After ending the regular season with a rough 40-15 loss to the Laurier Golden Hawks on Oct. 2, the McMaster Marauders’ win against the Queen’s Gaels on Oct. 28 brought them back to Waterloo for the Ontario University Athletics semi-final game. And reminiscent of the last time, the Marauders’ playoff season was brought to an end with a disappointing 16-9 loss.
Thanks to an early 11-yard touchdown run by the Golden Hawks’ running back Levondre Gordon, Laurier made their presence known early. The No. 5 U Sports team’s defence stopped several attempts made by the Marauders’ offence. By the half, the 2016 OUA Rookie of the Year Adam Preocanin was able to kick Mac on to the scoreboard, bringing the game to 7-3.
The low-scoring game was courtesy of both teams’ defence, but Laurier was able to move the ball just enough for “No Pressure” Nathan Meshur to kick four good field goals. Despite another good kick from Preocanin, Mac was unable to close the gap in the score.
Along with struggling on the field, penalties were a big issue for both teams and officiating in general was sometimes just inexplicable. With a total of 31 penalties (Laurier with 14 and Mac 17), some of Mac’s penalties were the result of mental errors including too many players on the field and offside, while others were more extreme like their three objectionable conduct penalties.
Two of those OC penalties were the aftermath of a verbal altercation on the field after a hard hit by Laurier’s defensive back Isaiah Guzylak-Messam on Mac receiver Mitch O’Connor. O’Connor was unable to get up for a long period of time and several players became extremely upset.
By this point Mac’s frustration was at an all-time high, while Laurier had started to prematurely celebrate their win. For the Marauders, this is their third-straight time getting knocked out of the playoffs by the Golden Hawks. This game’s outcome has surely intensified the rivalry between the two teams going forward, especially for the Marauders.
For first-year quarterback Jackson White, his first playoff loss happening so close to his hometown of Cambridge was the last thing he pictured for this season.
“Obviously it didn’t go how we wanted it to, but right now I’m just feeling for the fifth years,” said White. “If you look at the positives, they didn’t expect us to make the playoffs and we made it all the way to the OUA semi-finals.”
The game exhibited room for growth within the Marauder program and raised some questions about the OUA’s officiating.
“Our inexperience has shown all season but I think the kids played hard and it is what it is,” said McMaster head coach Greg Knox. “Congrats to Laurier and best of luck at the Yates Cup.”
With this being several senior players’ last game, Mac will be loosing key players especially on the defensive side of the ball. Fifth-year players including linebackers Eric Mezzarila and Alec Robertson will be among the major losses for the Marauders.
“Were going to lose a lot of great players but we just have to fill those spots and be better for the 2018 season,” said White.
The Golden Hawks will be face off against the Western Mustangs in London on Nov. 11 for the 110th edition of the Yates Cup. Laurier will be trying to defend their title as the 2017 Yates Cup Champions by fending off the No. 2 Mustangs, who have yet to lose this season and will be looking for revenge along with another shot at the Vanier Cup.
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If you’ve been wondering what McMaster Marauders’ starting quarterback from 2013-2017 Asher Hastings has been up to, just know he has not gone too far.
After graduating from McMaster earlier this year with a degree in Sociology, Hastings was offered a job as a summer student with Labatt Brewing. But Hastings could not leave Mac behind.
Just because fans do not see Hastings suited up every Sunday, does not mean he’s no longer a key part of McMaster football. Starting this season, Hastings became the Marauders’ newest quarterbacks coach. By volunteering his evenings and weekends, the former starter is able to give back to the organization he grew up with while mentoring three young quarterbacks.
As quarterbacks coach, Hastings spends his time using his experience to teach third-year Dylan Astrom, and the Marauders’ two freshman quarterbacks, Jackson White and Andreas Dueck.
“Its like a brotherhood,” said Hastings on being their coach.
But more importantly, he sees his position as a mentorship role.
“You’re there mentoring these guys throughout every aspect of being a quarterback,” said Hastings. “It’s all about teaching them how to lead, how to be a good person, and how to make a great impact on and off the field - beyond the Xs and Os of football.”
Although Hastings knows everything there is to know about being a quarterback in Ontario University Athletics, the transition to becoming a quarterback coach has been an eye-opening experience.
“It really helps that he played in the system last year and we have a great relationship. He’s a younger coach and definitely a good friend on and off the field.”
Jackson White
Quarterback
McMaster football
“As a student athlete you don’t even really realize that these guys aren’t all getting paid. Not everyone is a full time coach and there’s a lot of hard work that goes in,” said Hastings.
