Laurier opens season today at home to the Queen’s University Gaels
Posted Aug 28, 2016 04:10:12 AM.
Last Updated Nov 6, 2016 09:14:01 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Laurier Golden Hawks will begin their season today at one o’clock against the Queens University Gaels at University Stadium.
Head Coach of Laurier, Michael Faulds tells us this team will run the ball by committee.
“We’ve got six really talented running backs and two of them are actually in their fifth year,” says Faulds, “we’ve also got a great offensive line up front.”
It’s no secret, Laurier loves to run the ball and that theme will continue this year despite the loss of Dillon Campbell.
“There’s no denying that Dillon was a really fantastic elite player for us and he’s going to be missed,” says Faulds.
“I think the group of running backs and group of offensive lineman are all very motivated because they realize the rest of the league thinks without Dillon Campbell that we can’t run the football, so those guys are really going to work hard each and every day to prove that Laurier’s offense can still run it.”
Eric Guiltinan will be the starting tailback this week for the Hawks and Faulds says in the carries he got last year, he was very effective.
“Going into week 1, Eric is our guy,” says Faulds. “He’s proved himself last year in the carries that he did get.”
“That includes a really meaningful game at the end of the year against Queen’s last year, he had over 100-yards rushing and that was a game we needed to win in order to get into the playoffs.”
“We are excited to see what he can do and everyone knows that we are going to run the ball 40 to 50 times a game.”
The Hawks will also see the return of Julien John behind centre to lead the offense. He left the team after the 2013 OUA season.
He was an offensive assistant for the Golden Hawks last year and helped Faulds coach the quarterbacks.
“You could see he was getting that urge and drive to come back and play that position,” says Faulds. “When both quarterbacks graduated last year, I sat down with Julien and he was excited to come back.”
Faulds says that this year’s team is more focused on running the ball which takes the pressure off the quarterback.
“We can set up really heavy play-action off of the running game and get the ball down the field,” says Faulds. “One thing that Julien has always done well, is stretching the field with his strong arm and attack any area of the field.
Other games on the schedule include the Waterloo Warriors on the road to take on York, and the Guelph Gryphons at home to take on the Toronto Varsity Blues.
