Two undefeated teams featured in Battle of Waterloo
Posted Sep 23, 2017 05:00:43 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s been a hot start to the season for the Waterloo Warriors but now they face it’s toughest challenge. The defending Yates Cup Champions.
The Battle of Waterloo Saturday afternoon will revive a rivalry with bragging rights on the line between the Wilfrid Lauirer Golden Hawks and Waterloo Warriors.
Golden Hawks Head Coach Michael Faulds tells 570 NEWS, all the focus has been on the Warriors start to the year.
“All the attention has actually been on the Waterloo Warriors and we’ve quietly just kind of gone along and won the three games that we’ve had to play,” says Faulds, “I constantly remind our guys that what we did last year has no impact on what we are going to do this year.”
The Golden Hawks are coming off an impressive 40-17 road win against the Queen’s Gaels which included two Laurier records. Robbie Smith racked up 4.5 sacks in week 4, breaking the previous record set by former Golden Hawk Defensive End Kwaku Boateng. Kicker Nathan Mesher also set a new Laurier record when he connected with a 52-yard field goal, surpassing the previous record holder Ronnie Pfeffer that was set in 2014.
Meanwhile, the Warriors were in jeopardy of suffering it’s first loss of the year on the road against the Carleton Ravens. After an awful first half of turnovers, bad penalties and a 30-10 deficit at half time, many thought the undefeated Warriors would be defeated. The Warriors managed to storm back with Quarterback Lucas McConnell connecting on 29 of 43 passes for 477 yards and three touchdowns leading the way to a come from behind 45-43 win over Carleton.
McConnell’s efforts earned him OUA offensive player of the week honours.
Faulds tells 570 NEWS what his team needs to do in order to be successful in week 5.
“Containing their Quarterback with our outstanding pass rush and we have some outstanding defensive backs that will cover their receivers which will be big for us,” says Faulds, “offensively we have to continue on with a very balanced attack.”
Both the Laurier Golden Hawks (3-0) and Waterloo Warriors (4-0) come into this game as top ten teams in the country. Laurier is ranked #5 and the Warriors at #9.
Michael Faulds tells 570 NEWS, he doesn’t pay much attention to the rankings.
“For us as coaches and players, we’re just focused in on the next game,” says Faulds, “we can’t control the schedule that we’ve been given, we can’t control who we play next, that’s all set out months in advance. All we can control is whether we win or lose the football game.”
The Golden Hawks have not lost to an OUA team since October of 2016 which includes playoff match ups as well.
Laurier is coming into this game with an all-time record of 41-14-1 against the Warriors including 13 straight wins.
Both teams will be eager for wins, you can catch the Battle of Waterloo Saturday afternoon at Warrior Stadium at 1 PM.
