The Battle of Waterloo. A rivalry in Canadian university sports that has stood the test of time, dating back to the first meeting between the Laurier Golden Hawks and Waterloo Warriors on Sept. 1, 1962.
This year's edition is the 59th overall game between these two historical OUA programs and features a 3-0 Laurier side riding high off of their opening three-game stretch that has vaulted them into the national conversation for playoff contention against a 1-2 Waterloo team that is sneaky enough to pull a win away from a powerhouse.
In all, Laurier holds the upper hand in this rivalry with 44 wins to Waterloo's 13. Currently, the Golden Hawks are four-time consecutive winners of this game, as the last time the Warriors won the Battle of Waterloo was during the 2021 season, when quarterback Tre Ford won the Hec Crighton Trophy.
This game is pivotal for both teams in their journeys through the 2025 season.
For Waterloo, they are 1-2, a sneaky team that has proven it can defeat more skilled teams than them, as evidenced by the walk-off win over Toronto. They are entering a potentially lighter part of their schedule.
After this game against Laurier, the Warriors will play Queen's, followed by Windsor, York, and McMaster to conclude the season. If they can play their best football, those are all winnable games for Waterloo.
For Laurier, their last four games can, arguably, be described as their most brutal stretch of the season, given how everything has turned out as we enter week four.
On September 20, the Golden Hawks travel to Ottawa to play a 2-1 Gee-Gee's team before playing against a resurgent University of Toronto squad. Their last two games see them taking on Carleton at home and then away at Western to end the year.
With that being said, Saturday's Battle of Waterloo carries some heavy ramifications for both sides.
Callum Wither (56-of-82, 754 yards, seven touchdowns, four interceptions, 68% comp) looks to be settling into the Golden Hawk offence comfortably with three straight wins to open the season.
Given that he is a native of Waterloo, it should be expected that this game will carry heavy meaning for him.
He will need to be a bit more polished in his throws over the course of the rest of the season, however, as his interception tally has been rising as of late, with three in the last two games.
Running backs Tayshaun Jackson (42 rushes, 231 yards, two touchdowns, 164 punt yards, one return touchdown) and Quentin Scott (22 rushes, 199 yards) could see their most carries yet, as Waterloo has been giving up nearly 345 rushing yards per game so far.
Of course, expect the Golden Hawks' receiving corps to be heavily factored into this one as well.
Ethan Jordan is once again nearing the top of every national receiving category with 25 catches, 365 yards, and three touchdowns. Given how he has been playing, he will probably be Wither's number one target after three straight 100-plus receiving yard games.
Ryan Hughes (12 catches, 159 yards, two touchdowns) and Jace Atkinson (six catches, 99 yards, one touchdown) have also been outstanding this season and will likely see a lot of looks in this game if Wither gets comfortable and spreads the ball out across the field.
The blunt aspect of Laurier's talent at receiver in relation to this game is that there are just too many domineering pass-catchers for Waterloo to account for at all times.
Nick Orr is expected to return at quarterback after missing time due to injury.
The Warriors will likely alternate Anthony Miller (27 rushes, 85 yards) and Roy Van Der Veen (22 rushes, 96 yards) at running back.
H-back Evan Basalyga, the team's leading receiver with 15 catches and 202 yards, will need to give everything he has if the Warriors hope to keep up on the scoreboard.
The Golden Hawk defence will need to be alert as to which signal-caller is in the game and when. Properly game planning for any possible appearance from those two will be instrumental if Laurier comes out with a win.
Waterloo is a balanced offensive team. They like to throw the ball, but they will also hand it off often. Therefore, Laurier's linebackers, Jessie Wilkins-Flaricee and Ethan Gregorcic, will be crucial to the Golden Hawks, as they will be well-positioned to read and react to what is happening, thereby limiting the Warrior offence.
Two other members of the Laurier defence that will need to have big days are Joseph Edlington and Matteo Laquintana, as they will need to inflict constant pressure on Waterloo's quarterbacks, allowing Laurier's dominant secondary to take advantage of ill-timed throws.
Some defensive Warriors to keep an eye on if you are Laurier are undoubtedly the linebacker corps: Michael Omoseni, Keesean Bowen, and Arden Martinez. The three of them are Waterloo's leading tacklers so far, with Bowen even notching an interception and Omoseni breaking up three passes so far in 2025.
Five performers to look out for
Callum Wither, QB, Laurier: Through the first three games of Wither's U SPORTS career, he has looked comfortable settling into Coach Todd Galloway's offence. His throws have been sharp, and he has established great in-game connections with his best playmakers. Now, at the midway point, this game could be the catalyst for a dominant finish to the regular season for him if he can slice up the Warriors' secondary on the way to another win heading into a meaningful road game in Ottawa against the Gees.
Evan Basalyga, HB, Waterloo: Basalyga, by far, has been Waterloo's most relied upon pass-catcher through the first half of the regular season. At 6'2" and 229 lbs, Basalyga is not fun at all to try to tackle and incorporates great mixtures of agility and power into his playstyle.
Quentin Scott, RB, Laurier: Scott is coming off his best statistical performance in 2025 against Queen's, where he rushed for 115 yards against a great Gaels' defence. Especially with him alternating snaps with Tayshaun Jackson, Scott can keep his legs fresh, which may help to carry over that momentum from last week to this week. It also helps that Waterloo's defence is a far cry from Queen's.
Michael Omoseni, LB, Waterloo: A member of OB's pre-season breakout candidates list, Omoseni has picked back up right where he left off in 2024 by vaulting himself to the top of the Warriors' leading tacklers in 2025 while also recording a tackle for loss and three pass breakups so far. A great analyzer of plays in real time, Omoseni's presence will be crucial if Waterloo hopes to slow down Laurier's offence at least.
Jace Atkinson, WR, Laurier: Atkinson is a beautiful receiver to watch. The man has a penchant for running ultra-precise routes and is a maestro at making himself open in the quarterback's eyes. He is even more dangerous with the ball in his hands and is a brilliant pass catcher. A truly reliable receiver, Atkinson could play a big part in this game if Waterloo manages to minimize the impact of Ethan Jordan or Ryan Hughes.
Score prediction: Laurier 32, Waterloo 14