2012 OUA Football Season Preview by Ontario University Athletics

ANDROSCHUK

FEATURES OUA Football Coaches have CFL Links...........................................4 Top 10 Running Backs of the 2000`s...............................................6 My Vanier Experience..........................................................................10 Player Feature: Mitchell Bosch..........................................................42 Player Feature: Zach Androschuk....................................................54 Player Feature: Matt Vonk..................................................................70 OUA School’s Enjoy Grey Cup Success...........................................72 The “Kick”................................................................................................76 OUA 2013 CFL Draft Preview.............................................................78

TEAM PREVIEWS McMaster Marauders...........................................................................12 Queen`s Gaels.........................................................................................18 Western Mustangs................................................................................24 Windsor Lancers....................................................................................30 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks...........................................................36 Ottawa Gee-Gees.................................................................................44 Guelph Gryphons.................................................................................48 Toronto Varsity Blues...........................................................................56 York Lions................................................................................................62 Waterloo Warriors.................................................................................66

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

FEATURE ARTICLE:

OUA FOOTBALL COACHES HAVE CFL LINKS by Paul Carson

Six of the 10 head coaches in OUA football have playing and/or coaching experience in the Canadian Football League, including several Grey Cup victories.

GUELPH GRYPHONS – STU LANG Lang had a very successful playing career for the Edmonton Eskimos from 1974-1981. He played slot-back for eight seasons, going to the Grey Cup seven times and winning the championship five times (1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981). He was named the team’s 1974 Rookie of the Year nominee and received the Canada Packers Award for Fans’ Favourite Player in 1977.

McMASTER MARAUDERS – STEFAN PTASZEK Last season’s winner of both the Yates Cup and McMaster’s first Vanier Cup, Ptasek was a CFL receiver with the BC Lions, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts.

OTTAWA GEE-GEES – GARY ETCHEVERRY Now in his first season at the helm of the Gee-Gees, Etcheverry is a veteran member of the CFL coaching ranks. He helped the Toronto Argonauts win the 1997 Grey Cup as defensive line coach, then was Argos head coach in 2002. In 1009 and 2010, he was defensive co-ordinator for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and also had prior experience with the BC Lions and Ottawa Renegades.

TORONTO VARSITY BLUES – GREG GARY Gary came to Canada in 1983 after signing with the NFL’s Los Angeles Ram in 1982. In the CFL, he spent four seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 1982, winning the Grey Cup in 1986.

WATERLOO WARRIORS – JOE PAOPAO Paopao has an extensive CFL coaching resume on top of his illustrious CFL playing career. In 2006, he was the offensive coordinator for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and from 2001-2005 served as head coach of the Ottawa Renegades. He has also coached with the Edmonton Eskimos, British Columbia Lions and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Paopao’s playing career began in 1978 as quarterback for the BC Lions. He led the Lions in passing for the next three seasons and set a CFL record in 1979 for most pass completions in a single game. Paopao enjoyed a 12year CFL career and was named to the BC Lions Wall of Fame in 2007.

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WESTERN MUSTANGS – GREG MARSHALL Marshall played with the Edmonton Eskimos for three seasons from 1982 to 1984, earning a Grey Cup ring in 1982. His brief professional experience was cut short by a knee injury. Following four successive Yates Cup triumphs at McMaster, Marshall was named head coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in December, 2003. He was the first Canadian-born head coach in Tiger-Cats’ history and the first head coach to make the jump directly from the Canadian university football ranks to become a head coach in the CFL. He made Photo Source: University of Toronto an immediate impact, leading Hamilton to a 9-8-1 record, giving them an amazing eight more victories than in previous season, and not surprisingly he was named the CFL’s 2004 Coach of the Year in 2004, Marshall finished his run with the Tiger-Cats in 2006 with an overall record of 15-25-1. The OUA’s other four head coaches often have served as guest coaches at CFL training camps and all four have achieved success at the league, national and, in come cases, international levels. Pat Sheahan, entering his 12th season leading the Queen’s Gaels, is in his 23rd year as a CIS head coach and has earned five coach of the year awards at the league level (three in OUA, two in OQIFC) plus the 2008 Frank Tindall Trophy as CIA Coach of the Year. He guided the Gaels to the 2009 Vanier Cup. Gary Jeffries has been involved with the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks for more than three decades. Since becoming head coach midway through the 2002 season, he has earned four OUA Coach of the Year Awards and the CIS Frank Tindall Trophy is 2008. Jeffries’ teams won the 2005 Vanier Cup and the Yates Cup in 2004 and 2005. JoeD’Amoreearnedappointmentasheadcoachofhisalmamater,WindsorLancers,afteranimpressiveperformanceinan interimrolelastseason,asheguidedtheteamtotheplayoffswitha5-3recordandproducedsixleagueall-starsandthree CIS all-Canadians. He was named 2011 OUA Coach of the Year. Warren Craney has made an impact since joining the York Lions as head coach in 2010. He was defensive coordinator for Team World at the international team’s historic February 2012 victory over Team USA, and also was defensive coordinator for silver-medallist Team Canada at the 2009 Junior World Championships.

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

Top 10 Running Backs of the 2000’s by Bryan Crawford

One thing that OUA has always had in spades is great running backs. Mike Bradley, Jeff Johnson, Jarrett Smith, Andy Cecchini, and Larry Mohr are just a few of the greats to run up and down stadium fields in OUA over the years. However the past decade may well have represented one of the best single periods of running back play in the history of Ontario University Athletics football. From 2000 to 2010, three OUA backs entered the CIS top 15 in career rushing, with five backs landing in the top ten CIS single season performances. Meanwhile several more would be among the best their individual program has ever seen. With so many great backs to choose from, the following criteria was taken into account; single season performances, career stats, awards and their impact on their teams and the league as a whole. The following is our list of the top 10 running backs of the 2000’s: 10. Ryan Lynch – Laurier – 2004-08 5’9, 205lbs Several great backs lined up in the back field for Wilfrid Laurier over the past decade including Nick Cameron, the ground general for the Vanier Cup winning team. Really either one is deserving of being on the list however, climbing into the top three of the all-time career rushing list at Laurier is quite an accomplishment given those who have come before and that is exactly what Ryan Lynch did between 2004 and 2008. The 2006 second team OUA all-star and 2007 first team OUA all-star would finish his career with 2,634 yards rushing, good enough for third all-time at Laurier. 9. Drew Soleyn – Western – 1999-2003 5’10, 205lbs This prototypical running back was a consistent as they come over his career at Western. As a result of his reliable play, he became third all-time on the Mustangs career rushing list with 2,739 yards. A workhorse for the offence, his 522 career carries is second all-time in the OUA record books. Soleyn was named a second team OUA all-star in 2001 and a member of the first team in 2002. 8. Mike Giffin – Queen’s – 2005-08 6’2, 235lbs Regardless of being one of the biggest backs on this list, what made Giffin even more special was his incredible elusiveness. A unique combination of size and agility, the 2008 OUA MVP was Queen’s first running back to

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eclipse 1,000 yards rushing in a single season. A first team OUA all-star and first team all-Canadian in 2007 and 2008, Giffin was an integral cog in Queen’s potent offensive attack. He would finish his career with 3,035 yards rushing and 30 touchdowns. 7. Kyle Pyear – McMaster – 1999-2003 5’9, 200lbs Being one of the smaller backs on the list didn’t affect Pyear’s productivity. Emerging from the shadows of Kojo Aidoo in 2001, Kyle Pyear would drive the Mac Machine to two more Yates Cups Championships and in the process become a 2001 and 2002 OUA first team all-star and all-Canadian. He followed up those honours by being named an OUA second team all-star in 2003 while playing alongside Jesse Lumsden. During that time this Belleville product would amass the second most career rushing yards (2,637) in McMaster history. His 2,637 career rushing yards on 406 career carries would leave him with an impressive 6.5 yard career average. 6. Kojo Aidoo – McMaster – 1998-2001 6’0, 230lbs The 2000 Hec Crighton Trophy winner (CIS MVP) was nothing short of a beast carrying the ball for the McMaster Marauders. One of the biggest and most punishing backs to ever play in the OUA, he was virtually impossible to bring down once he got going. An OUA first team all-star, all-Canadian and Dalt White Trophy Winner (Yates Cup MVP), Aidoo’s 2000 season was one of the greatest of all time. His 1,329 yards on the ground is the fourth most in a single season in OUA history, while his record of 20 rushing touchdowns is the second most in a single season in OUA history. His career numbers sit him at the fourth spot on McMasters all-time career rushing list with 2389 and third on the career TD’s list with 40. Unfortunately, a broken leg in the offseason and the emergence of Ryan Pyear and Jesse Lumsden significantly reduced his output over his final two seasons. 5. Randy McAuley – Western – 2003-07 5’11, 195lbs With a long rich history of football at Western many talented running backs have donned the Mustang uniform. Greg Marshall, Tim Tindale, and Sean Reade are among a few names of famous Mustang ball carriers. However, the best one of them all may be four time OUA all-star (2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007) Randy McAuley. The blazing fast McAuley is Western’s all-time career rushing leader with 3,620 yards, which is also the firth most career yards in OUA history. With 540 carries this workhorse of a back is the Mustangs all-time career carries leader. Even more impressive then the number of yards Randy covered in his career is the number of times he found the end zone. With 40 career rushing touchdown he is second all-time in OUA history.

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...CONTINUED

4. Andre Durie – York – 2003-05 5’10, 195lbs Easily the most electric player on the list, (check out his OUA highlights on YouTube) Andre single-handedly elevated the York football program to a new level of respectability during his brief time with the Lions. For two seasons the debate was over who was better, the hulking speedster at McMaster or the blazing fast and elusive Durie at York. His 2003 rushing total of 1,376 yards is the third best single season performance in OUA history. His season total was punctuated by first and third most yards rushing in a single game (349 vs. Ottawa in 2003 and 334 vs. Windsor in 2004). Finding the end zone 15 times that season, including a OUA record six rushing touchdown performance in one game, Andre would go on to be named a OUA first team all-star and first team all-Canadian, to go along with his 2003 second team OUA all-star status. Unfortunately a late start and a horrific knee injury cut his OUA career short or he would likely be higher on the list. However, his incredible work ethic and determination to come back from his injury paid off after being signed as a free agent by the Toronto Argonauts. Andre has since become one of the most exciting players in the Canadian Football League. 3. Nick FitzGibbon – Guelph – 2006-10 5’11, 195lbs A multitalented threat and maybe the most underrated back on the list, Nick FitzGibbon was a four time OUA all-star in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 along with being a two time second team all-Canadian in 2009 and 2010. His 3,603 career rushing yards is the fourth most in OUA history. While his 22 rushing touchdowns and 40 total career touchdowns is tied for fifth all-time. What made this 2006 Norm Marshall Trophy winner (OUA Rookie of the Year) especially dangerous was not just his ability to carry the ball but also his ability to catch it. Over the span of his five year career Nick would haul in 107 receptions for 1,410 yards and 18 touch downs. He was a huge part of the revival of Gryphon football that occurred in the latter half of the decade. 2. Darryl Stevenson – Windsor – 2004-08 6’2, 220lbs No back in the history of OUA or CIS football has carried the ball more times and for more yards than Darryl Stevenson. The 2006 Hec Crighton Trophy

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winner (CIS MVP) lugged the pigskin 822 times over five seasons for 5,163 yards. These outstanding career marks were built off of three of the top fifteen single season performance in OUA history. In 2005 he recorded the fourth most yards rushing in a single season with 1306, 2004 saw the ninth most with 1192 and the fourteenth best single season came in 2006 with 1140. Possibly foreshadowing his career, Darryl’s first carry in OUA football was a long touchdown run up the middle. After bursting onto the season in his rookie year when he was named the Norm Marshall Trophy winner (OUA Rookie of the Year), Stevenson would go on to fourth place on the OUA career rushing touchdowns list with 36. Stevenson would also be named a first team OUA all-star and CIS all-Canadian in 2005 and 2006 along with receiving OUA second team all-star recognition in 2004 and 2007. After his playing career at Windsor he would go on to be drafted in the third round of the CFL draft and continues to play for the Hamilton Tiger Cats. 1. Jesse Lumsden – McMaster – 2001-04 6’2, 226lbs Without question the most dominant back in CIS history, Jesse Lumsden tore up the field at Les Prince over four seasons from 2001-04 before becoming a first round selection of the hometown Hamilton TigerCats. A rare combination of size and speed playing behind an offensive line that punished defensive fronts, the 2004 Hec Crighton Trophy winner (CIS MVP) set the CIS on fire by setting the single season CIS rushing record with 1,816 yards, a record that would include 344 yards gained in one game, the second most rushing yards in a single game in OUA history. He would go on that season and add the longest rush in OUA and CIS history with a 108 yard scamper. However, not to be over looked is his 2003 total of 1,497 yards, the fourth best single season total in CIS history. His accomplishments carrying the ball would lead him to being named an OUA first team all-star and CIS all-Canadian in both 2003 and 2004. In addition to setting the single season rushing record, he would also score the most touchdowns and most rushing touchdowns in a season in 2004, with 21 to go along with the 19 he scored a season a year earlier (the third most in a single season in CIS history). In addition to his two outstanding single seasons he would finish his OUA career with the most rushing touchdowns in a career with 46, including a five rushing touchdown performance in 2003 versus Western. Despite only playing four seasons, Jesse finished his career with 4,138 yards on the ground, the second most in OUA history and fifth most in CIS history, and a 9.0 yard per carry career average. Unfortunately his professional career was cut short by numerous injuries. However, he would end up trading in his cleats for spikes and competing for Canada in Bobsleigh at the Vancouver Olympics.