He added that learning to share his “football obsession” with his work life has been challenging, but also an experience that he has learned a lot from.
“There are a lot of late nights and a lot going on behind the scenes that I am now a part of,” said Hastings. “But I get to be part of those conversations that shape and mould this football team going forward.”
Going forward, Hastings hopes to instill the importance of the quarterback legacy at McMaster with the younger quarterbacks.
“We take a lot of pride in what we do in the passing game,” said Hastings. “Keeping me around, I’m able to pass that message on that good is not good enough. I like that I’m able to be here and carry that message, so that it doesn’t get lost that it is such an honour and a privilege to be able to play quarterback at this school,” said Hastings.
Though “good is not good enough”, Hastings noted that he does not take too kindly to those in the stands yelling at Mac’s quarterbacks. Knowing what it feels like to be in their shoes, he stresses the fact that sometimes fans do not understand just how hard it is to be a quarterback.
“There’s a lot more going on than meets the eyes from the stands,” said Hastings. “These kids have to analyze what 24 guys are doing on the field in a split second. They have to be able to see what’s in front of them and that changes their reaction and what they physically do with the football.”
Though the position is not as easy as it seems, Hastings is confident that the three younger quarterbacks have what it takes to carry on the McMaster quarterback legacy.
The breakout star out of the trio who is surely carrying on the quarterback legacy is Jackson White. White, who started and played for the entire game last week against the Ottawa Gee-Gee’s, led Mac to a 24-7 victory where he threw for two touchdowns and 255 yards.
Although it seems pretty clear to most that Jackson White is the obvious choice to start, Coach Hastings promises that no matter who starts he is happy about the development of the three young quarterbacks.
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After a start to the season that featured a regular rotation of their three young quarterbacks, it looks like the Marauders may have finally settled on a starter. Freshman Jackson White from Cambridge, ON, made the start for the Marauders on Saturday, and was able to expand upon the minimal action he has already seen under centre.
In his first start, White posted a respectable stat line, throwing two touchdowns on 255 yards and completing 20/32 passes. White also continued to show his duel threat abilities, rushing for 63 yards on the day. However, the freshman’s first start was not completely spotless, giving up two interceptions to the Ottawa defence early in the game.
“We didn’t start the way we wanted to in the first half,” White said. “The first pick sailed on me, and I felt a bit nervous. But after that, I felt like we got things rolling. We got down into the red zone twice, but we miscommunicated and then I threw that pick – it hurt going into the half”.
A game that was poised to be a battle of two defensive powerhouses, the first half went as expected, with Ottawa heading into halftime up 4-0. However, following halftime locker room speeches, the momentum shifted in favour of the Marauders’ offence.
“Coach Knox got us fired up at halftime,” White added. “I thought that we, as an offence, had a great half in the second, probably our best half of the year. Obviously, you have to give credit to the defence, allowing just four points in the first half, and we had tons of safeties. They really played lights out.”
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The defence had another stellar game of the season, making game-changing plays once again that continues to anchor the team’s wins. The Marauders defence finished the game with four sacks, seven broken up passes, and held the Ottawa Gee-Gees to 138 yards of total offence.
While the defensive line and linebacker core have held the run game in check, the secondary has made it tough for any opposing quarterback to feel comfortable playing Mac. Defensive back Nolan Putt picked off another pass for his second interception of the season. A pass defence that thrives on competition for shutting down their opponents, their consistency can be attributed to their pre-game planning.
“It’s preparation, attention to detail and focus,” said Putt. “That’s what we hear from the staff and ourselves every week. That’s our number one priority, and we’ve been holding to it.”
This season has already shown Marauders fans that their defence is one of the best in the league. Yet once again, the offence had to fight hard throughout the game to get things going in the second half. This time, Mac was successful in putting points on the board.
Despite 192 yards in penalties, the Marauders were able to capitalize on the 89 penalty yards given up by the visiting team. Given the amount of flags being thrown, the offensive game was characterized as a battle by head coach Greg Knox. In the face of this, White was able to lead the Marauders offence to the end zone on the first drive of the second half.
“We limited our mistakes,” Knox said. “We played with more confidence, and hopefully, although we’re a young and inexperienced team, we’re learning from those mistakes. We responded well in the second half and came out with some pepper.”
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Knox highlighted how White progressed well over the course of the game, using this game as an opportunity to work on his decision-making ability as a quarterback. Often, it can be tough to stick through offensive struggles as a member of a team’s defence, but the Marauders were able to do that against the visiting Gee-Gees.
