Football’s ‘Battle of Highway 7’ to be decided on Saturday

The Kitchener Rangers and Guelph Storm have a pretty good one, but may be there could be a new Highway 7 rivalry brewing.

The football team at the University of Waterloo will be heading east to the University of Guelph on Saturday to face the Gryphons in the OUA Playoffs.

It will mark the first time the Warriors have been in the post-season in 15 years.

And that was the goal at the start of the season for UW, make the playoffs.

“We beat some quality football clubs this year … played very competitive, other than one game against Western and earned the right to be in the playoffs.” said Warriors Head Coach, Chris Bertoia.

If the regular season is any indication, Saturday's playoff tilt could be a real nail-biter.

They went to double overtime last weekend, with the Gryphons coming out on top 47-44.

“Young men this age, they're all about the moment right now … so I don't think they reflect so much on the 15 years, but they reflect on the last four years and the process we have taken to get to this point, they're definitely excited,” Bertoia told KitchenerToday.com.

He said the players have put in a good week at practice.

“I think they're just excited … that we've made this next step, but it's part of their expectations as well. A lot of these guys were winners as well in high school … making playoffs is good, but it's not the end goal.”

The game starts 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at Guelph's Alumni Stadium.

McMaster will play Carleton in the other quarterfinal.

Western and Ottawa received first-round byes.