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

MY VANIER EXPERIENCE by JON BEHIE

For ten years now, my life has revolved around McMaster University Athletics. Over that time, as I transitioned from recruit to student – athlete to alumnus to coach, I have always tried to do my small part to help the Marauders achieve the ultimate goal of winning a national championship. I had come close early in my university career. In 2002 & 2003 as a quarterback for the Marauders, we won the Yates Cup but fell short in the national semi-final both years. As the years went by, we never returned to that level, getting back to the Yates Cup only once since. As my role changed within our football program (player 20022006, positional coach 2007-2008, offensive coordinator 2009-present, Assistant Head Coach 2012), the success of the early 2000’s seemed like a lifetime ago. The goal of winning a Vanier Cup, which started out as inevitable to some in our program was starting to seem almost impossible. That sense of impossibility made November 25th 2011 even more special to me. That was the night that McMaster won its first Vanier Cup in school history. Preparation for the Vanier Cup was not easy. Firstly, there was the logistics. We played in the Uteck Bowl in Moncton the previous Friday night and flew home in the middle of the night. We then flew to Vancouver four days before the Vanier Cup. While the cross-country travel was a great experience for our coaches, players and staff, it obviously had an impact on our practice routines and game preparation. Secondly, our opponent in the Vanier Cup, the Laval Rouge et Or, looked extremely impressive on film. Their defensive statistics were off the charts in both points and yards allowed. By our estimation, they had at least 5 players with CFL (or NFL!) potential in their front. That said, we were tested. We had played in consecutive weeks against Queens, Western and Acadia, all of whom had excellent front sevens. As we watched more film, our offensive game plan became clear: throw the football. With the Vanier Cup being played indoors at newly renovated BC Place, we felt like we had an advantage through the air. The majority of our practice time that week was spent running through protections and stressing to the offensive line and running backs how important it was to keep our quarterback, Kyle Quinlan, on his feet. Our receivers were told that they needed to run crisp routes and could expect to see an extremely physical secondary. But beyond the X’s and O’s, it was stressed that the whole Vanier Cup experience was one that everyone should embrace and enjoy. As I learned all too well as a player, there was never a guarantee that any of us would be back playing for a championship again. Did our players need to be focused? Of course. Was the game itself the biggest game any of us had ever been a part of? No doubt. But we also needed to appreciate where we were and have the ability to enjoy the little things. If you’re reading this, you probably know that the game was a classic. The Marauders outlasted the Rouge et Or 41-38 in two overtimes. Our coaches, led by Head Coach Stefan Ptaszek, did an exceptional job getting our players prepared. Offense, defense and special teams played outstanding. I have a DVD copy of the game

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and can watch it countless times over the next decade. What I don’t have is a DVD of all of the other things I will never forget. I have great memories of taking the gondola up Grouse Mountain the morning of the game with my wife Jenn, Assistant Coach Ryan Loveday and his fiancé Hayley. I laugh about nearly blowing out a hamstring trying to hit the jumbotron at BC Place with a punt with Kicking Coach Dana Segin (no one hit it). I can recall practicing at UBC’s Thunderbird Stadium and hearing old war stories from Offensive Line Coach Jason Riley (UBC Alumni) and Coach Ptaszek (former UBC Special Teams Coordinator). I remember finding a Boston Pizza to have our ‘night before the game’ meal with Running Back Coach Larry Guarascia and General Manager Stu Smith amongst others. I remember the last offensive meeting of the year, reflecting on the 2011 season that brought our players and coaches so close together. And beyond the game itself, I remember how big and bright BC Place was on game day. I can recall how loud the crowd was that night. Most of all, I remember lifting the Vanier Cup for the first time. In hindsight, I’m so glad I took the time to focus on more than just the Vanier Cup itself. As the Marauders have moved into 2012, I realize how lucky I am to have won the Vanier Cup as a coach at such a young age. I also know now that it is not impossible, just very, very difficult; a feat that takes countless amounts of work from too many people to list. And as great as 2011 was for the Marauders, we all know that it means very little heading into 2012. A new season with new challenges awaits, and I’m ready and eager to enjoy all that it brings. (Photo provided by Jon Behie)

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

1. MCMASTER MARAUDERS by Mike Hogan

Even if the Marauders win a second-consecutive Vanier Cup it will be hard to duplicate the drama of 2011. Head Coach Stefan Ptaszek's team lost a Week 2 game to Western and was forced to suspend Hec Crighton candidate QB Kyle Quinlan for an off-field incident. That may have disheartened other teams, but this group was special. It rallied behind its QB and when he came back he repaid the trust by playing his best football of the season. MAC got on a roll. It won its final six regular-season games to finish with a 7-1 record. In the playoffs the Marauders rolled over Queen's and Western to win the Yates Cup, blew out Acadia to win the Uteck Bowl and then capped off the season with an incredible, heart stopping, improbable 41-38 double overtime Vanier Cup win over perennial powerhouse Laval. The championship game ranks with the most exciting contests ever played at any level of three-down football. Good luck following that. That doesn't mean the Marauders don't have the chance to go back-to-back because this group has all of the elements in place to become the first school to win consecutive national titles since the Rouge et Or did it in 2003-04. The brightest star on the team is Quinlan, the Vanier Cup MVP. He's back after a tryout with the Montreal Alouettes. His athletic abilities are obvious to anyone who watches him play, but it's the intangibles that make the fifth-year signal caller special. Ptaszek calls him "a leader in every sense of the word". Marshall Ferguson, who started three games last year during Quinlan's suspension, returns as the backup. It's not just the return of the QB that has the Marauders rated among the country's best teams. Quinlan has a lot of toys at his disposal as virtually the entire offence is returning. Injury gave RB Chris Pezzetta an opportunity to start in his freshman campaign and he never relinquished the job. He carried the ball 67 times and averaged seven yards per rush. MAC's game plan is to rotate backs so the starter remains relatively fresh, which means returning backs Kasean Davis-Reynolds and Jimmy Hill will get the chance to earn reps. Need receivers? The Marauders have plenty of skill coming back. Aside from losing Matt Peressini to graduation (he's now working at the CFL head office) last year's star-studded group has returned. It's a big year for Michael DiCroce, the country's leading receiver last year, who is entering his CFL draft year. Max Cameron and Andrin Masotti, the son of former Argo Paul, did not start last year, but will compete for playing time this time around.

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

If getting most of the "skill position" players back is good news, the great news is that the maroon and silver have their entire starting offensive line coming back. Matt Sewell, Elliott Montag, Jason Medeiros, and Christopher Pickard comprise a unit that could dominate their opponents. It's a particularly interesting season for Sewell, who may have a crack at the NFL next year. The unit also gets some added depth with the addition of Jordan Cozzi, a former starter at Laurier. Offensive Coordinator Jon Behie has one of the best returning groups in recent memory at his disposal. Unless you're an opponent of MAC this offence should be a lot of fun to watch. If there's a question anywhere on the Marauders it’s involving the defensive line. This is the one area that was ravaged by graduation. The jobs are open in camp and one newcomer Defensive Coordinator Greg Knox will keep a keen eye on is 6'4" Zach Intzandt from London. There's little question that the biggest loss experienced by MAC is the position of middle linebacker. Ryan Chmielewski was a force that was felt in every situation. He found his way to the football as well as anyone in the country. The player most likely to fill ‘Chummer's’ shoes is Trevor Gary, the son of the U-of-Toronto head

Photo Source: Michael P Hall

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

coach. MAC’s Vanier Cup MVP Nick Shortill is back at one outside spot. The Marauders will also be trying to fit a couple of talented freshmen into the lineup, Kyle Fitzsimons of Newmarket and BC’s Jake Heathcote. As a group, the DBs had a CIS best 19 INTs last season and added ten more in the playoffs. What will keep opposing OCs awake is knowing that every starting member of this group of ball hawks is back. Joey Cupido, Allan Dicks, allstar Michael Daly, Stephen Dennis and Steven Ventresca will attempt to drive opposing QBs crazy once again. The Hawks also benefit from the return of the best PK in the coutry. Tyler Crapigna battled mononucleosis last year, but returned to kick the game-winning field goal in double overtime versus Laval to win the Vanier Cup. He may do double duty again, but will be challenged for the punting duties by backup QB Ferguson. How good is this team? It won the National Championship last year and should be even better this year. MAC enters the season as prohibitive favourites to repeat as Yates Cup c h a m p i o n s . Stefan Ptaszek says: "We have to get better every day, but that's easier said than done.”

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2011 TEAM LEADERS OFFENSE Passing K. Quinlan M. Ferguson

Comp Att Yds % 99 153 1708 64.7% 67 98 901 68.4%

Rushing C. Pezzetta J. Nemet J. Hill K. Quinlan M. Dicroce

Att Yds Avg TD 67 472 7.00 5 66 326 4.80 0 49 308 6.10 0 27 234 8.70 1 18 174 9.70 0

Receiving M. Dicroce B. Fochesato M. Peressini

Rec Yds Avg TD 51 952 18.67 7 19 501 26.37 3 36 436 12.11 8

TD 13 8

Int 2 2

SPECIAL TEAMS Kickoff Return Ret Yds Avg G. Spero 10 193 19.30 A. Dicks 4 74 18.50 Punt Return Ret Yds Avg G. Spero 25 269 10.79 R. Babic 10 35 3.50 M. Dicroce 5 61 12.20 Kickoffs Att Yds Avg T. Crapigna 39 1945 49.87

Lng 40 27 Lng 80 12 21

Punting T. Crapigna K. Quinlan

Att Yds Avg 50 1627 32.54 2 61 30.50

Field Goals T. Crapigna

Att 21

DEFENCE

Tackles Tot Solo Ast R. Chimielewski 40 38 4 N. Shortill 34 32 4 A. Eisho 32.5 30 5 S. Ventresca 28.5 28 1 Sacks Sack R. Chimielewski 4 S. Beaton 3 B. D'Aguillar Interceptions M. Daly S. Ventresca J. Cupido

Int 5 4 3

Made Avg Lng 18 86% 46

Did you knowâ&#x20AC;Ś Mike DiCroce became the sixth Marauder to capture OUA MVP

honours, following in the footsteps of : Jesse Lumsden (2004), Ben Chapdelaine (1998 & 2001), Kojo Aidoo (2000), Phil Scarfone (1983 & 1984), and Ross Tripp (1974).