“We trust the process,” Putt said. “That’s what the offence tells us every game, to trust their process and believe that they’ll get us there. We know that they’ll eventually get it going, and today they really did.”
This Saturday will feature a rematch of the 2016 Ontario University Athletics quarterfinals as the Guelph Gryphons will host the Marauders for their Homecoming game. Traveling to Alumni Stadium, Mac will face a strong team in a difficult environment.
“We expect every game to be tough,” Knox said. “We’re taking these one at a time. It’s their Homecoming, and we got them a couple of times last year. They’re going to be loaded up for that, but that’s fine, because so are we.”
In a season mired in uncertainty at quarterback and struggles on the offensive front, the Marauders have proven they are back on track and able to produce on the scoreboard. Boasting a more balanced game on both sides of the ball, the Gryphons are the next team in the way of a steaming Mac team.
The highly anticipated home opener for the U Sports No. 7 McMaster Marauders against No. 4 Western Mustangs left Mac fans and players disappointed after a 29-14 loss.
With a total of only 13 first downs for the entire game, the Marauders’ young and inexperienced offence had a hard time against the Mustangs’ more seasoned defence.
All three quarterbacks got a chance to touch the ball throughout the game. Dylan Astrom played briefly in the first quarter, followed by Andres Dueck who played the majority of the first and the entire second quarter, and finishing with Jackson White who played the entire second half. Yet some of the most exciting plays of the game were thanks to the Marauders’ defence.
With nine junior and senior defensive starters, even when losing, the defence was still able to create much needed game changing plays. Mac is currently tied at second in the country with five interceptions, while sophomore cornerback Robbie Yochim is tied for second in individual interceptions.
When asked if the defence was proud of their current national interception statistic, Yochim praised his teammates, but knows they have to work harder if they want to be consistent winners.
“Our defensive backs are really skilled this year. We’ve come along way since last year,” said Yochim. “If we clean up all those edges and dot those Is and cross those Ts, we’re going to be really good on defence. You never want to learn a lesson with a loss but this is definitely a lesson to be learned for us.”
Both Yochim and McMaster’s current defensive leader, senior linebacker Eric Mezzalira, attribute the defence’s success to the seniority, but both know there is still a lot of room to grow for the team as a whole.
“We have a lot of seniors on our team. In our defensive front we have a lot of older guys so were kind of setting the tone for the younger guys coming in and they’re really picking it up. It’s good to see that they’re learning from us,” said Mezzalira.
“We got too many mistakes out there on every side of the ball,” added Yochim. Defence is making too many errors. Special teams had that one block where we didn’t seal the edge and offence had some things they messed up on as well. We just really have to clean up our game and have a solid game all around next time.”
Although there is room for improvement for defence, they were still able to make key plays that would set up offensive scoring opportunities. The Marauders’ offence was able to score two touchdowns due to crucial interceptions forced by the defence.
Leading by example, senior linebacker Jake Heathcote picked the ball off Western’s quarterback Chris Merchant and returned it 34 yards. The return set up Mac’s running back Jordan Lyons to score the Marauders’ first touchdown of the day.
"We just really have to clean up our game and have a solid game all around next time."
Robbie Yochim
Cornerback
McMaster football
Sophomore cornerback Nolan Putt later followed in the footsteps of Heathcote, intercepting Western’s Stevenson Bone’s pass. This allowed rookie quarterback Jackson White to put a 33-yard rushing touchdown on the board, the first touchdown of his career.
While unable to stop the Mustangs, it is obvious that Mac’s defence is able to make the big plays that they need to.
“The expectation is that we can play good defensive football and be opportunistic, but we’re still making mistakes all over the place,” said head coach Greg Knox. “From a coaching perspective, we got to figure out what needs to happen in our preparation to start limiting those mistakes, and we need to be better next week.”
With the number of upper-year defensive players starting, that expectation is undeniable. Although with much younger key players, such as first-year quarterbacks White and Dueck, there is still room and time for improvement.
Mac’s perseverance was definitely tested against Western. Coming off of a preseason win against the Saskatchewan Huskies and their first regular season win against the Carleton Ravens, it was their first true taste of being down and out this season.
“I think we played gritty football. We’re learning what the definition of grit and determination is at this level. The tale of the game isn’t about how much we wanted it, it’s about if we were able to limit our mistakes. I think that’s the telling tale,” said Knox.
Next up the Marauders will play the Ottawa Gee Gees in Hamilton. The last time the two teams met in Ottawa, the Marauders lost 30-8.
“[The loss to Western is] a wake up call. We got Ottawa next week and we got to be ready to go,” said White. “Our defence played well, we just have to be better on offence.”
