Guiltinan reaches milestone in third straight Laurier win
Posted Sep 17, 2016 06:58:49 PM.
Last Updated Nov 6, 2016 09:11:17 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks men’s football team are 3-0 to start the season for the first time in nine years.
Both teams’ offence struggled to find their groove and both defences were prepared to make big plays when the team needed it most.
Golden Hawks linebacker, Scott Hutter intercepted a pass thrown by Ravens’ quarterback, Jesse Mills in the first half. Hutter managed to find the end zone for a 54-yard return. That tied the game up at seven.
The Ravens would quickly strike back before the half was finished capping off a 76-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass. Ravens’ QB Mills hooked up with Kyle VanWynsberghe in the end zone.
The nationally ranked number seven Hawks went into the third quarter trailing the number four nationally ranked Carleton Ravens, 16-7.
The Golden Hawks have made it clear that they will run the ball more often than not and that’s exactly what they did Saturday afternoon in Ottawa.
Fifth year running back, Eric Guiltinan was kept busy for the second straight game, rushing for a career-high 200 yards in this one. It’s only the sixth time in Laurier Golden Hawks history that a back reached the 200-yard plateau in a game. The turning point was when Guiltinan ran for 36 yards late in the quarter bringing the Golden Hawks offence down to the Ravens one-yard line. The 90-yard drive was capped off by a one-yard touchdown run by Darian White. That was his first major score of his OUA career.
Guiltinan added to his OUA rushing lead and he is now averaging 155 yards per game.
In the fourth quarter, defensive lineman Kwaku Boateng forced a fumble on the Ravens ten yard line. That play would be capped off by an eight-yard field goal by kicker Nathan Mesher to give Laurier the win.
Golden Hawks quarterback Julien John struggled, only completing two passes on nine attempts. Michael Knevel replaced John in the third quarter but the change in quarterback did not halt Guiltinan whatsoever. Knevel finished 4-for-8 throwing for 40 yards.
The Golden Hawks remain tied for top spot in the OUA with the Ottawa Gee-Gees.
Laurier will return home next Saturday, September 24th for their annual Homecoming game against the 0-4 Waterloo Warriors. Kickoff at University Stadium is at 1 p.m.