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

2. QUEENS GAELS by Mike Hogan

They were among the best teams in the CIS at running the football and defending the run. The passing game featured a number of game breakers but that still wasn't enough for the Queen's Gaels last year. Pat Sheahan's group came out incredibly flat. The Gaels simply couldn't run the football against either McMaster or Ottawa and started with a 0-2 record. A Week 3 win over Laurier got things moving in the right direction and Queen's ended up winning its last six games in the regular season, then beat the Golden Hawks again in a playoff game before losing to the eventual Vanier Cup champions in Hamilton. Billy McPhee is back for the Gaels. The strong-armed QB should be ready to take the next step in his maturation process. He's a second-year starter who had a so-so 2011 season. With the emphasis on the running game his yardage wasn't spectacular, ranking fifth among OUA QBs. Only Waterloo's Luke Balch was sacked more among the conference's pivots and McPhee only threw 9 TD passes against 7 INTs. His 51 percent completion rate was also among the worst in the conference. It would be a major shock if his numbers were that low again. McPhee won't have any problem with the talent surrounding him. When he hands off the ball he'll be doing so to last year's CIS rushing leader Ryan Granberg. The Gaels rushing attack started slowly last year before becoming the most effective ground game in the country. Granberg led the nation with 1,068 yards. He actually had 181 rushing yards more than phenom Tyler Varga on just 5 more carries. Former starting QB Justin Chapdelaine and Winnipeg Blue Bombers draft pick Giovanni Aprile highlight a very good receiving corps. Chapdelaine has a tremendous amount of speed while Aprile became a bigplay target for McPhee, averaging over 19 yards per catch. Newcomer Doug Corby of Burlington was the go-to receiver for the powerful Nelson Lords last year and played for Canada at the U-19 tournament in Texas. The offensive line should be very, very good. There has to be a tremendous amount of talent on an O-line if the RB they're creating holes for leads the country in rushing. That was the case last year as C Mike Sullivan was an OUA first team all-star, while G Derek Morris and OT Josh Prinsen were given second team OUA honours. All three are back for the Gaels this season. The team is also excited about a couple of recruits from Sudbury, Erick Lessard and Emilio Frometa, both of whom also played for Canada at the U-19s .

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

Last year the defence didn't give up a rushing touchdown until the playoff loss to McMaster, but will have some holes to fill this season. The defensive line has been hit hard by graduation. Frank Pankewich and J.P. Metras winner Osie Ukwuoma are both gone. Fortunately John Miniaci and Derek Wiggan were both all-conference as well, and both are back and will be counted on by Defensive Coordinator Pat Tracey to stabilize the front four. Ottawa's Natu Myers and John Meenagh of Calgary are among the top recruits on the line. If you don't enjoy watching LB Sam Sabourin play you probably don't like the sport. Only playing in his second season Sabourin was named a second team all-Canadian. He flies to the football and rarely misses a tackle. Andrew Lue was also a second-year player who was a second team all-Canadian. He'll anchor a secondary that includes ball hawk T.J. Chase-Dunawa. The Gaels were happy to land freshman DB Jordan Comtois from Montreal. K Dan Village's final season was a disappointing one. The leading scorer in Queen's long history was just 10/20 kicking FGs. Among those competing for his job is highly-touted freshman Dillon Walmsley from London. There is no question that the Gaels are going to be an upper echelon team this season. Are they good enough to

Photo Source: Michael P Hall

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

win the conference? That's the biggest question in Kingston this year. Pat Sheahan says: "Our expectations are cautiously optimistic, but the guys have to deliver.â&#x20AC;? *Source: Queen's Sports Info

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

2011 TEAM LEADERS OFFENSE Passing B. McPhee R. Mitchell

Comp Att Yds % 108 213 1660 50.7% 12 15 248 80.0%

Rushing R. Granberg B. McPhee C. Rushon J. Chapdelaine

Att Yds Avg TD 161 1113 6.09 9 31 147 4.56 2 28 154 3.56 2 16 93 5.02 0

Receiving G. Aprile J. Chapdelaine A. Carroll C. Patrician T. Howes

Rec Yds Avg TD 31 594 19.16 4 30 524 17.47 2 15 230 15.33 1 14 194 13.86 2 14 179 12.79 0

SPECIAL TEAMS Kickoff Return G. Apile A. Carroll

Ret 10 5

Yds 365 157

Avg 37 31.4

Lng 109 44

Punt Return A. Carroll J. Chapdelaine J. Sultana

Ret 41 9 5

Yds 463 57 102

Avg 11.3 6.3 20.4

Lng 70 24 65

Kickoffs D. Village

Att Yds Avg 39 1975 50.64

Punting D. Village

Att Yds Avg 67 2389 35.66

Field Goals D. Village

Att 20

TD 9 88

Int 7 0

DEFENCE Tackles M. Webster S. Sabourin O. Ukwuoma

Tot Solo Ast 27.5 25 5 27 23 8 27 24 6

Sacks Sack O. Ukwuoma 6 J. Miniaci 3.5 D. Wiggan 3 2 Tied 1.5 Interceptions Int T. Chase-Dunawa 4 2 Tied 2

Made Avg Lng 10 50% 47

Did you knowâ&#x20AC;Ś The Gaels defence did not allow a rushing tuchdown last season. Their previous low was two rushing TDs allowed, set in 2003.

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

3 . WESTERN MUSTANGS BY MIKE HOGAN

The news came out of left field. It was greeted with frustration in London and a sense of relief across the rest of OUA. Tyler Varga was transferring to Yale. Varga entered the OUA as a 17 year-old out of Cameron Heights C.I. in Kitchener and took the country by storm. At 5'10", 220 pounds he possessed a rare combination of speed and power. Despite sharing the backfield with the talented Nathan Riva, Varga lit up opponents for 799 yards rushing and a CIS-leading 15 TDs. But that's changed. Varga is now a former Mustang. As much as that player move was talked about in the offseason, another one created an equal amount of discussion when the country's most highly-recruited QB gave the 'Stangs the good news. Will Finch was headed to Western. The Burlington product won't have the same immediate impact Varga did because he will not start at QB. Donnie Marshall is back for his fifth and final season. Marshall fought through injuries and while he played exceptionally well when healthy, he was injured at the most crucial point of the season and Western wasn't the same team without him. He's healthy, ready to go and has a 6'3" insurance policy behind him. Head Coach Greg Marshall coached Finch on Canada's gold-medal winning World U-19 team. He says the youngster's best quality is "his ability to throw the ball with accuracy while under pressure. His decision making is also great.â&#x20AC;? When Greg's son Donnie looks downfield his main target will be, you guessed it, Donnie's brother Brian. Their brother Tommy is also on the team as a freshman RB. Andrew Thibaudeau will return as well. The group will miss 290 pound TE/FB Dan Duff. The loss of Duff means the Mustangs likely won't use a FB set very much. The TE job will likely go to London freshman Brandon Ryckman. The departure of Varga to Yale and Riva to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL makes room for Yannick Harou. The Gatineau, Que. product who played in Ontario at St. Andrew's was deciding between two other OUA schools when Varga announced he was leaving. Western pounced and brought Harou to London. Garret Sanvido is a natural RB who had moved to the slot and will now get some carries. Offensive linemen Brendan Dunn and Matt Norman are now in the CFL with Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the BC Lions, but it's still a good group. An all-star on defence, Mike van Praet moves from one side of the ball

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

to the other and will play LG. Shane Bergman is back and healthy again after two years away, Greg Willson is at C, Joshua Burley is at tackle and Eric Armitage plays RG. Recruits include Dan Burch from the Philadelphia, Pa. area, Winnipeg's Sean Jamieson and Kadeem Adams from Halifax who played on the Canadian U-19 team. Former Waterloo Head Coach Dennis McPhee is now Western's Defensive Coordinator. He'll see the hard-hitting Mike Spence anchoring a solid secondary. He'll be joined by Jamie Symianick, Kalvin Johnson and the Finnikin twins, Horace at DH and Horratio at CB...or is it Horratio at DH and Horace at CB? David Lee has left for the CFL's Toronto Argonauts and Mike Van Praet is on offence, but this still may be the unit with the most depth. Daryl Waud is back. Newcomers include Canadian Football Hall of Famer Rod Connop's son Rory, who red-shirted and transferred from Boise State. The elder Connop and Marshall were teammates in Edmonton. One of the country's most Canadian in the secondary last Landry during a game just look will move from Sam to Will.

entertaining players has a new position. A First Team Allyear, Beau Landry moves to Sam linebacker. If you want to find for the football and the odds are good that he'll be there. Sean Blake Pawel Kruba and Jerod McCrory will battle for the MLB spot.

Lirim Hajrullahu is back to do the kicking. Last year he was 20/26 in the regular season with a long kick of 49 yards.

Photo Source: Michael P Hall

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

McMaster may be the favourite to win the OUA this year, but nobody can take this team lightly for a second. Greg Marshall says: "I like our overall depth. We're young, but we have high aspirations.â&#x20AC;?

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

2011 TEAM LEADERS OFFENSE Passing D. Marshall B. Rossong

Comp Att Yds % 68 124 990 54.8% 36 67 561 53.7%

TD 3 3

Rushing T. Varga N. Riva D. Marshall Receiving A. Thibaudeau B. Marshall Z. Bull G. Sanvido

Att Yds Avg TD 135 805 5.9 15 92 568 6.17 9 41 343 8.30 0

Int 4 1

Rec Yds Avg TD 28 398 14.20 1 20 378 18.90 3 20 316 15.80 2 18 162 9.00 0

SPECIAL TEAMS Kickoff Return A. Thibaudeau G. Sanvido

Ret 15 10

Yds 260 273

Avg Lng 17.30 31 27.30 62

Punt Return B. Roberts G. Sanvido

Ret 39 7

Yds 288 49

Avg 7.38 7.00

Kickoffs L. Harjullahu

Att Yds Avg 50 3016 60.32

Punting D. Wheeler D. Marshall

Att Yds Avg 57 2354 41.30 1 20 20.00

Field Goals L. Harjullahu

Att 21

Lng 43 15

Made Avg Lng 11 52% 40

DEFENCE Tackles B. Landry L. Reda P. Kruba D. Lee 28.5

Tot 38 33 28.5 22

Solo Ast 31 14 22 22 23 11 13

Sacks Sack D. Lee 5 B. Wheeler 2 D. Ainsworth 2 Interceptions Int B. Landry 4 M. Spence 3 S. Blake 2 J. Symianick 2

Did you know… Western’s coaches Greg Marshall and Jamie Bone have both won the Hec Crighton Trophy in 1980 and 1978 respectively.

