In the first half of their game against the Queen's Gaels on Saturday, it was evident that the Waterloo Warriors have taken its first big steps in the rebuilding of the football program.

And in the third quarter, it was evident that they still have a ways to go.

Leading by only a touchdown at the half, the Gaels used a 25-point third quarter to pull away, downing the Warriors 47-24 at Richardson Stadium in Kingston on Saturday afternoon.

Gaels Running back Jesse Andrews rushed for 192 yards and scored three times (two rushing and one receiving) to lead the hosts to their second win of the young season. Warriors pivot Lucas McConnell (Waterford) had a career day for the Warriors in a losing cause, going 24-41 with 423 yards and two touchdowns.

The cold and wet conditions slowed both teams out of the gate, but the Gaels scored first when Andrews rumbled in from 15 yards out in the closing minute of the first quarter. Just two minutes later, he added his second major of the day on an 11-yard scamper to put the Gaels up 14-0.

But McConnell found his rhythm soon after, culminating in a 20-yard hookup with Lam Diing (Kitchener) for Waterloo's first points since opening week. After Nate Hobbs plunged in from a yard out for the Gaels, McConnell ended the half with a bang, finding Victor Fassulo (Burlington) for a 39-yard score as the clock expired.

Up 21-14 heading into the third quarter, the Gaels quickly regained the momentum with Andrews' third score of the day. That was the catalyst the Gaels were looking for, as they scored 25 unanswered points in the quarter to put the game out of reach.

The Warriors' 460 yards of total offense was their highest total in over two years, and they'll now return home looking to build on that momentum when they host the York Lions on September 19. Kickoff at Warrior Field is slated for 1pm.