The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks football team is flying high, riding the momentum of an undefeated regular season (8-0) and capturing the 116th Yates Cup with a commanding 51-36 victory over the Western Mustangs. Their postseason journey has seen them triumph in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) semifinals against Queen’s, the Yates Cup, and the Uteck Bowl against the Bishops, earning a berth in the Vanier Cup against Université Laval.
Under head coach Michael Faulds, the Golden Hawks have showcased excellence on both sides of the ball, orchestrating a high-powered offense that averaged 35.5 points per game during the regular season and earning his OUA Coach of the Year nod. Fourth-year kinesiology quarterback Taylor Elgersma, the team’s leader and OUA Most Valuable Player also claimed U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian honours last season, solidifying his position as one of the nation’s premier quarterbacks.
The defensive firepower from third-year sociology major Johari Hastings and second-year geography Tayshaun Jackson gained them recognition as OUA all-stars. Hastings, a halfback, earned a first-team nod for his impressive 29.5 total tackles, one forced fumble, two interceptions and three pass break-ups. Jackson, a first-year defensive back, was named to the first team after contributing 351 rushing yards, 434 kickoff return yards and 449 punt return yards. Their efforts helped Laurier hold opponents to an average of just 14.3 points per game, the best in the OUA.
The team’s accolades this season include nine OUA All-Star selections and Faulds being named for his tactical brilliance.
In the semifinals, Laurier faced the resilient Queen’s University Gaels but emerged with a 29-21 victory. The Golden Hawks dominated the second quarter, scoring 23 points.
After a slow start, Laurier took control in the second quarter with Elgersma throwing a 16-yard touchdown pass to Ethan Jordan, followed by a safety to tie the game at 12-12. Elgersma then added two more touchdown passes: A 31-yarder to Ryan Hughes and a 23-yard strike to Layomi Ojutalayo with just eight seconds left in the half. This gave Laurier a 26-12 lead.
Laurier’s defense shone, forcing a safety and a critical interception by Ethan Gregorcic, which set up a touchdown late in the second quarter. “We knew their defense was strong. Our defense stepped up big—two third-down stops in the second half and a pick in the first half. Offensively, we need to finish drives better, but in the playoffs, it’s about finding a way to win,” Elgersma said.
Second year receiver Jessie Wilkins, who had several key catches during the game, praised his teammates: “I give a big shout-out to the O-line, the DBs, and our linebackers. Everybody brought it down as a whole team. It’s just about having that dog in you—you got to have that dog in you,” he said.
The Golden Hawks outgained the Gaels with 464 total yards to Queen’s 354, showcasing their balanced attack.
Adding a touch of camaraderie, Elgersma shared a lighthearted playoff tradition. “We all got the playoff blonde in right now. Take a look here in the locker room, you’ll see a bunch of guys with some bleach in it—showing our belief that we’re gonna get this thing done this year,” he said.
The win against Queen’s was a testament to Laurier’s resilience and teamwork. It also set the stage for their showdown against Western in the Yates Cup, where the Golden Hawks would continue their pursuit of perfection.
Laurier’s triumph over Western in the 116th Yates Cup marked a pivotal moment in their season. Before a roaring crowd of 5,000 fans at Knight-Newbrough Field, Laurier put on an offensive showing.
Western opened with a touchdown, but Laurier responded immediately, with Tayshaun Jackson finding the end zone. By halftime, the Golden Hawks led 31-17, with touchdowns from second-year Ryan Hughes, fifth-year psychology major Ethan Jordan and fifth-year sociology major Tanner Nelmes. Elgersma finished with over 300 passing yards, and kicker Dawson Hodge contributed 15 points, including two crucial field goals in the fourth quarter.
Third-year psychology major Darion Bacik-Hadden was injured later in the game but not before he completed another successful pass to second-year psychology major Khalil Derman who scored Laurier’s sixth touchdown.
The Golden Hawks’ resounding 51-31 victory in the Yates Cup was a historic moment for the team, fourth-year psychology major OL Cooper Hamilton reflected on the culmination of years of effort.
“I’m one of the senior guys on the team, and I’ve been here for five or six years, so it feels nice to finally come to this moment. All the hard work that we put in over the years, all the 6 a.m. runs in the winter and early lifts and stuff, it feels great when this moment pays off,” Hamilton said.
The win marks a significant milestone for the Golden Hawks and showcases the dedication of the players. Veteran receiver and fourth-year business student Ryan Speight reflected on the win. “Coming in here four years ago now, this is all I ever dreamt of. This was our goal in the beginning so it’s just, it’s awesome that we finally did it,” he said.
Laurier continued their dominance in the Uteck Bowl, defeating the Bishop’s Gaiters 48-17 in Sherbrooke, Quebec. The Hawks jumped to a 34-3 halftime lead, thanks to explosive plays including a 74-yard touchdown reception by Ryan Hughes. Though the Bishop’s mounted a second-half comeback, Laurier’s balanced attack sealed the win.
Finally, Laurier turned its sights to the 59th Vanier Cup, held in Richardson Stadium, Kingston, where they faced Université Laval—a rematch of their 2016 defeat. This marked Laurier’s first Vanier Cup appearance since that loss, and the team was eager to cement their place in history.
Unfortunately, Laurier’s Vanier Cup run ended in a narrow 22-17 loss to Laval on November 23. Laval’s kicker Felipe Forteza was instrumental, scoring five field goals, including the decisive 18-yarder late in the fourth quarter.
Laurier rallied from an early 11-0 deficit, with Taylor Elgersma throwing touchdown passes to Ryan Hughes and Jaxon Stebbings. Dawson Hodge’s fourth-quarter field goal brought the Golden Hawks within two points, but a late safety and Laval’s defense secured the win.
Following the heartbreaking conclusion to a historic season, head coach Michael Faulds offered heartfelt advice to his team in a postgame interview with 519 Sports Online:
“It’s okay to be hurting right now—you should be. It’s going to hurt for 24-48 hours. But stay together, and after those 24-48 hours, you’ll look back fondly and be proud of what you accomplished. My only sadness is for our seniors; I would’ve loved for them to go out as champions in their final game wearing a Laurier jersey.”
Though the outcome was bittersweet, Laurier’s remarkable season stands as a testament to resilience and unity, laying the groundwork for a promising future.