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

4 . WINDSOR LANCERS

by Mike Hogan

It would be unfair to say that the Windsor Lancers sneaked up on the OUA last year, but the way they did it was a bit surprising. Flash back to Week 2. The Lancers were at Laurier. They fell behind 16-0 and starting QB Sam Malian was injured. His replacement took the field and the Lancers season changed for the better. Austin Kennedy was a relatively unknown entity when he ran onto the field that night, but by the time he left the league was talking about what he did. He came off the bench to throw for 443 yards with five TDs and no INTs. Kennedy also rushed for 112 yards in a mind numbing 41-40 victory that following a punt, ended on a rouge. A star was born. The Lancers would finish with a 5-3 record, a playoff win over Ottawa and a brand new fulltime coach. Joe D'Amore had the "interim" tag removed from his title after the season was over. Kennedy is back to lead what should be a very entertaining offence. He's worked hard in the offseason to reduce the number of turnovers. The Windsor native will have a lot of familiar faces surrounding him. The deep, talented receiving corps is almost intact, save for Cory Fernandes. Evan Pszczonak, Dylan Whitfield and First Team All-Canadian Jordan Brescacin have all returned. Brescacin finished third in the OUA in receiving and didn't look out of place in the pros. He went to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats camp and caught a pass for 31 yards in an exhibition game against the Argos. The group also includes 6'5', 225 SB/TE Kyle Tyo. Offensive Coordinator Jon Dent will be spending extra time looking at RBs in camp as both Shomari Grant and Paul Lefaive have graduated. Mitch Dender enters his fourth season and it may be his time to be the feature back. He'll be pushed by Kenny Eansor, a transfer from Western. Four members of last year's offensive line are back. This year's line will feature Samir Mouawad and Jered Olsen at the tackle, Jeremy Veres and Jacob Myall at guard and Nick Corrado at centre. Three of those players are in their fourth year; the other two are in their second. When notice before is that

Defensive Coordinator Jim Macdougall looks at his defensive line the first thing he'll is that First Team All-Canadian Seamus Postuma is gone. He made the CFL's Ticats getting hurt early in the season. It's a big hole to fill both literally and figuratively, but the good news the DC will see a lot of familiar, talented faces. Gerrit Post, Andrew Bakos, Stephan Miller and

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

John Langley comprise the starting front four. Taras Potopilnyj will also see a lot of reps in the rotation. Brad Adams is back for a fifth year and will be the man in the middle in a pretty deep group of LBs. Akeem Whonder and John Moynahan will be on either side of him. Other members of this unit are Laurier transfer Nathan O'Holloran and Chris Deneau, who is back after serving a two-year CIS suspension for using a banned substance. Shea Pierre is back from Toronto Argonaut camp and will man one corner. It's a veteran secondary with Josh Burns, Udoka Nwaesei, Second Team All-Canadian Matt McGarva and Jermaine Simpson joining Pierre. All of these players are in either their fourth or fifth year with the Lancers so rookie mistakes won't enter the equation. Dan Cerino will return to do the kicking, while Keaton Jones and local product Austin Crumb, a freshman who was an OVFL All-Star, will be counted on as returners.

Photo Source: Michael P Hall

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

The Lancers will be an exciting team to watch this year. If Kennedy continues to improve his play they'll be as dangerous as they are entertaining. Joe D'Amore says: "We're going to be competitive. We have a lot of speed and will play with a high tempo.â&#x20AC;?

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

2011 TEAM LEADERS OFFENSE Passing A. Kennedy S. Malian

Comp Att Yds % 138 215 2108 65.1% 14 24 143 58.3%

TD 20 0

Int 5 1

Rushing Att Yds Avg TD S. Grant 119 586 4.92 3 A. Kennedy 60 439 7.32 4 P. Lefaive 26 169 6.50 2 Receiving Rec Yds Avg TD J. Brescacin 50 773 15.46 7 C. Fernandes 50 644 12.88 5 E. Pszczonak 24 485 20.21 7 D. Whitfield 12 157 13.08 1

SPECIAL TEAMS Kickoff Return M. Dender S. Pierre

Ret 12 7

DEFENCE

Punt Return M. Dender S. Pierre G. Stewart Kickoffs D. Cerino Punting D. Cerino Field Goals D. Cerino

Ret Yds Avg Lng 23 237 10.30 73 17 209 12.29 60 4 20 5 12

Sacks Sack T. Potopilnyj 4.5 S. Postuma 4.5 M. McGarva 4 Interceptions Int S. Van Hende 3 U. Nwaesei 2 3 Tied 1

Yds 235 197

Avg Lng 19.58 38 28.14 104

Att Yds Avg 37 1784 48.22 Att Yds Avg 48 1629 33.94 Att 9

Made Avg Lng 3 33% 41

Tackles M. McGarva B. Adams A. Whonder J. Simpson U. Nwaesei S. Pierre

Tot Solo Ast 48 45 6 37.5 34 7 30.5 28 5 30 30 0 26.5 24 5 23 22 2

Did you knowâ&#x20AC;Ś Out of seven Lancers in the CFL during the 2012 season, four were members of the Hamilton Tiger Cats (Daryl Stephenson, Jordan Brescacin, Seamus Postuma & Matt Bucknor).

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

5 . LAURIER GOLDEN HAWKS BY MIKE HOGAN

For the tenth time Laurier enters the season with Gary Jeffries as its head coach, but few realize how close the program came to needing a replacement for him. Jeffries admitted at the Hawks annual fund-raising dinner that he seriously contemplated hanging up the headset for good after a 14-10 first-round playoff loss at Queen's. In Jeffries' world a 4-4 regular season and early playoff exit didn't live up to the expectations of the program. If the coach is going to go down it won't be without a fight. He brought in a school record 52 recruits in an effort to get the Hawks back atop the OUA perch, somewhere they haven't sat since 2005. The most interesting newcomer may be the final one the Hawks landed. The team needed to replace Shane Kelly, one of the CIS' top passers at QB and there was no clear replacement, but in early August the school was contacted by QB Travis Eman, a Brampton native who spent the last two seasons playing at Canisius HS in Buffalo, N.Y. He was signed, sealed and delivered to Furman University, a D-1 FCS school in South Carolina, but for family reasons Eman felt it necessary to return home and that's where Laurier came in. He called Laurier and Laurier listened. The 19 year old is 6'2", 220 pounds and runs a 4.5/40. Jeffries says it's an open competition between Eman and three returning players, but it would be fair to say that Eman will certainly get the longest look. If the QB question has been answered then the group protecting him remains a mystery. This is now the biggest area of concern in Hawk land by a considerable margin. It's not a question of ability, but of experience. Laurier could enter the season with four freshmen on the line protecting a first-year starter, usually a recipe for disaster. Luis Aranguren is the returnee who is pencilled in at LT. The group of youngsters who will compete for the remaining jobs include Casey Blight from Newmarket, London product Richard Davidson, Hamilton's Ryan Howatt, Ryan Traynor of King City and Brad Berry of Windsor. Coach Jeffries loves what the group could become, but admits it's going to take some time. At RB two familiar names will be lining up at others positions, leaving the starting job up for grabs. Rashad La Touche will line up at h-back while Anton Bennett moves to the slot. Again the talk is about a pair of talented freshmen having a golden opportunity to get major reps. Darian Waite from Richmond Hill and London's Eric Guiltinan would bring more speed to the position. Three returning players will also vie for the starter's job. Yet another freshman, Matt Barkovich of Hamilton, will be the favourite to start at FB. Graduation hit the receiving corps hard. Gone are Dillon Heap and Edmonton Eskimo Shamawd Chambers.

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

Jeffries says you can never replace players like that but they're pleased with what they have. Bennett moves to the slot and will be joined by returnees Alex Anthony and Kelvin Muamba. Greg Nyhof will also move to the position after being a depth QB last year. The top receiver recruit is speedster Tom Stawiarski of Ancaster. Brantford's Matt Digout is the early favourite to start at TE, a position Offensive Coordinator Ryan Pyear will employ more this year. Again, three more freshmen will be pushing him. Defensively the Hawks will be very quick to the football. Alex Brouwers is back on the line while Asante Mizan moves from one side of the ball to the other. Ese Mrabure-Ajufo and Ben Ivany are back and will likely start at DE. The top recruit to the unit is Owen MacWilliams from Charlottetown. At LB Mitchell Bosch headlines the returning group which sees Nick Saponi join Bosch on the outside with Drew Galpin in the middle. It's a very deep, very talented group. The Hawks have 16 incoming LBs and Coach Jeffries likes all of them, particularly local product Andrew McWhinnie who the coach calls "a special talent". A lot of players fit into the hybrid LB/DE mould so the talent will have to sort itself out. Defensive Coordinator Ron Van Moerkerke will also love his secondary. All-star Chris

Photo Source: Michael P Hall

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

Ackie is back at safety and will be joined by Felix Odum and Shane Burns at the corners, Carlos Naranjo will play one halfback spot with there being an open competition for the other. PK Ronnie Pfeffer was 9/11 kicking FGs last year and is back. He will be pushed by recruit Charles Smith from Guelph. The Hawks have to improve their punting from a year ago as it was simply not of OUA caliber. There will be an open competition to replace Heap as the number-one returner. Muamba, Stawiarki and Guiltinan are the early favourites. Jeffries bristled when asked if this was a rebuilding year. He preferred to call it "reloading". This doesn't appear to be a team ready to challenge for a Yates Cup title this year, but the time-tested adage "defence wins championships" may allow Laurier to surprise some people while the offence catches up. Gary Jeffries says..."How quickly these kids mature are the key. We will be solid on D and we hope that can hold us up until the offence catches up."

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

2011 TEAM LEADERS OFFENSE Passing S.Kelly S. Fantham

Comp Att Yds % 177 303 2236 58.4% 2 7 56 28.6%

TD 20 2

Rushing A. Bennett R. La Touche T. Wilson S. Kelly Receiving D. Heap S. Chambers M. Surya R. Jirgens

Att Yds Avg TD 66 390 5.91 1 41 225 5.49 4 12 109 9.00 1 16 85 5.31 1

Int 12 1

Rec Yds Avg TD 40 625 15.63 3 36 562 15.61 5 31 365 11.77 5 16 186 11.63 2

SPECIAL TEAMS Kickoff Return F. Odum D. Heap

Ret 11 6

Yds 318 121

Avg Lng 28.90 92 20.16 31

Punt Return D. Heap F. Odum

Ret 40 13

Yds 458 151

Avg Lng 11.45 63 11.62 32

Kickoffs R. Pfeffer

Att Yds Avg 33 1753 53.10

Punting R. Pfeffer Field Goals R. Pfeffer

Att Yds Avg 43 1246 28.98 Att 11

Made Avg Lng 9 82% 43

DEFENCE Tackles S. Aird 44 M. Bosch C. Naranjo F. Odum

Tot 33 41.5 32 29.5

Solo Ast 22 33 17 25 14 24 11

Sacks Sacks S. Aird 2.5 S. Troop 2 G. Kourtesiotis 1.5 7 Tied 1 Interceptions S. Herbert S. McCahill 3 Tied 1

Int 3 3

Did you knowâ&#x20AC;Ś Wilfrid Laurier Head Coach Gary Jeffries will be entering his 48th coaching season in Canadian univeristy sport in 2012 with 35 of those seasons coming with the Golden Hawks football program.

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

FEATURE ARTICLE:

mitchell bosch

by Jamie Howesion

Coming into his fifth and final season with the Golden Hawks, Langley, B.C., native Mitchell Bosch is set to once again be a defensive force for Laurier. Over the course of his career with the purple and gold, the 6-1, 215 lbs., Bosch has consistently been a defensive leader for the team tallying over 40 tackles in three of his four seasons. The only season Bosch has fallen short of the 40 tackle mark was his rookie season in which he had a total of 36 tackles, 4 knockdowns, 2 interceptions and a touchdown. During his time as a Hawk, Bosch has ranked as a top defensive player in the OUA in every season, including being named to the OUA Football Second All-Star team in back-to-back seasons in 2010 and 2011. While Bosch has already put up impressive numbers, in the upcoming season he is poised to carve himself out a spot in the Laurier history books by claiming the top-spot for all-time career tackles by a Golden Hawk. Bosch is currently in second for all-time tackles with 166, only 14.5 behind Kevin MacNeill who set the current record in 2003. Having averaged 41.5 tackles a season over his career, it is a task that seems well within Bosch’s grasp this year. Bosch’s skills are being recognized outside of Laurier as well. In 2011, he was invited to play in the CIS East West bowl but unfortunately, was unable to play due to injury. “Mitchell is a very gifted athlete who has played all three linebacker positions during his career at Laurier,” says Jefferies of the Will linebacker. “He will no doubt, barring injury, be the leading tackler in Golden Hawk history and should get a real opportunity, upon graduation, at the next level in the CFL.” Bosch, along with former teammate Shamawd Chambers, was one of 59 players invited to participate in the 2012 Canadian Football League (CFL) Evaluation Camp. Bosch performed well at the camp, particularly in the vertical jump (34 inches) and broad jump (9 feet, 5.5 inches). Coach Gary Jeffries is confident in the quality of play that Bosch will bring to this season and beyond. Apart from his skills on the field what really makes Bosch stand out as Golden Hawk is his leadership skills. Bosch is a team captain and as a veteran entering his fifth season, he will play an important part in helping develop younger players to ensure the Golden Hawks will remain strong in years to come.

