Source: Jamie Howieson, Laurier Sports Info / Photo credit Thomas Kolodziej
2013 regular season record: 1-7
2013 regular season standings: 9th in OUA
2013 playoff record: N/A
2013 playoff finish: N/A
The Golden Hawks enter 2014 coming off a year that was a learning experience for what was a very young squad. Taking the field for the first time under the tutelage of rookie head coach Michael Faulds, Laurier struggled out of the gate as they tried to employ their new up tempo, pro-style offence. Entering Week 4 against Waterloo, Faulds made a change at quarterback, handing the reins over to James Fracas. The move sparked the team to their first win of the year heading into their toughest stretch of the season.
Facing four playoff-bound teams in their final four games, the Hawks proved to the OUA they were a team on the rise. They limited the eventual Yates Cup Champion Western Mustangs to their fewest points of the regular season, before losing narrow decisions in overtime to both Windsor and Queen’s, earning them the moniker of “the best 1-6 football team”. A loss to McMaster closed out the season as Laurier was on the outside looking in on the OUA playoff picture for the first time since 2002.
This season, the Hawks will look to use the momentum they generated at the end of 2013 to come out of the gates flying. With 22 of a possible 24 starters returning from the dress roster that closed out last year, Laurier promises to be a young and exciting, but more experience, squad.
On offence, Fracas and Dillon Campbell, last year’s conference leading rusher, will be the anchors for Faulds’ up-tempo offence. Other names to keep an eye on include veteran receivers Greg Nyhof, Marcus Arkarakas and Kelvin Muamba. Defensively, draft-eligible players Chris Ackie and Ese Mrabure-Ajufo headline a talented core that also includes last year’s leading tackler Brandon Calver, along with rookie sensation Kwaku Boateng. One other name to watch is returner William Pitt-Doe, who established a new Laurier single season record for kick return yards as a true freshman last season.
Quote from head coach:
“We are a completely different team heading into the 2014 season. The players have now had a full offseason under our staff and there is great momentum and energy around our football program. We have demanded a lot from our players throughout the off-season and for some it was too much, but the players that will enter our camp are prepared and ready for what’s ahead of them. They are all a year older physically and mentally and can’t wait to run out of the tunnel for that first game. Having only graduated two fifth year seniors from last year’s team, we have some very high internal expectations. We have the work ethic, heart and motivational drive of a team that just finished 1-7, but also the swagger and self-confidence of an 8-0 team. It is a very unique dynamic.”
Head Coach: Michael Faulds
- Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2014):
2
- Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2014): 2
- Career regular season record with team: 1-7
- Career regular season record in CIS: 1-7
- Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs
only): 1-7
- Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only):
1-7
OFFENCE
Number of returning starters: 11
Key returning players:
RB Dillon Campbell enters his fourth season with the Golden Hawks. A native of Whitby, Ont., he had a breakout season in 2013, finishing as the leading rusher in the OUA with 867 yards and five touchdowns on 146 attempts. The 2014 East West Bowl participant was also a threat out of the backfield making 17 catches for 160 yards and a touchdown.
QB James Fracas heads into his third year of eligibility with Laurier in 2014. The Waterloo, Ont., native finished last year as Laurier’s starter after taking over for teammate Julien John in Week 4. In five games, he completed almost 63 percent of his passes for 1,312 yards and six touchdowns.
REC Greg Nyhof returns for his third year with the purple and gold. Hailing from Georgetown, Ont., the 6-4 receiver was the Hawks big play threat a year ago as he averaged over 20 yards per catch. In total, he made 22 receptions for a team-high 447 yards and four touchdowns.
REC Kelvin Muamba enters his fourth year with Laurier in 2014. A native of Mississauga, Ont., he led the Golden Hawks in receptions last year with 36. His 418 receiving yards were also second highest on the team.
Key recruits or transfers:
QB Chase Malcolm from St. Thomas More Collegiate (Vancouver)
REC Brendan McCracken from Huron Heights SS (Kitchener, Ont.)
RB Eli Fera from Catholic Central HS (Windsor, Ont.)
OL Jamie Lalonde from Guelph Gryphons (Hamilton, Ont.)
Key losses:
REC Isaac Dell
DEFENCE
Number of returning starters: 11
Key returning players:
DB Chris Ackie heads into his fourth season with the purple and gold. Originally from Cambridge, Ont., this versatile defender has been named one of 10 Canadian prospects to watch for the 2015 CFL Draft. Last season, playing both defensive back and linebacker, he finished second on the team in tackles with 40.5 while recording two sacks and three pass breakups.
DL Ese Mrabure-Ajufo also heads into his fourth year at Laurier. Hailing from Mississauga, Ont., this 2014 East West Bowl participant anchored Laurier’s defensive line last season, finishing with 26.5 tackles and one sack.
DL Kwaku Boateng enters his sophomore season with the Golden Hawks. A native of Milton, Ont., he was named an OUA All-Rookie in his first year after recording 20 tackles and finishing second on the team in sacks with four.
LB Brandon Calver will also be coming into his second year with the Hawks. The London, Ont., native was Laurier’s leader in their linebacking core in 2014 as he led the team in tackles with 42. He also recorded 1.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, an interception and a pass breakup.
Key recruits or transfers:
DL Rashari Henry from Orleans Bengals (Orleans, Ont.)
DB Isaiah Guzylak from Sir Allan MacNab SS (Hamilton)
DB Malcolm Thompson from Holy Names CHS (Windsor, Ont.)
DB Jaedon Christey from Resurrection CSS (Kitchener, Ont.)
Key losses:
DB Felix Odum
SPECIAL TEAMS
Key returning players:
K/P Ronnie Pfeffer heads into his fourth season with the Golden Hawks. A native of Kitchener, Ont., the former league all-star enters 2014 ranked ninth in career scoring at Laurier with 163 points. Last season, he was good on 14 of 23 field goal attempts while averaging 36.5 yards per punt.
RET William Pitt-Doe is entering his second year with the purple and gold. The native of Mississauga, Ont., is coming off an outstanding debut campaign in which he set a new Laurier record for kick return yards in a season with 560. That mark broke the previous record of 493 yards set by Laurier great Dillon Heap back in 2009.
Key recruits or transfers:
LS Jonathan Timmons from St. Marcellinus SS (Mississauga, Ont.)
K/P Nathan Mesher from Sir John A. MacDonald SS (Waterloo, Ont.)
Key losses:
COV Thomas Majka