For next week’s game against the Gee Gees, the Marauders will have the advantage of playing at home, as well as the loss to Western to learn from. This will give Mac ample opportunity to clean up their game and play good football on both sides of the ball.
With leaders like Robbie Yochim, Eric Mezzalira, and Jake Heathcote, and a so far promising future for White, McMaster football should be in good hands.
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The Marauders began their season in an unusual way by taking their bye week during the first week of the Ontario University Athletics season. While other teams were starting their regular season, McMaster had the opportunity to play host to the Saskatchewan Huskies for the first time in team history. This was also the first time since 1994 that the Marauders have played an interlock preseason game.
“This was a good opportunity for us to have a team from out of conference to fill that void so I don’t think it’s detrimental,” said head coach Greg Knox following the game. “Otherwise, byes first week aren’t that fun, frankly.”
While it can be easy to dismiss preseason games in any sport, they allow teams to test out new players and determine the starters in competitive positions. University sports do not usually have preseason games, but this was a great opportunity for the team’s youngest recruits to get the feel of the game at a university level prior to the beginning of the regular season.
“This was a great opportunity for the team’s youngest recruits to get the feel of the game at a university level prior to the beginning of the regular season.”
Greg Knox
Head coach
McMaster Football
While the Marauders have many returning players, they had to deal with many impactful departures as well. Former star wide receiver Danny Vandervoort has moved on to the Canadian Football League. Former starting quarterback Asher Hastings and running back Chris Pezzetta both finished their eligibility and moved on to positional coaching for the Marauders.
Any concern over whether or not the Marauders could pick up where they left off were quickly put to rest as the Marauders pulled off impressive back-to-back wins. The preseason game against the Huskies ended in a solid 22-10 win and was followed by a 23-9 win against the Carleton Ravens. It is clear the 2017 McMaster football team has the potential to have a great season.
Despite the win, the Marauders’ game against Saskatchewan began with a slow start. The Huskies were the first to get points on the board, setting the tone for the first quarter. The Marauders trailed behind 7-0 as the offence led by sophomore quarterback Dylan Astrom struggled to move the ball.
Looking to the fill the void following Asher Hastings’ departure, McMaster used this game as a chance to give the three quarterbacks on their roster some playing time. Next up was newcomer quarterback Jackson White, whose play changed the pace in the game quickly when he entered the game in the second quarter.
Following star kicker Adam Preocanin’s 25-yard field goal, White completed an impressive 28-yard touchdown pass to Brett Ledingham. With the Marauders now in the lead 13-7, both offence and defence were beginning to pick up momentum and cornerback Nolan Putt picked off the first of four Marauders interceptions of the night. White finished the quarter with an impressive 131 yards on seven completions.
Something finally clicked for Mac in the second quarter as they headed into the second half up 13-7.
“You could define that game less about what they were doing and more about what we weren’t doing in terms of some mental mistakes, which you can expect early on in the season,” explained Knox.
By the third quarter, both sides of the ball were now comfortable showing off their speed. Freshman quarterback Andreas Dueck stepped in for the Marauders, starting and finishing the second half. The Winnipeg native maintained composure throughout the integral parts of the game.
In the fourth quarter, the Huskies kicked a 45-yard field goal and were able to bring the score to 10-15. It was beginning to look like a close game. However, strong efforts from McMaster’s leading receiver Tommy Neild and Jordan Lyons’ three yard touchdown with 58 seconds left in the game allowed Adam Preocanin’s fourth field goal to seal the game for the home team.
Freshman running back Justice Allin impressed with a few game-breaking runs, leading McMaster in rushing with 97 yards and splitting the backfield with Jordan Lyons’ 80 yards. On the other side of the ball, veteran Hassan Berry led the defence with six tackles and one sack.
“[It was] a good first step. We learned a lot. I think we competed, a little shaky start all around. We’re a very young group, an inexperienced group, but I thought that we showed good composure and did enough to win a football game we wanted to win.”
Building off their strong preseason game, the Marauders traveled to MNP Park in their first regular season game to face off against the Carleton Ravens. Coming off of a 22-17 road win against the Queen’s Gaels, the Ravens looked poised to challenged the Marauders in their home opener.
However, the Marauders did not let the Ravens begin their season with two straight wins. In a game filled with penalties, sacks and turnovers, the Marauders’ capitalized on Carleton’s mistakes. Despite only 142 yards of total offence, exactly half of the Ravens’ total, the Marauders were able to execute a dominant 23-9 win.