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview 43

“Mitch leads by example and is a hard worker in both the on- and off-season,” said Jeffries. “His intensity on the field is contagious and he is without a doubt the leader of our defence.” With a future playing professionally looking promising, Bosch will spend his final season with the Hawks attempting to do something that has not happened in his time with the purple and gold; bringing the Yates Cup back to Laurier.

Photo Source: Laurier Athletics

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

6. OTTAWA GEE GEES BY MIKE HOGAN

There's always something a little bit sadder about a playoff loss when it comes at home. The Gee-Gees' Yates Cup dreams came to an end last year with a 50-33 opening-round loss to Windsor at Frank Clair Stadium. It put the wraps on a season that saw the club post a 5-3 regular season record, and a very busy off season. The playoff game would be the final one for J.P. Asselin as head coach. He'd leave the program to take the offensive coordinator's job with the Carleton Ravens, a cross-town rival that won't begin play until 2013. His departure led to a search for a new HC that would eventually see long time CFL coach Gary Etcheverry take the job. Losing that game to the Lancers also wrapped up the Gee-Gees era at Lansdowne Park. The opening of their new on-campus facility was delayed until November so the team will be forced to play its home games in Carleton Place, about 60 kilometres from the campus. It really will be a different looking team this year. It was a tough situation for Aaron Colbon. The QB was forced to follow in the footsteps of his extremely talented predecessors Josh Sacobie and Brad Sinopoli and he didn't disappoint, throwing for over 2,000 yards and 18 TDs. Colbon is now back for a fifth season, his second as a starter. The Gee-Gees may have recruited Colbon's eventual replacement as Zac Lesko of Edmonton joins the program this year. Brendan Gillanders is back again as the starting running back. He was third in the conference with 767 rushing yards. Franck Ngandui returns and will certainly get some carries. He had over 350 yards rushing last year. The receiving corps is led by Simon Le Marquand. He had a spectacular season for the Gee-Gees, racking up 867 receiving yards, second-best in the conference. Bogdan Raic will be missed. He didn't get drafted by a CFL team, but has hopefully found a home after signing a contract with the Hamilton Tiger Cats. A couple of highly touted newcomers, Vincent Campbell of Gatineau and Ottawa's Scott Watson, add to the depth of the unit. The speedy Campbell joins his brother Julien on the team. 6'4 300 lbs. Tyler Servais is back to lead the offensive line. He's coming off an all-star season and an appearance in the East/West Bowl. On the other side of the football Ettore Lattanzio is back. He led the team with five sacks as a freshman and returns to anchor the front four for Defensive Coordinator Cory McDiarmid.

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

The best news about the linebacking corps is that Tyler Sawyer opted to return for a fifth year. He was named a second team OUA all-star last season. There's more experience in the group as Robert Griffiths is back for a fourth year in garnet and grey. Among the recruits is the powerful Josh Hill of Kingston. The Gee-Gees led the CIS in takeaways last year with 14 interceptions and a dozen fumble recoveries and their aggressive secondary was a big reason why. Chris Daly is back for a fifth season. He's effective not only as a cover man but loves to hit as well. He'll be joined in the secondary by fourth-year player Matt Bond-Lapointe, who had three picks in 2012. Newcomers of note include Ty Cranston of Winnipeg and Sammy Rupcic of Stoney Creek. Matt Falvo has a very strong leg and will return for another year as PK. He needs just three FGs to become the all-time Gee-Gees' leader in that category. He didn't have his best year in 2012, hitting only 14 FGs on 23 attempts. Freshman Dominic Bellardini from Hamilton may be the PK in waiting. Coach Etcheverry was known for his unique defensive approach in the CFL, but McDiarmid is the DC here. It will be interesting to see how â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Coach Etch'sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; influence is felt on that side of the ball.

Photo Source: Michael P Hall

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

We'll find what kind of team the Gee-Gees are early as they have some extra incentive in their season opener. They travel to Windsor to play the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year. Gary Etcheverry says: "We're atypical in style, but everything is results based. The bottom line is production and contributing to a win.â&#x20AC;? * *Source: Ottawa Sports Info.

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

2011 TEAM LEADERS OFFENSE Passing A. Colbon D. Wendel

Comp Att Yds % 137 249 2052 55.0% 10 15 171 66.7%

TD 18 1

Int 10 0

Rushing Att Yds Avg TD B. Gillanders 132 783 5.93 6 F. Ngandui 39 359 9.21 2 A. Colbon 33 217 5.79 1 M. Stephenson 15 115 7.60 0 Receiving Rec Yds Avg TD S. Le Marquand 57 867 15.21 6 B. Raic 25 497 19.88 5 B. Gillanders 17 207 12.20 3

SPECIAL TEAMS Kickoff Return F. Ngandui S. Cha

Ret 11 8

Yds 205 154

Avg Lng 18.63 40 19.25 31

Punt Return Ret I. Stewart 14 Z. Raynor 14

Yds 71 124

Avg 5.10 8.90

Lng 32 47

Kickoffs Att Yds Avg M. Falvo 38 2056 54.10 Punting M. Falvo

Att Yds Avg 72 2507 34.80

Field Goals M. Falvo

Att 23

Made Avg Lng 14 61% 46

DEFENCE Tackles T. Sawyer R. Griffiths C. Daly 3 Tied

Tot Solo Ast 37 27 20 30 21 18 27.5 26 3 23.5

Sacks Sack E. Lattanzio 5 T. Seal 4 C. Daly 2.5 Interceptions Int M. Bond-LaPointe 3 R. Williams 2 F. Rodrigue 2

Did you knowâ&#x20AC;Ś Gee-Gees head Coach Gary Etcheverry won the Grey Cup in 1997 as the defensive coordinator for the Toronto Argonauts.

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

7. GUELPH GRYPHONS

by mike hogan

There will be a different look to the Gryphons this year in more ways than one. No matter how well they play, they'll have a tough time looking as good as their new playing field. Gone is the grass that sometimes looked taller than the players. The Gryphons will now be playing on an artificial surface with a red and black checkerboard pattern in the end zone. There will also be a state of the art video scoreboard. Simply put, Alumni Stadium looks great. On the field, Head Coach Stu Lang will have no problem giving the nod to Jazz Lindsey at QB. He took over from Chris Rossetti during the season and never looked back. Lang says he looks better this year. "His throwing accuracy has improved the most. A team only goes as far as its QB and we're confident with Jazz.” The accuracy will have to improve as Lindsey was fewer than 50 percent last year. The Gryphons are also happy to bring in freshman QB Mike Carney from B.C. The RB job is open for the taking with perhaps the inside track going to Corey Davidson. Marc Rutledge and Rob Farquharson are also in the mix, but none of the backs will remind anyone of Nick FitzGibbon, at least not yet. This position will be worth watching as the season develops to see if one of the backs literally takes the ball and runs with it. If one particular member of the receiving corps doesn't become the ‘go-to’ guy there may be problems at family gatherings. Jazz’s brother Saxon Lindsey is back for another season and showed promise last year. Jedd Gardner has moved on so there's an opening for a No. 1 target and if last year's stats are an indication then Dillon Dimitroff has the best shot. Among newcomers, A'Dre Fraser from Halifax will undoubtedly make the biggest impact. He's a burner who also has great hands. Carl Triviery is also returning to give the Gryphons some depth here. The Gryphons have added some size to the O-line, but now the onus is on the group to show it's better, not just bigger. The group took a major hit when Jake Piotrowski was injured on the final play of spring camp and the LT is out for the season. He was good enough to be invited to the East/West Bowl and the Gryphs were counting on him big time. That means some of the youngsters will have to step up for Offensive Coordinator Todd Galloway. Hamilton's Jamie Lalonde is one freshman who could start. Eyes will also be on Kyle Fraser of Port Colborne, Kitchener's Cam Wilhelm and Steve Mburanumwe of Hamilton, among others. Matt Richardson will be among the returnees.

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview 49

When Defensive Coordinator Kevin MacNeill looks at his defensive line he must smile as all four starters are coming back. Cameron Thorn, Kalven Seilis, Mike Millar and Jordan Thompson should be a very good front four. Millar is back for a fifth season and adds leadership skills to his physical ability while Thompson is entering his second year and provides great speed off the edge. Recruits include Zack Mallough of London, Patrick Gerrie of Waterloo and Donnie Egerter of Niagara Falls. The tough as nails John Rush will be the man in the middle for Guelph and he had himself an amazing off season. Rush starred for Canada at the Under-19 World Championship (A'Dre Fraser was also on the team). He's back for a second season in the OUA and will line up with players like Jake Reinhart, Colin MacDonald and Jarryd Baines on the outside.

Photo Source: Michael P Hall

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

The secondary lost a ton of talent to graduation but they still have Mark Durigon and Bryan Dunjko around. Among the newcomers to watch is London's Colin Mandich. There is a ton of excitement about the direction this program is heading. While it's probable that the rebuild may need another year, there is a possibility that good things may come sooner than expected. Stu Lang says: "We have very high expectations after two great recruiting classes.â&#x20AC;?

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

2011 TEAM LEADERS OFFENSE Passing J. Lindsey C. Rossetti

Comp Att Yds % 78 157 1127 49.7% 65 121 864 53.7%

TD 8 8

Rushing R. Farquharson S. Legace K. Campbell Receiving J. Gardner S. Lindsey K. Campbell D. Dimitroff C. Trivieri

Att Yds Avg TD 76 351 4.15 4 33 158 3.98 0 16 108 7.55 1

Int 6 5

Rec Yds Avg TD 39 520 13.33 3 32 387 12.09 5 24 355 14.79 2 21 417 19.86 1 8 128 16.00 2

SPECIAL TEAMS Kickoff Return A. Charette C. Trivieri

Ret 14 6

Yds 360 128

Avg Lng 25.71 48 21.33 31

Punt Return Ret A. Charette 26 C. Trivieri 13

Yds 272 145

Avg Lng 10.46 40 11.15 78

Kickoffs Att Yds Avg M. Fortino 16 611 38.19 J. Tropea 8 440 55.00 Punting D. Ferraro

Att Yds Avg 79 2535 32.09

Field Goals D. Ferraro

Att 14

DEFENCE Tackles J. Reinhart J. Duncan B. Bunjko

Tot 62.5 38.5 36

Solo Ast 48 29 31 15 33 6

Sacks Sack M. Millar 4.5 J. Thompson 3.5 C. Thorn 2 Interceptions Int B. Bunjko 4 I. Hutchison 2 M. Durigon 2

Made Avg Lng 10 71% 42

Did you knowâ&#x20AC;Ś John Rush was named to the tournament allstar team following Team Canada`s 23-17 win over US in the International Federation of American Football under-19 world championship.

