Lam breaks OUA receptions record as Warriors fall in finale

The Waterloo Warriors dropped their season finale to the Windsor Lancers by a score of 39-11 on Saturday afternoon, but a milestone achievement by one of the greatest receivers in program history helped finish the year on a high note.

Gordon Lam (Kitchener/) hauled in a four-yard pass late in the third quarter for career reception number 206, breaking the OUA's all-time receptions record held by former Laurier Golden Hawk and current Toronto Argo Kurleigh Gittens, Jr. Lam's new mark sits at 208, after registering 5 catches for 31 yards in the loss at Windsor.

The Kitchener native will graduate as one of the most heralded players in Warriros history: Lam was named to the OUA all-star team three times, and he was named a 2018 All-Canadian. Lam was a mainstay in the OUA receptions list throughout his career, finishing first in 2019 and 2021, third in 2018, and fourth this season.

The record was a positive note on a day where Waterloo finished off a disappointing 1-7 season. The Lancers jumped ahead early on Saturday afternoon, with a 48-yard Brady Lister field goal and a 26-yard touchdown reception by running back Joey Zorn making the score 10-0 after the first quarter.

The Lancers defense made life miserable for Waterloo pivot Nolan Kaban (Calgary/), as they forced three interceptions in the first half. In the second quarter, Zorn added a touchdown run of 26 yards, and Muftah Ageli capped off an 85-yard drive with a major. The teams exchanged field goals late in the first half, including a 45-yard bomb by Waterloo's Cole Crossett (Ottawa/) to make the score 31-3 at the break.

Matt Linn (Waterloo/) came in to replace Kaban at halftime, but the record was still not a given – Lam had been held without a catch in the first half. But Lam ended up being a reliable and secure target for the rookie quarterback, and Linn found the vet twice on short plays in the third quarter. Then, late in the third, Lam completed the milestone when he hooked up with Linn on a four-yard completion.

Linn and the Waterloo offense also strung together an 11-play, 88-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter, featuring a fake punt and 25-yard gallop from Crossett, and a 21-yard reception from Lam that put the ball on Windsor's 2-yard line. Linn capped it off with a 2-yard run for his first career OUA touchdown.

On the defensive side of the ball, Jack Hinsperger (Waterloo/) once again led the way with 9 total tackles (7 solo), and Mitch Demers (St. Catharines/) had six solo tackles, with three tackles for a loss. Hinsperger put a bow on his outstanding campaign, as he finished tied for the OUA lead in solo tackles (44), while also adding 2 tackles for a loss and an interception.

At 1-7, the Warriors will miss out on the OUA postseason, but there were plenty of positives that came out of 2022. The young roster showed resiliency in several narrow defeats, and the arrow is pointing up for the program heading into 2023.