Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks rookie running back Tanner Nelmes carries the ball against the University of Windsor this season. (Photo by Mike Veltri)

Local universities well-represented at OUA football awards 

The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks football team had ten players named OUA All-Stars on Wednesday afternoon, the most the team has had in a decade. Laurier finished 6-2 that year, good for second in the OUA. This season, however, the Golden Hawks failed to make the postseason with a record of 4-4. 

The First-Team All-Stars included running back Levondre Gordon, defensive tackle Sam Acheampong, and linebacker Tommy Bringi, while Second-Teamers were receiver Brentyn Hall, offensive linemen JD Richardson and Drew Mairleitner, defensive tackle Trevaughan James, halfback Malcolm Thompson, cornerback Ayo Ajayi, and kicker Nathan Mesher. 

Mesher, a Waterloo native, earned his first-career All-Star nod in his senior season, converting on 86% of his field goal attempts this season, tying his own school record for most made field goals in a season with 18. Mesher broke the school record for most field goals ever in a Laurier uniform with 73, and most total points ever with 355. 

Another Golden Hawk earned an honour at the awards, as freshman running back Tanner Nelmes was named to the OUA All-Rookie team. A native of Guelph, Nelmes dressed in all eight games for Laurier, rushing 11 times for 37 yards. He had a big game against Windsor late in the season, rushing for 26 yards on seven carries. 

The University of Waterloo Warriors also had a good showing at the awards, with eight players named OUA All-Stars. First-Team nods went to running back Dion Pellerin, receiver Tyler Ternowski, and cornerback Tyrell Ford. Second-Team honours went to quarterback Tre Ford, receiver Gordon Lam, tackle Spencer Andrews, punter Jonah Zlatinszky, and special teamer Kurtis Gray. Defensive lineman Trevon Halstead was named to the All-Rookie team. 

The Warriors made the playoffs this season and upset the Ottawa Gee-Gees in the first round, 44-21, but fell to Western, a perennial powerhouse in OUA football, 30-24, in the Yates Cup semi-finals last weekend. Ford had 298 total yards, while Lam caught four passes for 51 yards and a touchdown. The difference in the game was a 65 yard interception return for a TD by Western with seven minutes to play. 

The Mustangs will host McMaster in the 112th Yates Cup final tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 pm in London. Western and Laurier led the OUA with ten All-Stars each.