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

FEATURE ARTICLE:

ZACH ANDROSCHUK University of Guelph fifth-year defensive back Zach Androschuk’s life was forever changed by a spinal cord injury. Then 15, he was horsing around with friends at home, talking about football and play wrestling. One wrong move, a bad landing, and the world turned upside down in an instant - C 5/6 quadriplegia. It’s been six years, but the rawness and gravity of the accident are ever-present. Finding ways to heal, and to deal, is part of everyday life now – for Androschuk and, more critically, for the friend whose injury he helped to cause. “It’s a large part of what has made me who I am, and who I will be in the future,” says Androschuk, a captain on the Gryphon football team. Yes, he plays football. He wasn’t the one who suffered the spinal cord injury. “We were just hanging out that day, a couple of young guys razzing each other and horsing around,” Androschuk says of the day his friend Dan Edwards was injured. “I had him in a wrestling clutch, and he took a wrong fall and landed on his head. It was a pretty scary moment.” Then a junior football player at St. Christopher High School in Sarnia, Ont., Androschuk had always admired his friend. Edwards was two years older and a star athlete in track and field, basketball and football. The diagnosis was a broken neck at the fifth and sixth vertebrae, and incomplete quadriplegia. “There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about it,” Androschuk says. He continued to play high school football, with Edwards often watching from the sidelines. The two have become very close. “Whenever things are not going well, I call Dan. I always feel better after talking to him. He is so motivating and very inspiring. He doesn’t want sympathy ever. “He appreciates everything that he has, everything that he can do. It gives me perspective. He always says ‘don’t feel bad for yourself, don’t feel bad for me; if you don’t like the situation you’re in, do something about it.’ So that is what I am trying to do.” Androschuk volunteers with Guelph Wheels in Action, a new spin on U of G’s annual Wheels in Motion fundraiser for people living with spinal cord injuries. He helped organize the annual event, specifically the wheelchair sports challenge. At St. Joseph’s Hospital, he helps out in a weekly spinning fitness class for people in rehabilitation for spinal cord injuries. That program has benefitted from the Guelph Wheels in Action event. At U of G Androschuk has worked with Prof. Lorraine Jadeski, Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, on a research project in spinal cord injuries. “There is so much to learn, I want to know and do more,” said Androschuk, who was accepted to Western medical school for 2012-13 but deferred for one year to use up his last year of eligibility with the Gryphons and complete a Neuroscience minor. “I want to go into medicine, but I don’t know what field; I would say ER right now, but I

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don’t know for sure until I have experienced more. I do know that I want to make the most out of what I can do, and that I want to make the people I care about proud of me.” That pleases Edwards, now 24 years old and studying marketing at Lambton College in Sarnia. Speaking of Androschuk, Edwards says, “I’ve always encouraged him to do something positive whenever he says he is feeling down. No negative energy allowed. My attitude has always been ‘Hey, man, these things happen, and the beauty of it is that we can get through stuff like this together.’” Edwards recalls telling Androschuk: “Don’t feel that this is something that has to hinder you for the rest of your life. We are brothers now, so you go and do your own thing, go off to school, and I will get my act together.” For Edwards, “getting his act together” meant finishing high school; he spent two years in rehabilitation hospitals after the accident. He has had several surgeries and can now use one hand and wrist, his arms, and his upper back and neck. He has started public speaking for companies, schools, and fundraisers. He developed his own charity “it happens” which sells t-shirts and raises money with proceeds going to the Rick Hansen foundation. After the accident, his community raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to renovate his home. “It was an eye-opener. It made me think about people who get injured who don’t, say, play sports enough to get their names in the papers and get some recognition. I want to help raise money for them.” Even earlier, his life philosophy had been “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” “Everything I believed before is being put to the test now,” says Edwards. “I could feel sorry for myself forever, but it still wouldn’t change anything. I always tell Zach sympathy is as much good to me as my legs are now. Yes, sympathy is heart-warming but only for a short period of time. Healing, overcoming and thriving through things: how good that feels lasts forever.” On the football field, Androschuk has been one of the most reliable players in past years for the Gryphons on all special team units, but in his fourth year he was a standout. “Zach is a very special player. I look forward to utilizing his leadership and experience again this year,” said Gryphon football special teams coordinator Bill Brown. The speedy defensive back led all cover units in tackles last year. His intensity and nose for the ball earned him Gryphon special teams player of the game twice. For his outstanding contributions on the field, in the classroom and out in the community, Androschuk was named the University of Guelph 2011-12 President’s Award winner. As Androschuk is set to finish up his last season with the Gryphons before moving on to start the next chapter of his life at Western medical school, he will always look back at his time at the University of Guelph fondly. “Once a Gryphon, always a Gryphon.”

Submitted by: The University of Guelph Communications

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

8 . TORONTO VARSITY BLUES BY MIKE HOGAN

For years people wouldn't wax poetically about the glory days of the University of Toronto football program, they were too busy making jokes about how inept it was. The

days

being

national

punch

line

are

over.

Head Coach Greg Gary has brought some much needed confidence back to a program that was in dire need of a little swagger. He and his staff have recruited extremely well over the last two years and the Blues are about to see it pay off. Start at QB with Richard Quittenton. He's in his second year with Varsity and will replace Andrew Gillis as the starter. The Ajax native was given a golden opportunity to get a crash course in football when he was invited by the Toronto Argonauts to attend their training camp as a part of a CIS development program. When you think of his age and experience, it's amazing to think he didn't look out of place with CFL veterans like Ricky Ray and Jarious Jackson. Coach Gary was thrilled. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I can't thank the Argos enough for giving Richard that CFL experience. His football IQ has improved and his demeanor has jumped.â&#x20AC;? He should like the group of receivers he has to work with starting with 6'5" Alex Pierzchalski. Last year he led the Blues with 37 catches for 443 yards. Quittenton also has fellow Ajax native Paul de Pass returning. The group's top recruit is Rowan Comish from Toronto. Third-year player Cody Rossi will try to work his way into the offence as an H-back. Varsity suffered a tough loss when last year's leading rusher Aaron Milton left the program. That roster move does present an opportunity for the other backs in camp to step up and catch the eye of Offensive Coordinator Tom Flaxman. There is a trio of GTA freshmen who may get an opportunity to start a lot earlier than they may have expected. Brampton's Ashton Nelson, Toronto's Alex Malone and Mississauga's Lukas Gavac will compete with fourth-year Emiljano Daci for playing time. Returning players Jesse Raycroft, Shawn Horrigan, Connor Hanak, Mario Tedesco and Aaron Wheaton should make up the offensive line. All five of these players are back for at least their third season. Top OL recruits include Kyle Draga of Brampton and Sydney, Nova Scotia's Jacob Rigby.

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

This may surprise some, but the Blues game up the fifth-fewest points in the OUA last year. But the biggest problem this season is that their top two players of a year ago are gone. LB Wilkerson DeSouza is now with the Calgary Stampeders and DB Dorian Munroe has graduated. While that duo is gone, the defensive line remains intact as James Bodanis, Everton Williams, Zack Lukings and Abi Olusoga are all back. The top recruit is another Mississauga product. DJ Sackey weighs in at 314 pounds on his 6'4" frame. Broc Elliott is the top returning linebacker. Defensive Coordinator Donnavan Carter may have to go young at this position. A couple of freshmen, Farouk Musa of Brampton and Oakville's Shaka Fonderson, could very well find them in the starting lineup on opening day. It will be incredibly tough to replace Munroe and Willie Sharpe in the secondary. Veterans Kevin Kinahan will be on one corner and Spenser Stewart will be the free safety. Larry Broni and John Connors were with the program last season and will make the dress roster this time around. Both could start. Freshman Jimmy Ro of London will also be in the mix.

Photo Source: Michael P Hall

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

The kicker will once again be Andrew Lomasney. The Blues might not be among the top three or four teams this year, but they should most certainly be in the hunt for a playoff spot. Greg Gary says: "I'm really happy with our recruiting class. We're ready to compete and we won't be an automatic "W" anymore.â&#x20AC;?

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

2011 TEAM LEADERS OFFENSE Passing A. Gillis R. Quittenton

Comp Att Yds % 127 255 1711 49.8% 12 22 128 54.5%

TD 5 0

Rushing A. Milton A. Gillis E. Daci Receiving A. Pierzchalski M. Prempeh S. Magalas M. Abdallah

Att Yds Avg TD 112 549 4.49 2 32 148 1.36 3 21 158 4.84 1

Int 15 0

Rec Yds Avg TD 37 443 11.97 1 25 350 14.00 1 14 189 13.50 1 12 119 9.92 0

SPECIAL TEAMS Kickoff Return M. Prempeh 20 D. Munroe 2

Ret 398 29

Yds Avg 19.90 61 14.50 17

Punt Return D. Munroe M. Prempeh K. Bradfield

Yds 240 53 49

Avg 8.28 3.79 9.8

Ret 29 14 5

Lng 29 13 22

Kickoffs Att Yds Avg A. Lomasney 22 920 41.82 Punting W. Sharpe

Att Yds Avg 78 2533 32.47

Field Goals Att A. Lomasney 15

Lng

DEFENCE

Tackles Tot Solo Ast W. Desouza 48.5 47 3 D. Munroe 36 36 0 K. Asare 33 32 2 A. Fehler 27 25 4 Sacks Sack A. Fehler 4.5 Z. Lukings 3 O. Lahnalampi 3 Interceptions Int 3 Tied 2

Made Avg Lng 9 60% 37

Did you knowâ&#x20AC;Ś the University of Toronto celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Grey Cup in 2012 having won the first three from 1909-11.

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

9. YORK LIONS

BY MIKE HOGAN

The Lions took steps in their rebuilding process last year. Little cub steps, but steps none the less. Warren Craney earned his first win as a CIS head coach and the Lions played a lot of young talent en route to a 1-7 record. While that number may not be impressive, here are some others that give reason for optimism. The one win was more than they had in their three previous seasons. The team also yielded almost 10 fewer points per game than they did in 2010. They're still a long way from where Coach Craney wants/needs them to be, but progress is better than the alternative. York had over 50 recruits a year ago and added 47 more to the mix this year. There's one recruit that should change the face of the Lions, at least for two more seasons. If you don't know who Myles Gibbon is, you will. The QB has come home after playing three seasons at Southern Alabama, starting for two of them. The Burlington native, who played CEGEP ball before heading to the States, was hurt in his third year and lost his job. With CFL aspirations he thought coming north would make his dream come closer to reality. He picked up his degree at USA and is working on his Master's at York. The 6'2" pivot was aggressively pursued by Craney and company and the hard work paid off. Offensive Coordinator Michael Faulds has an experienced dual-threat under centre who is also someone who has incredible leadership skills. Gibbon will also benefit playing for the leading passer in CIS history. "We really believe this will bring us over the hump," said Craney in an interview. "It wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t put us into the upper tier, but it should at least bring York into the picture.â&#x20AC;? Gibbon should like what he has in terms of receivers. Jonelle Tolbert and Nathaniel Griffith are still very young, but both have upsides. They'll learn from former CFL receiver Kamau Peterson, who is a guest coach at camp. Two players to watch in the backfield are RBs Andrew Weppler and transfer Kyle Exume from Bishop's. He has a year of eligibility left after unsuccessfully trying to crack a CFL roster. The biggest story involving an offensive lineman is one that's taking place off the field. Alex Midea was diagnosed with a form of leukemia. It was found early and the prognosis is good. That story should help inspire a very young group of athletes. There's a lot of young talent in the fold, but it will take some time for the unit to mature. Craney is particularly excited about second-year Lion Max Sullivan.

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview 63

Photo Source: York Athletics

If the addition of Gibbon has the Lions excited, that's countered somewhat on the other side of the ball by the spring camp injury to last year's super freshman Marcus Grandison. He injured his wrist in spring practice and had surgery in late June. There's a good chance he'll miss the entire season, but the injury will be reevaluated around week five. His loss leaves a hole that fifth-year Andrew Collymore will try to fill. He's a former Bishop's Gaiter who is the fastest player on the Lions roster. Joining Collymore in the secondary will be veteran CBs Cory Bellerdine and Jordon Nugent. The halfs will be 6'2" Nana Nkansah and CEGEPproduct Scott Noivo. The coaches are also excited to see how quickly Josh Small of Pickering can work his way into the lineup. Small is arguably their top defensive recruit and will eventually find a home at CB. There are two sure things about the linebacking corps. One is that Hussein Hazime will be in the middle. The other is that there will be an outstanding battle for the two outside jobs. The Soo's Rob Ramsay has the inside track at Will and Emerson Morassutti should start at Sam, but the Lions have nine LB recruits in camp, all of whom will push the vets for playing time. Pat Russell is back at end. The fifth-year Lion has an outstanding burst. Second-year DE Jamal Campbell is another local athlete who is 6'7' and a former basketball player who is still learning the nuances of football. Also in the mix is a highly thought of recruit, Jesse DePetrillo from Sault Sainte Marie.

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

Veteran Heneri Dervishy is the favourite to once again be the kicker, although he'll be pushed by Burlington's Ryan Lambert. There are several possible returners, with the super speedy Lashane Oldacre, a former QB turned WR being one of those options. The optimism is apparent at Lions camp. The presence of Gibbon has given the entire team reason for optimism. Craney has recruited very hard over the last couple of years as the team obviously had a lot of catching up to do. We'll see this year how that hard work is paying off. Warren Craney says: "I'm looking forward to seeing us compete at every game. The excuse of being young will only go so far.â&#x20AC;?

