Marauders defeat Gee-Gees despite dismal game attendance

Looking back at the 2011 or 2012 McMaster football seasons, it would be pretty hard to imagine a football game with anything less than a sold out crowd cheering in the stands. For the 2013 McMaster football team, that thought became a reality.

With the playoffs being questioned for most of the Marauder’s 2013 season it is hard to imagine the thought of a near empty Ron Joyce Stadium for a game like the quarterfinals. McMaster was taking on the statistically matched Ottawa Gee-Gees. It was almost a guarantee that Marauder fans would cash in to buy tickets to come out and watch their Maroon and Grey pummel that very same team the same way they did back at their home-opener in August. Sadly, the scene on Oct. 26 was in fact the exact opposite. Although weather certainly played a major role in the less than impressive attendance on Saturday’s game, the folks that did decide to attend were all dresses accordingly, not letting the lower than normal temperatures and the rain put a damper on their Marauder spirit.

Fifth-year player Michael DiCroce knows what it is like to play for a sold out at Ron Joyce Stadium and knows that this past weekend’s attendance was definitely something they were not expecting.

“The past couple years when we have been on top and winning, asking for support was simple but now that we haven’t been on top and we are doing things differently it has shown through lack of support,” said DiCroce

“Its unfortunate to think that they only want to be around when we are successful, because our true fans are out there for any game in any condition.”

Assistant Coach Jon Behie said the weather was definitely to blame but the low attendance was understandable.

“We typically haven’t had big crowds for quarterfinal games, but as we get further down the line in the playoffs that’s usually when we see higher attendance numbers,” Behie said.

“We weren’t overly surprised but certainly the weather played a big factor with attendance being as low as it was, and it’s disappointing but certainly understandable under the circumstances.”

Despite a much quieter than normal Ron Joyce Stadium, the Marauders and the coaching staff did not let that get in the way of their mission to defeat the Gee-Gee’s in order to continue on in the playoffs.

McMaster dominated with commending efforts from Wayne Moore who had 140 rushing yards in the game and Steven Ventresca who picked up a touchdown off an interception of Ottawa quarterback Aaron Colbon. McMaster was able to come out on top holding the Gee-Gees to a mere seven points with the final score reading 41-7 for the men in Maroon.

With the quarterfinals easily grasped, it’s now onto the semi-finals for the Marauders. Due to a Gryphons win over the Windsor levitra cialis viagra price Lancers, McMaster is matched up once again with their OUA rivals the Western Mustangs.

With top guns Matt Sewell and Joey Cupido all healthy and back in the roster, this Western game should certainly be a much different one for the McMaster Marauders. Mike DiCroce was also another key player who was out of the line-up the last time the Marauders laced up to face Western. With him and others back in, the Marauders are definitely going to be a force to be reckoned with.

“This week will be something else,” DiCroce said.

“It is always a full tilt battle when we play Western and being playoffs just adds to it.”

Looking back on previous seasons, knowing that the Marauders have previously taken out the Mustangs before puts some assurance back into their preparations for Saturday’s match.

“Knowing we have taken them out the past couple years in the big games has also added to the rivalry,” added DiCroce.

“It’s going to come down to how deep we can dig within ourselves to battle and win the effort war throughout the game.”

With TD Stadium expected to house more purple than maroon on Saturday it will all come down to McMaster’s integrity. It almost felt as though McMaster played an away game this past weekend, so being on the road in London, Ont. this weekend shouldn’t be a problem for the confident Marauders.

The semifinal game kicks off at 4:30 p.m. at the home of the Purple Ponies.