Terry Fox Secondary grad Dawson Hodge has helped boot the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks to its highest ranking in U Sports football in 18 years.
Hodge, a kicker who didn't take to football until his senior year at Fox when his twin brother Brandon convinced him his soccer skills would help the Ravens' football team, has been a big part of the Golden Hawks rise to third in the country as the team heads into its final game of the regular season on Saturday, Oct. 21, at the top-ranked University of Western Ontario Mustangs.
Both teams have identical records of seven wins and no losses.
If Laurier wins, it will be the team's first undefeated season since 2005.
Hodge has been successful on 10 of his 17 field goal attempts and all 29 of his point-after conversions. His 64 points are fourth best in the Ontario University Athletics conference (OUA).
Hodge's punting game has also excelled, consistently putting opponents in difficult position to score. He's averaged 41.2 yards for his 37 punts with the longest sailing 72 yards.
Hodge has even contributed six tackles and he’s been named Laurier’s athlete of the week twice.
Hodge, a geography student, is in his third season at the Waterloo, Ont., school.
He was named a second team all-Canadian last year and he spent the summer working to improve his game even more with two-time Grey Cup champion and Laurier alumnus Ronnie Pfeffer.
"I think for him it's all about confidence," said Golden Hawks head coach Michael Faulds about Hodge on the team's website.
"He's got some goals and aspirations, but he's also a team-first guy."
