WATERLOO, Ont. - A strong defensive second half wasn't enough to overcome a big first half Queen's lead as the Warriors fell to the #4 Gaels in Kingston this Saturday, 49-22. 

The game began with a special kickoff in honour of Daniel Molla (Kitchener-Waterloo, ONT/Laurel Heights Secondary School), the late Warriors offensive lineman who tragically passed away this week. Molla was a second-year Biochemistry student at the University of Waterloo. Daniel was a Kitchener-Waterloo native, a graduate of Laurel Heights Secondary School, and an alumnus of Waterloo Junior Warriors Football. 

The Warriors took the field with only 11 players, and Molla's jersey was placed on the field. They took a delay of game penalty, which Queen's declined, before retaking the field with 12 men and kicking off to start the game. 

The defending Yates Cup champion Gaels looked strong to begin their home opener. Tyler Mullan set a new career-long with a 50-yard field goal to open the scoring, and the tricolour followed that up with a touchdown on their next trip out, as Alex Vreeken connected with Yanik Daigle for a 23-yard major. 

Leading 13-0, the first quarter ended with Queen's on the goal line, and they scored on the opening play of the second frame to make it 20-0. 

A 49-yard field goal from Evan Astolfo (Burlington, ONT/Corpus Christi) broke the lid for the Warriors after Evan Basalyga (Thunder Bay, ONT/Westgate CVI) made a nice catch to get Waterloo into his range. 

On their next offensive possession, Nick Orr (Caledon/Mayfield Secondary School) found Tyler Tierny for a 40-yard gain to set the black and gold up in the redzone. Penalties were a problem all night for the Warriors, and they were caught with 13 players on the field on the following play, setting them back 5 yards. Two nice runs by Ethan Miller (Brampton, ONT/St. Roch C.S.S) got them to the goal line, and Orr finished it off himself for his third rushing touchdown in as many games. 

With two minutes left in the first half, the Warriors looked poised to enter the break trailing by only 10 and with momentum on their side, but were forced to concede a safety, and then allowed a Queen's field goal on the ensuing drive. 

Now leading 25-10, Queen's got the ball back and got were gifted an automatic first down on a Waterloo penalty, and immediately capitalized as Vreeken let fly a long pass to Logan Walton for a 48-yard touchdown. The score was 32-10 at halftime. 

It remained 32-10 through a scoreless third quarter. The teams traded touchdowns in a fourth that saw mistakes on both sides, bringing the final score to 49-22. Orr found Tierny and Basalyga in the endzone for their first touchdowns of the season and Orr's fourth and fifth passing majors. 

Orr finished with 290 yards on 15-32 passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions – including a pick six to Ian St. Arnault – his first two picks of the year. Basalyga finished with 126 yards on five receptions, his second straight game with over 100 yards receiving. 

Waterloo will be back home on Warrior Field next Saturday, September 19 for a Homecoming date with the #10 Windsor Lancers. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM. Tickets are available at gowarriorsgo.ca/tickets.