The Warriors football program had another outstanding season, reaching their first OUA semifinals in 20 years and again had nine different players named OUA first-team, second-team or all-rookies.
Announced yesterday was
Trevon Halstead (Brampton/) who was named to the all-rookie team. The rookie DT had 11 total tackles and will be a force for the Warriors defensive line for years to come.
Earning first-team all-star status is a trio of Warriors including CB
Tyrell Ford (Niagara Falls/), WR
Tyler Ternowski (Hamilton/) and RB
Dion Pellerin (Abbotsford/).
After his a spot on the second-team all-star list last year,
Tyrell Ford (Niagara Falls/) makes the leap to the first-team after an outstanding season on defence and special teams. Defensively he finished with 23.5 tackles and a team high four interceptions for 81 yards, including a pick six in Waterloo's 57-19 win over York. On special teams, Tyrell had eight kick returns for 110 yards and 10 punt returns for 150 yards, including an 80-yard punt return for a TD in Waterloo's season opening victory over Toronto.
Ternowski earns a spot as a first-team all-star for the second straight year after another stellar campaign in the black and gold. Ternowski brought in 47 catches for 695 yards and five TD's. In his four seasons with the Warriors, Ternowski has 164 receptions for 2,949 yards and 26 TD's. His 2,949 receiving yards is good for the eighth most in the history of all U SPORTS receivers, just 235 yards shy of Ryan Janzen of McMaster (1996-00) for the second most ever in University Football. He is also just four TD's away from becoming third all-time in U SPORTS touchdown receptions.
Pellerin earns his first all-star nod after his breakout season with the Warriors. Pellerin was a force in the Warriors' ground game in his fourth season, dashing his way to the beat of 977 rushing yards, the second most in the province while finding the end zone more than any other player in the OUA with 11 touchdowns including back-to-back games with three TD's (York, Western). Pellerin now has 2,304 rushing yards and 20 TD's in his four years with the black and gold.
Earning second-team all-star status is QB
Tre Ford (Niagara Falls/), WR
Gordon Lam (Kitchener/), OT
Spencer Andrews (Waterloo/), LB
Kurtis Gray (Waterloo/) and K-P
Jonah Zlatinszky (London/).
Tre Ford (Niagara Falls/) electrified crowds across the OUA once again with his blazing speed and accurate arm. Ford finished the year with 168 completions for 2,158 yards and 12 TD's. With his legs, he ran an incredible 634 yards and six more touchdowns, including three highlight reel runs in the epic Battle of Waterloo on Thursday, October 10 on Warrior Field. In just three seasons, Tre's numbers are astonishing having thrown for 5,653 yards, a new Waterloo football record with 46 TD's. He also has 1,992 career-rushing yards and 12 TD's.
Lam was again one of Ford's favourite targets, finishing with 52 catches for 657 yards. His 52 receptions were the most in the OUA while had the sixth best yards per game at 82.1. Lam also brought in five touchdown passes giving him 11 in his three years with the Warriors. Lam has proven himself as one of the elite catches in this league and will be expected to have a big fourth year.
Andrews was a beast on the line for the Warriors allowing Tre to have the time did this year and was a big reason for the numbers put up by the Warriors offence. That includes the most offensive yards in the OUA at 3,771 for 481.9 yards per game.
Zlatinszky and Gray round out Waterloo's all-star nods with special team honours. Zlatinszky as a punter and Gray for rush cover. Zlatinszky was a solid addition to the Warriors this year with 39 punts for 1,562 yards for an average of 40.1 yards per punt. Zlatinszky also made 14 of 18 field goal attempts on the season.
Gray was outstanding on the rush cover for Waterloo's special team forcing opponents to poor field positions. Overall Gray finished the season with 48.5 tackles, two sacks, three fumble recoveries and one pick. He also had a massive pick six in Waterloo's quarter-final victory over Ottawa.
