurier later appeared to pull even again when Jackson broke a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, only to have the score erased by penalty. Starting from the Guelph 24-yard line, Russell calmly led the offence downfield and capped the drive himself with a one-yard quarterback sneak, cutting the Gryphon lead to 21-14 with 1:32 left before halftime.
After an opening half dominated by offence, the Gryphons seized momentum early in the third quarter.
A Laurier drive into Guelph territory ended when Tyson Harker intercepted Russell at the Gryphon 37-yard line. Guelph capitalized as Aboud led a 10-play, 72-yard march, setting up a seven-yard touchdown run by Andre Thompson to extend the lead to 28-20.
The Golden Hawks refused to go away.
Russell and the offence responded with a drive highlighted by a 21-yard catch from Ryan Hughes and a 16-yard run from Jackson. While the possession stalled inside the Guelph 30, Marcus Reypa converted a 33-yard field goal with 2:15 left in the third quarter to bring Laurier within five.
Galloway credited the Gryphons for forcing his team to remain patient throughout the afternoon.
"Guelph is a good football team, first and foremost, so kudos to them," he said. "They had a great game plan and were very patient on defence. They really tried to go bend but don't break and force us to take things in small chunks. We had to be patient and it kind of paid off in the long run."
Hughes was Russell's favourite target throughout the afternoon, finishing with eight receptions for 94 yards, while Robinson added 50 yards on three catches.
The Laurier defence then began to shift momentum.
After forcing consecutive two-and-outs to open the fourth quarter, the Golden Hawks benefited from a Guelph special teams mistake when a penalty for too many men on the field handed Laurier possession at midfield. Reypa made the Gryphons pay, drilling a 42-yard field goal with 8:39 remaining to reduce the deficit to 28-26.
With just over five minutes to play, Laurier embarked on the decisive drive of the game.
Starting from its own 36-yard line, the Golden Hawks marched 74 yards in 12 plays. Russell converted a key third-and-one on a quarterback sneak before finding Kaden Kublinskas for 24 yards and Jaxon Stebbings for another 14 to move Laurier inside the Guelph 10-yard line.
After the Gryphons were penalized for having too many men on the field near the goal line, Russell kept the ball himself and crossed the plane from one yard out with 48 seconds remaining to give Laurier its first lead since midway through the first quarter.
A failed two-point conversion left the score at 33-28, giving Guelph one final opportunity.
The Golden Hawks' defence ensured there would be no late comeback.
Joey Edlington recorded a sack on first down before linebacker Owen Goetz intercepted Aboud with eight seconds remaining to seal the victory.
Laurier's defence finished with five sacks and limited Aboud to 191 passing yards despite the Gryphon quarterback throwing two touchdowns. Aboud completed 15 of 28 passes, while Caleb Sargeant led the Guelph ground game with 69 rushing yards and a touchdown. Receiver Willem Arseneau paced the Gryphons with five catches for 75 yards.
Along with hitting the century mark in rushing yards, Jackson was a difference-maker on special teams and credited his teammates for the season-opening victory.
"It's a blessing, honestly, to be around these guys, man, being around the coaches," Jackson said. "They put me in position to succeed and I just succeed. Just honestly, truly blessed and honored because this program means a lot to me.
"Shout out to the O-linemen. We had a bunch of new guys. We had a great game, handled a tough opponent."
The season-opening victory provided a memorable moment for Golden Hawks football alum Galloway, now Laurier's head coach.
"I told the guys in the huddle they gave me a moment tonight that I'll remember for the rest of my life," said Galloway. "The first win is always special, so I'll remember that. But we're going to put it away, bottle it up and get ready for Week 2."
Laurier will hit the road next Sunday, September 6, for a Week 2 matchup against the Windsor Lancers (0-1). Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Alumni Stadium in the Lancers' home opener after Windsor dropped its season opener on the road against McMaster.
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