Photo Source: York Athletics

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

2011 TEAM LEADERS OFFENSE

Passing D. Sevdin N. Coutu

Comp Att Yds % 67 155 842 43.2% 38 95 331 40.0%

TD 4 0

Rushing R. Markell N. Coutu Receiving W. Austin C. Pryce D. Hobbs A. Bugdahn

Att Yds Avg TD 69 265 3.84 1 39 214 5.49 0

Int 8 3

Rec Yds Avg TD 37 403 10.89 3 13 103 7.90 0 12 126 10.50 0 10 75 7.50 0

SPECIAL TEAMS Kickoff Return C. Pryce J. Nugent

Ret 24 9

Yds 389 149

Avg 16.2 16.6

Lng 32 28

Punt Return J. Nugent C. Pryce M. Grandison

Ret 35 15 1

Yds 268 178 3

Avg 7.70 11.90 3.00

Lng 29 28 3

Kickoffs D. David H. Dervishi

Att Yds Avg 10 452 45.20 9 378 42.00

Punting D. David

Att Yds Avg Lng 101 3220 31.88 56

Field Goals H. Dervishi

Att 12

DEFENCE Tackles H. Hazime M. Grandison S. Reading C. Bellerdine

Tot 50 48.5 39.5 29.5

Solo Ast 34 32 41 15 28 23 25 9

Sacks Sack M. Livingston 4 P. Russell 3.5 S. Reading 1.5 Interceptions Int J. Nugent 4 C. Bellerdine 2 3 Tied 1

Made Avg Lng 7 58% 43

Did you knowâ&#x20AC;Ś Head coach Warren Craney and offensive coordinator Michael

Faulds were coaches for the Canadian team that won the gold medal at the IFAF U19 World Championships with a 23-17 victory over the host United States in Austin, Texas this past summer.

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

10. WATERLOO WARRIORS

BY MIKE HOGAN

The bad news? In 2011 the Waterloo Warriors didn't win a game. The good news? At least they were playing. The black and gold came back from a high profile, self-imposed suspension that kept them off the field for the 2010 season. Everyone expected a long season and those expectations were certainly met. They had an opportunity to win just one game, but lost to York in overtime. The team finished with a 0-8 record and lost by an average score of 52-11. There's still a lot of work to do and there's a new man in charge of leading the rebuilding process. Former CFL QB and coach Joe Paopao takes over the reins on an interim basis from Dennis McPhee after spending five seasons with the Warriors as the Offensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach. He knows the program, but he also knows how hard this rebuild will be. If nothing else the former CFL QB wants his team to be fundamentally sound. It's a very young group that simply needs more time to improve. Personifying this is QB Brian Chris. The secondyear QB played it safe last year by throwing mostly underneath routes. His completion percentage was over 57 percent, but he averaged just 6.2 yards per attempt. He threw 4 TD passes against 5 INTs. Helping Chris' maturation process will be an offensive line that is likely the best unit on the team. Matt Vonk is back after red shirting last year, one season removed from playing for cross-town rival Laurier. Thomas Demers, Josh McAndrew, Austin Partridge and Matt Kielo will start the season, but the Warriors will try to find some playing time for 6'5" 300 pound freshman Taz Martin from Elmira. RB Marco Visentin returns and will get the majority of snaps. There are nine other first-or second-year RBs who will push the Nova Scotian, who last year averaged just 3.7 yards a carry. The biggest loss for the Warriors was Dustin Zender, who led the CIS last year with 63 receptions. His loss opens the door for one or more younger Warriors to step up. Nick Anapolsky will in all likelihood become Chris' favourite target. Harrison Thomas is a second-year speedster who will be expected to pick up some of the slack. Defensive Coordinator Rob McMurren has some high-profile help in the coaching ranks with Don Sutherin and former Head Coach Chris Triantafilou on staff. They'll use a base 30 defence, meaning their usual formation will have three down linemen and four linebackers.

Photo Source: Michael P Hall

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

Hometown product Djordje Gavrilovic will be the nose guard. He played in the 2011 East/West Bowl. Spencer Thompson will start the season at one end while the other DE will be determined in camp. Freshmen Paul Kaija and Brandon Corelli along with veteran Joseph Surgenor will be three of the LBs, a trio that will bring a lot of toughness to the Warriors. Meanwhile, the DBs will be a small group that will try to counter that liability with a ton of speed. Curtis Good, Brad Morton and Yaz Sinan are three returnees who should contribute. Alex Cowle and Jake Fiorucci are both second year kickers who will battle it out at camp. This team is a long way from the Warriors of the late '90s that played in four

Photo Source: Steve Brooks

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

consecutive Yates Cup finals. Right now the reconstruction of the program is still in the early stages and a few of the first and second-year players need to make their mark this season. Joe Paopao says: "Our biggest goal is to be fundamentally sound; we're a very young team.â&#x20AC;?

Photo Source: Steve Brooks

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

2011 TEAM LEADERS OFFENSE Passing L. Balch E. Martin

Comp Att Yds % 71 131 561 54.2% 61 108 841 56.5%

TD 0 5

Int 9 8

Rushing Att Yds Avg TD L. Balch 38 220 5.00 0 M. Visentin 46 178 3.70 3 E. Martin 22 152 6.60 0 B. Chris 22 79 2.10 0 R. DiRisio 11 41 3.70 0 Receiving Rec Yds Avg TD D. Zender 63 761 12.08 4 C. Lewis 33 395 12.00 2 L. Balch 19 203 10.68 1

SPECIAL TEAMS Kickoff Return D. Silvestri E. Roque

Ret 15 13

Yds 277 346

Avg Lng 18.47 33 26.60 105

Punt Return C. Mahler J. Storozok D. Silvestri

Ret 12 11 8

Yds 91 57 36

Avg 7.60 5.18 4.50

Kickoffs J. Fiorucci

Att Yds Avg 22 1137 51.68

Punting A. Cowle A. Cole

Att Yds Avg 72 2205 30.63 13 397 30.54

Field Goals J. Fiorucci

Att

Made Avg

Lng 31 13 9

DEFENCE Tackles G. Zaitz C. Dawson B. Conway R. Nicholson

Tot 38 37 32.5 28.5

Solo Ast 32 12 26 22 26 13 23 11

Sacks Sack 6 Tied 1 Interceptions Int Y. Sinan 2 B. Morton 2 3 Tied 1

Lng

Did you knowâ&#x20AC;Ś Dustin Zender tied the OUA record for most receptions during an OUA regular season with 63. Photo Source: Steve Brooks

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

feature article:

MATT VONK For Matt Vonk of Burlington Ont., the past is behind him and what lies ahead is a bright future of football and academics as part of the Waterloo Warriors football program. Vonk’s journey back to the black and gold has been anything but smooth, but for the 6’4, 285 lbs. offensive linesman, the focus remains the same; to study at the University of Waterloo while competing for the Warriors. After the suspension of the football program in 2010, Vonk took his talents across the street to Wilfrid Laurier University and after sitting out the 2011 season due to CIS transfer regulations, Vonk returns to the Waterloo line-up for 2012. “I cannot put into words how excited we are to have Matt back as a Warrior,” commented Warriors interim head coach Joe Paopao. “He is a dedicated individual, who puts his heart in soul into everything he does on and off the field.” CFL scouts couldn’t agree more with Paopao who have slated Vonk as the tenth best prospect for the 2013 draft. His performance at the 2 012 CIS East-West Bowl helped solidify his place in the top 10. CFL scouts have labeled Vonk as a ‘real athletic kid” with ‘great technique and textbook form’. Vonk enters his third year of eligibility this fall and is simply dying to play football. “I haven’t been this excited for something in a real long time,” mentions Vonk. “My expectations are to mature as an individual and grow with each and every member of the team as the season progresses.” His skill, size and football IQ will be on display throughout the 2012 season and will be sure to aid the Warriors offense as they hope to turn around their reputation across the province and nation. Playing for coach Paopao his almost his entire CIS career has certainly given him the desire to be the best each and every time out on the field, whether it be a practice or game. “He (Paopao} asks a lot of his players and I look forward to giving him that this year.” Vonk will be studying in his last year of Honors Kinesiology in the co-operative education program and has thoughts of pursing a Master’s degree at uWaterloo.

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview 71

Photo Source: Warrior Athletics

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

OUA SCHOOLS ENJOY GREY CUP SUCCESS by Paul carson

As a distinctive Canadian form of football became increasingly popular in the late 19th century, it wasn’t long before “national” championships were being contested – even if for many years, “national” meant essentially clubs in Ontario and Quebec. University teams were active members of the Canadian Rugby Football Union from its inception in 1884 and its reorganization as the Canadian Rugby Union in 1891as the national governing body of all Canadian amateur football. Thus, it’s not surprising that university teams were often crowned “national” champions, including numerous titles prior to the era of the Grey Cup.

CRU SENIOR FINALS IN THE PRE-GREY CUP PERIOD 1892

no university teams in final (Osgoode 45, Montreal 5)

1893

Queen’s 29, Montreal 11

1894

U Ottawa 8, Queen’s 7

1895

U of T 20, Montreal FC 5

1896

U Ottawa 12, U of T 8

1897

U Ottawa 14, Hamilton 10

1898

Ottawa City 11, U Ottawa 1

1899

no game

1900

no university teams in final (Ottawa 17, Brockville 10)

1901

U Ottawa 18, Argos 3

1902

Ottawa City 5, U Ottawa 0

1903, 1904

no games

1905

U of T 11, Ottawa City 9

1906

Hamilton 29, McGill 6

1907

no university team in final (Montreal 77, Peterborough 6)

1908

Hamilton 21, U of T 17

Canadian football changed forever in 1909 when Earl Grey, then Governor-General of Canada, entrusted to the CRU a trophy to be awarded for the Rugby Football Championships of Canada....the GREY CUP. As members

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview 73

of the CRU, the university championship team, after winning the Yates Cup, had the right to participate in the annual playoffs leading to the Grey Cup. Many chose to do so, and often they were very, very successful. The CIRFU series champions competed against the winners of other rugby football unions for the Dominion championships at all three levels, notably, in the senior series.

1909 The Grey Cup saga got off to a somewhat less-than-auspicious beginning, as the Ontario football community was far more interested in the semi-final match between the University of Toronto and the Ottawa Rough Riders. The hotly-contested game, played on November 27 at Toronto’s Rosedale Field, attracted nearly 12,000 fans as Toronto won, 31-7. The first Grey Cup game, played December 4 on the same field, attracted only 3, 807 spectators and generated a gross revenue of $2,6116.40. U of T handily defeated the Parkdale Canoe Club, 26-6 as Hugh Gall kicked eight singles – a Grey Cup record that still stands.

1910 Toronto again won the Yates Cup and advanced to the national final, although the site was now the Hamilton HAAA Cricket Grounds. U of T faced the hometown Hamilton Tigers and disappointed a crowd of some 12,000 by prevailing 16-7 on a muddy field. Hugh Gall was team captain and unquestioned star, while coach Harry Griffith, a professor of French, won his second and final Grey Cup.

1911 The Grey Cup game returned to Toronto and was the first to be played in the newly-constructed Varsity Stadium – which went on to be the site for a total of 30 national finals, the last in 1957. U of T had again qualified for the title game and with the Toronto Argonauts as the opponent, the match-up attracted 13, 687 fans – at the time an attendance record for Canadian football. On a frozen field and amid intermittent snow flurries, U of T won its third consecutive Grey Cup, by a score of 14-7. McGill ended U of T’s Yates Cup string with victories in both 1912 and 1913, Photo Source: University of Toronto

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

...CONTINUED

and were considered heavy favourites for national honours. But in both years, McGill declined to participate in the CRU playoffs, citing to the lateness of the season, the approaching exam period and “the consequent pressure of studies.” McGill had several additional opportunities to challenge for the Grey Cup, especially in 1919, but in each year the school declined to play, citing again academic reasons.

