The whole play only took 12 seconds, but it might as well have taken 16 years.
It was Labour day of 2002 when the Waterloo Warriors football team last claimed victory over their cross-town rivals, the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks. So when Warriors quarterback Tre Ford (Niagara Falls/) took a snap from his own 22-yard line, down 32-27 late in the fourth quarter, there weren't just a dozen Hawks standing between him and the endzone – there was also 16 years of baggage.
Ford dropped back and pump-faked. The defender bit on it, and Tyler Ternowski (Hamilton/) broke open. When Ternowski hauled in the throw, it looked like he might be tackled for a modest 25-yard gain. But then the speedy receiver's legs began to pump. Ternowski is plenty fast on his own, but, given the circumstances, he might have been helped along – perhaps by over a decade and a half of Warriors that never got a chance to win a battle of Waterloo. Ford to Ternowski might as well have been Evan Martin to Sean Cowie, or Jamie Cook (Collingwood) to Nick Anapolsky, or Lucas McConnell (Waterford/) to Blair McKay (Waterford/).
Ternowski weaved and ran and found the goal line. He had taken the toss 88 yards, giving the Warriors a two-point lead; the same margin by which they last beat Laurier – an 18-16 win, some 16 years ago.
The whole play took only 12 seconds.
Just over two minutes and two massive defensive stops later, the Warriors had erased a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit, and had themselves a landscape-shaking, program-changing 34-32 victory over the fourth-ranked Golden Hawks on a sweltering Saturday afternoon at University stadium.
"It was a hell of a day, and a hell of a team effort," said Warriors head coach Chris Bertoia, who saw his team move to 3-1 on the season. "That's an elite football program, and for us to take the next step, we had to beat our cross-street rivals. I'm so proud and happy for our guys. This is something we've been working for, and we're just excited to take our next step. It's a great day to be a Warrior."
The Ford-Ternowski combination proved to be the difference-maker, even beyond the 88-yard touchdown hookup that decided the game: Ford added to his historic season by going 26 for 35 with 472 yards and 3 touchdowns, while adding 86 yards on 8 rush attempts.
"It feels great," said Ford after the victory. "It was just a great football game. Our coaches designed a lot of good stuff this week, and it all worked. I just go through the reads and make the plays."
Ternowski continued his OUA record pace by catching 10 passes for 251 yards and a score, and Gordon Lam (Kitchener/) added 10 receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown. The Warriors also got a 49-yard receiving score from Kevin Boismier (London/), and a one-yard rushing touchdown from Dion Pellerin (Abbotsford/).
The vaunted ground game of the Hawks (2-1) was stifled by Waterloo's young, fast defence, as the Warriors held Levondre Gordon to just 63 yards on 13 carries. But pivot Tristan Arndt and the Hawks passing game picked up the slack: Arndt went 20 for 32 with 417 yards and 3 touchdowns, while receiver Brentyn Hall hauled in 4 passes for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns. Reigning OUA MVP Kurleigh Gittens Jr added 7 receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown.
But while the offensive numbers are eye-popping – the teams combined for 1153 yards – the unsung Waterloo defence ultimately decided that 16 years was, indeed, quite enough. Kurtis Gray (Waterloo/) led the charge with 7 tackles, and Waterloo's Hinsperger brothers, Devon and Jack, combined for 11.5 tackles. Covering Gittens Jr for most of the afternoon, Tyrell Ford (Niagara Falls/) had three huge pass breakups, while Michael Reid (Sault Ste. Marie/) added a sack on second down – a play that forced Laurier to punt, leading to the Ternowski game-winning score. And rounding out the defensive effort, Dylan Whitty (London/) registered a possible game-saving tackle to force a turnover on downs late in the fourth quarter
The Warriors' offensive line was also able to fend off Laurier's all-star-laden pass rush, as they didn't allow a sack all day. Ron Kinga led the hosts with 7 tackles, while defensive linemen Robbie Smith and Trevaughan James were held to a combined 2.5 tackles.
The Warriors will now turn their attention to yet another massive test, as the top-ranked Western Mustangs – the defending Vanier Cup champions – visit Warrior Field for Reunion Day next Saturday, September 22 at 1pm. But, on this day, the Warriors will enjoy their biggest victory in maybe two decades, and, for the first time since 2002, bragging rights in the Battle of Waterloo.
Not bad for a play that took just 12 seconds.
