The Waterloo Warriors proved that they couldhang with the top-ranked team in the nation, but their neighbors on University Avenue used a pair of big plays to come away with a win in the latest Battle of Waterloo.
Laurier got an 89-yard kickoff return from Tayshaun Jackson and a 57-yard touchdown reception from Ethan Jordan, as they claimed a 39-23 victory over the black and gold in front of a packed Homecoming crowd on Saturday afternoon at Warrior Field.
Laurier quarterback Taylor Elgersma threw for 438 yards and 3 touchdowns, but the Warriors' defense picked off the reigning OUA MVP three times. Jordan finished with 7 catches for 146 yards through the air.
Meanwhile, the Warriors put together arguably their best performance of the season, despite falling to 0-4 with the defeat. The Waterloo offense controlled the ball for almost 37 minutes, and gained a season-high 399 yards, while staying within striking distance the entire afternoon.
Waterloo pivot Nick Orr (Caledon/) went 17-for-30 for 249 passing yards and a touchdown, adding 56 yards on the ground. Quinten Springer (Cambridge/) added a rushing touchdown, and veteran kicker Cole Crossett (Metcalfe/) was a perfect 3-3 on field goal attempts, including from both 47 and 48 yards in the second quarter.
On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Michael Omoseni (Burlington/) had a massive day for the Warriors. The second-year standout came up with two interceptions, as well as a team-leading 7 tackles. Mason Henry (Milton/) also added a pick for Waterloo, and Justin Gec (Waterloo/) registered a forced fumble for the Warriors.
Coming off their bye week and facing the top team in the nation, the Warriors came out with plenty of jump - perhaps fuelled by a massive homecoming crowd of 3,016 on a steamy afternoon. Through the opening moments, the hosts moved the ball effectively, and their defense held Laurier to just one first down and 7 offensive plays on their first two drives.
Late in the first quarter, Orr rolled away from pressure and, while on the run, tossed a sideline dime to Yinka Ogunnote (Guelph/), setting the Warriors up in the red zone. A play later, Springer galloped in from 8 yards out, and the Warriors had a 7-0 lead.
But Laurier struck back immediately, as the ensuing kickoff bounced once and into the hands of Jackson. The electric returner found some room and pulled away, equalizing the game at 7-7 with his second kickoff return touchdown of the season.
Early in the second quarter, Laurier grabbed their first lead of the game on a 15-yard touchdown reception from Jace Atkinson. But the Warriors responded with a 48-yard kick from Crossett, and then got the ball back thanks to Henry's interception, setting up Crossett's 47-yarder to make it 14-13 late in the first half.
With time still on the clock, Laurier took advantage - they marched on a 6-play, 75-yard drive punctuated by a one-yard Elgersma run to make it 21-13, and then Dawson Hodge added a field goal at the halftime buzzer to make the score 24-13 at the half.
After a single on a Hodge punt early in the third quarter, the Warriors answered with a drive of 11 plays and almost six minutes. Unfortunately for the hosts though, they were stymied in the red zone, and were forced into a Crossett field goal that cut the deficit to 25-16.
Elgersma connected with Raidan Thorne from five yards out to add another Laurier major, to make it 32-16. Then, on the final play of the third quarter, Elgersma hit the big strike to Jordan down the seam for a 57-yarder to extend the Laurier advantage.
But, in a game that many prognosticators thought would be a blowout, the Warriors refused to go away. Early in the fourth, Gec reached in and stripped Laurier's Tanner Nelmes to set Waterloo up deep in Hawks' territory. Three plays later, and down near the goal line, the Warriors turned to some trickery as linebacker Arden Martinez (Niagara Falls/), in the game as a tight end, made a diving 3-yard grab to make the score 39-22.
Still very much alive in the game, Waterloo's defence bent but didn't break - and Omoseni turned in a massive play when he dropped into coverage and picked off Elgersma deep in Waterloo territory to snuff out a possible scoring drive. After a Waterloo punt, Omoseni grabbed his second interception in as many drives, and the Warriors were in business once again.
Waterloo once again kept possession and calmly moved the ball downfield, but with time ticking down, their last chance to draw closer was snuffed out with a turnover on downs at the Laurier 7-yard line.
Waterloo will now look to turn the positive momentum into their first victory of the season when they head down highway 7 to take on the Guelph Gryphons next Saturday, September 28. Kickoff is slated for 1pm.
