Partially written by Naol Denko
Laurier Golden Once Again
The Laurier Golden Hawks made it to the OUA semi-finals in 2022, losing to the eventual Yates Cup champion Western Mustangs. Since then, all eyes have been on this program as the pressure for this talented group has amounted to “Yates Cup or bust” expectations.
In light of that, Laurier has been making moves this season.
Their nail-biting, season-opening win against Queen’s, a team that’s appeared in the last two Yates Cups, gave Golden Hawk fans a dose of confidence that their team has what it takes to compete with the upper echelon of the OUA in 2023.
But, if there’s anything that their follow-up performances against Carleton and Guelph might’ve proven, it’s that Laurier may actually be the upper echelon of the OUA in 2023.
Currently ranked sixth in the nation, the Golden Hawks offence has quickly earned a reputation for having arguably the most explosive passing attacks in U SPORTS. Fresh off his six-touchdown performance against Guelph, quarterback Taylor Elgersma sits second in the nation in passing yards (935), fourth in passing touchdowns (6), third in completion percentage (77.6%), fifth in yards per game (311.7), and seventh in efficiency rating (167.6). It’s safe to say that even though we’re still early into the season, The third-year player has thrown himself into OUA All-Star contention.
On the receiving end of Elgersma’s touchdown passes are currently two of the nation’s top five receivers in Ethan Jordan and Raidan Thorne. Together, the duo have combined for 45 receptions, 521 receiving yards, and four touchdowns to start the season - wild.
With a mature complete defence and a now-matured offence, there’s legitimate belief that the 2023 Laurier Golden Hawks will be a problem in the OUA.
Windsor’s All Grown Up
The nation’s top rushing attack (908 yards).
Three of the nation’s top 15 rushers (Joey Zorn - 217 yards, Chris John - 211 yards, Weabge Mombo - 193 yards).
The nation’s second-best passing defence (only allowing 126.3 passing yards per game).
As a collective defence, leading the nation in sacks (16 total sacks).
The nation’s leader in sacks (Kolade Amusan - 5 sacks).
An Argument can be made that the Windsor Lancers are one of the most complete teams in the nation.
But with a schedule over the next four weeks that features the likes of No. 6 Ottawa, No. 7 Queen’s, No. 6 Laurier, and No. 2 Western, the Lancers are about to have their championship aspirations tested.
Fact: The next four weeks will determine if the Windsor Lancers are a Yates Cup contender.
Who Are The 2023 McMaster Marauders?
A top program in OUA football, that continuously recruits superb talent, has been steadily declining for the past two years.
Not making the playoffs in one season is fine, but two times consecutively? That’s tough.
However, despite that analysis, the first two efforts we saw from McMaster this season were close - and respectable. Their week one 21-17 loss to Windsor came down to a few plays, while, their 34-22 loss to Western in week two was closer than the score suggests.
From the observer’s eye, McMaster struggles to finish their games - the expected characteristic of a team still looking to find their identity. Coaching will never be a question for this program, as Stefan Ptaszek is, and always will be, one of U SPORTS football’s top coaches. So, all Marauder fans can do is be patient with the growth of new starting quarterback Keagan Hall and friends.
Although they recently recorded a lopsided 71-0 win against York, we know this program still has a ways to go before their back in Yates Cup contention. Great win? Yes. But, the McMaster Marauders definitely have higher ambitions.
With a remaining schedule that includes the likes of Guelph, No. 6 Laurier, Toronto, Waterloo, and No. 10 Ottawa, the Marauders can still have playoff hopes in 2023. And if their recent meetings with Western and Windsor serve as an indicator of who they can be, it’s safe to say that when they find their footing, the McMaster Marauders will very much an opponent that no higher-seeded team would want to run into on their quest for a Yates Cup
Is This The Same Queen’s?
Yes, they lost to Laurier in week one by one point, which certainly doesn’t make or break their season, but, after coming off a nearly undefeated campaign in 2022, it makes you ponder if the Queen’s Gaels are the same, dominant team we’ve become familiar with over the last two seasons.
Personnel-wise, they aren’t. Gone are the days of Rasheed Tucker, Richard Burton, Anthony Federico and James Keenan - A few of the players synonymous with this program’s resurgence in the 2020s.
Still remaining, however, are names such as Ashthon Miller-Melancon, Silas Hubert, Jas Khaira, Darien Newell, Aiden O’Neil, and Anthony Soles - a few players who are also synonymous with this program’s resurgence in the 2020s.
Let’s be honest - It’s still early, but with the rise of Laurier and the rebuilt Windsor Lancers, perhaps there may be a new OUA powerhouse ready to challenge Western for the Yates Cup this year.
With that being said, is their Yates Cup window officially closed? Did the Gaels miss their Golden opportunity?
With a dominant 42-9 win against Toronto, it feels like Steve Snyder’s group can never be counted out. However, with a meeting against Western vastly approaching, we’re about to find out who the Gaels truly are.