1914 After two years in Hamilton, the Grey Cup game returned to Toronto’s Varsity Stadium for a rematch between U of T and the Argonauts. Field and weather conditions were much better than in 1911 but the crowd was slightly smaller, at about 10,500. Hugh Gall was now the U of T coach but he lost the game to his former teammate, Billy Foulds (quarterback of the 1909 and 1910 champions), who coached the Argos to a 14-2 victory.

1920 Varsity Stadium was again the site and the now-familiar U of T vs Argonauts final guaranteed a respectable crowd (about 10,500) despite constant rain and a muddy field. Varsity was coached by Laddie Cassels, a star halfback on the 1914 losing finalists and the team captain was Joe Breen, who later became first head coach of the Western Mustangs. Varsity prevailed, 16-3, the first Grey Cup loss for Mike Rodden, who went on to win two titles later in the decade guiding the Hamilton Tigers. The following year, 1921, the Grey Cup became a truly national championship as the Western Canada Rugby Football Union joined the CRU and challenged for the Grey Cup. Edmonton Eskimos, first Western team to play in a Grey Cup game, lost to Toronto Argonauts 23-0 before a crowd of 9,558 in Varsity Stadium.

1922-1923-1924 from the Queens media guide (2009)….has been requested from John Edwards 1922 In only the second east-west Grey Cup and the first Dominion final to be played in Kingston, Queen’s hosted the Edmonton Elks before 4,700 fans in old Richardson Stadium. Led by the running of Harry Batstone and the kicking of Pep Leadlay, Queen’s score 13 points in the second half to win, 13-1. Rookie head coach Bill Hughes started Queen’s greatest football dynasty by winning the school’s first of three successive Grey Cup titles.

1923   After breezing through an undefeated intercollegiate season and handily disposing of Hamilton Tigers in the Photo Source: University of Toronto

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview 75

Photo Source: University of Toronto

CRU eastern final, Queen’s demolished the Regina Roughriders, 54-0, in the most lopsided Grey Cup game to date. A crowd of 8, 629 in Varsity Stadium saw Queen’s score a record nine touchdowns as the combination of Batsone and Leadlay accounted for two TDs, six converts and three singles.

1924   Bill Hughes of Queen’s introduced the use of films as a coaching technique, as Queen’s rolled to another undefeated league season. Their Grey Cup opponent was Toronto Balmy Beach, champions of the senior ORFU. Home field in Varsity Stadium helped to generate a crowd of 5, 978 but proved to be of no advantage as the veteran Queen’s squad gained an 11-3 victory in the school’s final Grey Cup appearance. Leadlay kicked a convert and three singles; after graduation, he played in three more Grey Cups for Hamilton Tigers (1927-29), winning twice, and finished his Grey Cup career with 12 singles, still tied for the record with U of T’s Hugh Gall.

1926 TheeraofQueen’sdominancecametoanend,asUofTsurvivedanunprecedentedthree-waytiebreakerplayoffroundto claimtheYatesCup.LedbystarhalfbackWarrenSnyder,whohadwonasilvermedalinrowingatthe1924Olympics,they hopedfor“home-field”advantageatVarsityStadium. Acold,snowydaykeptthecrowdto8,276asthehighly-favoured Ottawa Rough Riders prevailed 10-7 in what turned out to be U of T’s final Grey Cup appearance.

OUA UNCOVERED: 2012 Football Season Preview

FEATURE ARTICLE: “The by Tyler Crapigna

Kick”

Memories of the 2011 Vanier Cup Game will be everlasting. It is the most important game in my CIS career so far; one that I almost didn’t get to play in, and one which turned out to be quite the roller-coaster. Having missed the 2010 playoff season due to a broken leg, I was keen to participate in the 2011 post season. Unfortunately, I was forced to miss the first three games of the playoffs due to illness. The day before our team was scheduled to fly to Vancouver to prepare for the Vanier, I was finally cleared to play. My disappointment quickly turned to joy. I was so thrilled that I would have an opportunity to play and help my team. Since I had been sidelined for the previous three weeks or so, I felt a little rusty when I started to kick again. However, soon enough I was back in the groove and feeling comfortable with my place kicking and punting. On game day, I remember feeling a little nervous. The atmosphere in the stadium was very exciting. After successfully completing my first field goal, I started to feel more at ease. At half time, we had accumulated a substantial lead over the Laval Rouge et Or. I remember thinking this was too good to be true. With the high quality of the Laval players and coaches, and the team’s tradition of winning, I knew that they would not be backing down. As it happened, Laval did come back in the second half. The gap in the score soon started to close and by the middle of the third quarter, I was getting the distinct feeling that the outcome of the game could likely be decided by a kick. My team mates also sensed this as the clock wound down and a number of them came by me on the sidelines to extend their support. As the final seconds ticked down and the game was tied, the possibility of a kick to decide the final outcome became very real. With three seconds remaining, I was called to attempt a 30 yard field goal. I remember walking out onto the field, and starting to set up. Blocking out the background noise, I began to focus on an empty chair directly behind the goal post for a target line for my kick. Laval called a time out to try and freeze me. For me, it was a just a bit of breather, allowing me more time to focus on the task at hand. The snap and pinning of the ball were good, and the ball felt good coming off the foot. When I looked up to follow the ball, I could see it heading for the left upright. I knew it would be very close. Unfortunately, it went to the wrong side of the post. I could not believe it. I had the sinking feeling that I had let down my team mates and coaches. I headed back to the sidelines and stared straight ahead to one of the signs on the other side of the field. Some team mates approached me with words of support. Overtime was about to start. I was disappointed with the missed kick but I did not allow myself to dwell on it. With Canadian rules, I knew there was a very good chance that I would be called upon to kick again. After a couple of touchdowns by each of the teams, we intercepted the ball. A couple of plays later, and a penalty to Laval, we were on the 13 yard line and I was called to kick a 20 yard field

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goal. Coach Ptaszek came towards me as I was warming up. I looked up at him and assured him that I would not miss this one. He smiled at me. I was not nervous this time around. I was just angry about the last attempt. I was determined that I would pound the ball through the uprights. The snap and pinning of the ball went well. My foot connected with the ball and when I looked up, it was dead center, six rows into the stands. I fist pumped, looked at Matty P and we both started yelling and jumping. I looked over to see my team mates and coaches running wildly onto the field. I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe what had just happened. We won our first Vanier Cup. THE BEST GAME EVER!

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OUA 2013 CFL DRAFT PREVIEW BY DUANE FORDE

Since last season ended, a number of former OUA football stars have taken their skills to the CFL and now it’s time for the next class of seniors to showcase their talents. As the 2012 season progresses, no less than 25 OUA athletes will earn serious consideration for invitations to the CFL Evaluation Camp in March. Here, in alphabetical order, are ten OUA players in particular, who will be under the close scrutiny of pro scouts this fall. Alex Anthony (WR, Wilfrid Laurier): Scouts will be watching Anthony this season for a number of reasons. Not only is he regarded as one of the top receivers in the Class of 2013 but he is also attempting to come back from a knee injury that limited him to just two games last year, and looking to fill the shoes of CFL first round pick Shamawd Chambers in the Golden Hawks aerial attack. One of the nation’s most heavily recruited players three years ago, the 6’2” Victoria, B.C. native ran well at the East West Bowl, and will certainly be in line for an E-Camp invitation. Ben D’Aguilar (LB/DE, McMaster): D’Aguilar is one of the great enigmas of the Class of 2013. There’s no question that the Hamilton product is one of the elite athletes available in the next CFL Draft and he’ll certainly be able to compete physically at the next level. However, like prospects such as Shomari Williams and Fredric Plesius before him, there are questions as to whether he is best suited to play linebacker or defensive end as a pro. A major determining factor for scouts will simply be how much progress he makes this fall in terms of his ability to read and react to plays when he’s off the line of scrimmage. Mike DiCroce (WR, McMaster): This former varsity basketball player parlayed his explosive athletic ability into the OUA’s Hec Crighton nomination in 2011. DiCroce established himself as one of the nation’s premier deep threats last season, averaging 113 receiving yards per game, as a key cog in the Marauders high-powered offence. His greatest assets are his speed, soft hands, and body control and, as he gains experience dealing with more physical defenders, he has an opportunity to become even more lethal

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in 2012. Lirim Hajrullahu (K/P, Western): With the graduation of Darryl Wheeler, Hajrullahu will be counted on to handle punting as well as placekicking duties in his senior season with the Mustangs. A veteran of two East West Bowl appearances, he has the potential to emerge as one of the top specialists in this draft class. However, in order for that to occur, he’ll have to excel in the dual role, in addition to rebounding from a subpar 2011 in terms of field goal accuracy (11 for 21, 52%). Simon Le Marquand (SB, Ottawa): Le Marquand was one of the CIS’ breakout stars of 2012, as he finished second in the country with 867 receiving yards on 57 receptions. He continued to impress through the offseason, including a standout performance at the National Invitational Combine, despite being one of the few underclassmen in attendance, and posting the fastest 40-yard dash among all receivers at the East West Bowl. In addition, the 6’1”, 200 lbs. Le Marquand spent part of his summer working with football training guru Mike Gough in preparation for the 2012 season. Matt McGarva (DB, Windsor): McGarva is coming off of a terrific twelve month span that included being named a first team OUA all-star, second team allCanadian, and being selected to play in the 2012 East West Bowl. The versatile defender from Surrey, British Columbia led the Lancers in tackles and was one of the league’s impact defenders a year ago. McGarva’s testing numbers at the East West Bowl were solid and should continue to improve given his outstanding work ethic.

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John Miniaci (DT, Queen’s): Within this draft class, Miniaci may find himself overshadowed by high profile defensive tackles Stefan Charles (Regina) and Linden Gaydosh (Calgary) but this 290 lbs. Toronto native remains a very solid CFL prospect. A first team OUA all-star in 2011, he’ll likely be the focus of opposition blocking schemes this season, particularly with the graduation of veteran D-Linemen Osie Ukwuoma and Frank Pankewicz. Nonetheless, Miniaci moves well for a big man and should be able to continue to use that athleticism to get to the quarterback (8 sacks over the last two seasons). Josh Prinsen (OT, Queen’s): Midway through his 2010 sophomore season, Prinsen lost his starting job on the Gaels O-Line but rebounded last year to become a second team OUA all-star at tackle. From the time he arrived on the Queen’s campus three years ago, the 6’7”, 290 lbs. Napanee native has been viewed as the heir apparent to current NFLer Matt O’Donnell as a cornerstone of Queen’s offensive line. His height has made him a natural at the tackle position throughout his high school and CIS careers, and the hope is that his footwork can develop enough to allow him to remain on the edge in the CFL. Matt Sewell (OT, McMaster): At 6’8”, 330 lbs., Sewell’s size is the first thing that most people notice about him but it’s his surprisingly quick feet that scouts rave about. His tremendous natural abilities have also translated to results on the gridiron, where he has been an OUA all-star in each of his first three seasons and was named a second team all-Canadian last year. With the Marauders’ Vanier Cup run last fall and an appearance at the East West Bowl in the spring, scouts have already had a long look at Sewell. The consensus is that he is currently the OUA’s top 2013 Draft prospect and as his strength and aggressiveness improve he has a chance to become a very good tackle at the pro level. Matt Vonk (OL, Waterloo): Having started his CIS career in 2008, Vonk was originally slated to be selected in the 2012 Draft but he was granted a rare deferral after the suspension of the Warrior program in 2010. The Burlington native would be one of the most athletic O-Linemen in any draft class and has become an excellent technician under the tutelage of long time CFL O-Line coach and current Warriors assistant Kani Kauahi. Two trips to the CIS East West Bowl have enabled Vonk to catch the attention of CFL scouts, most of whom project him as a centre or guard at the next level.

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JEFF JOHNSON York Univeristy Program: Kinesiology (2001) Sport: Football Position: Running Back Hometown: Toronto, Ontario Twitter: @JJ33ARGO

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Comments, Questions or Ideas Please Contact Samantha Magalas 1119 Fennel Ave. East, Suite 230 Hamilton, ON, L8T 1S2 Phone: 905-870-9773 Fax: 905-574-2840 E-mail: samantha.magalas@oua.ca