Quick Notes: The Queen’s Reign 🏈
(Queen’s Athletics)
Quick rundown: All hail the Queen’s?
The Gaels have come out swinging, putting together a perfect 3-0 record to start the season on the backs of an offense that is producing.
28 — 49 — 55. Those are the point totals Queen’s has amassed in its first three games. Their total offense adds up to 132 points — good enough for third in the OUA.
The big reason for this? Veterans QB Alex Vreeken and REC Logan Walton.
Vreeken leads the league in yards per game (375.3) and is third in total yards at 1,126. Through three games, he has been the engine behind an offense that has averaged 44 points per game.
But Vreeken hasn’t been doing it alone.
Walton has been another key piece to Queen’s offense, and his numbers have proved that.
4 touchdowns — first in the OUA
408 receiving yards — second in the OUA
136.0 yards per game — first in the OUA
25.5 yards per catch — first in the OUA
The bigger story? Queen’s has managed to build off each win. 28 points in its season opener, 49 against Waterloo and 55 this past weekend against Carleton show that each offensive performance has been followed by an even better one.
Queen’s has one of the most dangerous offenses in the OUA — and it keeps getting better.
And the offense is only half the story.
The Gaels have the third-best defense in the OUA, behind only McMaster and Western.
17.0 points allowed per game — third in the OUA
51 total points allowed — first in the OUA
320.7 total yards allowed per game — second in the OUA
The offense is putting up big numbers. The defense is limiting them. That has been the balance Queen’s has put together this season.
The Gaels haven’t had to rely on one side of the ball.
Their first three matchups came against Toronto, Waterloo and Carleton, all teams in the bottom half of the OUA. Their next four matchups come against Ottawa, Western, Windsor and Guelph, all teams currently at or above .500.
Can that balance hold up against tougher competition?
The first clue to answering that question will come this weekend as Queen’s face Ottawa on home turf at 3 p.m. ET.