As the Marauders’ new starting signal caller, Andreas Dueck struck early by throwing a five yard touchdown pass to Tommy Nield. That would be the highlight of the Marauders’ passing game as Dueck would finish 9 of 22 for 65 yards and an interception.
While not accumulating many passing yards, Dueck showed off why he was chosen to start the game by showcasing an impressive ability to scramble and throw on the run. Dueck racked up 19 rushing yards of his own to pick up a couple of first downs with his feet.
The Marauders began another game slowly as they finished the first quarter leading 7-2 and letting the Ravens march the ball down the field on several drives, but stopping them from converting them to points. The pace of the game changed in the second quarter as McMaster took advantage of the Ravens’ turnovers to break out for 16 points.
Running back Jordan Lyons was the source of the majority of the Marauders’ yardage for the game, responsible for 94 yards on 21 carries. Lyons almost scored a touchdown after a 25-yard run, but fumbled close to the goal line. The ball was luckily recovered by the Marauders’ Mitch O’Connor and essentially sealed the game for the road team.
The Marauder’s defence shined brightly under the lights in Ottawa, allowing only three points and coming away with six turnovers, including a pick-six snagged by OUA All-Star cornerback Robbie Yochim. The defence also posted five sacks, competing with the Ravens’ defensive line who had seven sacks of their own.
One bright spot for the Ravens was second-year running back Nathan Carter who was able to break off for several big runs, finishing the game with an impressive 150 yards on 22 carries. Carleton will head to Laurier next week to see if they can bounce back from this loss.
The Marauders will now play host to the Western Mustangs on Sept. 9. The Mustangs will be a tough test for the Marauders after opening their season with a commanding 66-3 win over the York Lions. If McMaster’s defence can continue their dominance and they can get their passing game going, the Marauders can go far in their 2017 season.
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With the Marauders 2013 football season coming to an end this past weekend on Nov. 2 in London, Ont. the McMaster Marauders have lost a bit more than just their hopes of a playoff run.
The Marauders also say farewell to some of the best players this football program has ever seen. Players that helped lead the McMaster Marauders to the school’s first ever Vanier Cup win and two consecutive Yates Cup wins in 2011 and 2012.
Matt Sewell, Mike DiCroce, Mike Daly and Joey Cupdio are some key Marauder names that we will not be seeing on the roster for next season as their years of eligibility in the football program have expired.
It’s more than just the success these players have had that will be missed, but the memories and teammates they will leave behind which is proving to be the hardest part of the thought of graduating for these fifth year all-stars.
“The best part of it all for me were the bonds that were made with my friends and brothers, the guys you go to war with are at your side through good times and bad,” said graduating wide receiver Mike DiCroce.
“Those bonds are the ones that last forever,” he added. “I know we made history at Mac and we made our stamp across the country that we are the best.”
It’s not hard to understand why these Marauders can look back on their careers and know that they took their school and their football program to a whole other level.
The 2011 season will remain a viagra dosage highlight for the graduating Marauder players and CFL hopefuls.
“The best memory is definitely the whole 2011 season where we went from zero to hero,” DiCroce said.
“We hit our lowest point as a team and later as an underdog (and a team doubted by many) went on to hit our highest point as a team, successfully silencing the critics.”
These graduating Marauders can still look towards hopeful athletic careers with Mike Daly drafted by the city’s own Hamilton Tiger-Cats, DiCroce going 29th overall to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Joey Cupido with another budding athletic career taking place alongside his football one.
Cupido is also a key member of the Calgary Mammoth National Lacrosse League team, which he is a dedicated member of when he isn’t lacing up for the Maroon and Grey.
Although it will be difficult saying good-bye to some McMaster OUA All-stars, the Maroon contingent still possess many positives for the 2014 season and seasons to come.
McMaster kicker and key component of the Vanier Cup win Tyler Crapigna returns for another year of Marauder football for the 2014 season.
The Marauders also added three rookies to the Ontario University Football All- Rookie list with the likes of Daniel Vandervoort, Mark Mackie and Nicholas Firlit who all put up impressive numbers this season for McMaster.
The spotlight on the McMaster Marauders has not gone off yet. With a budding season in the works for the men in maroon, McMaster fans can certainly expect returning quarterback Marshall Ferguson to lead his team to another playoff spot once again, and maybe even helping the Marauders to continue on to another stint in the Yates playoff game.
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.
With a convincing 41-7 win against the Ottawa Gee-Gees at Ron Joyce Stadium, the Marauders will advance purchase no rx viagra to the OUA semifinals against either Queen's or Western next week.
The Marauders had their work cut out for them as they faced the team they sat tied with in the OUA rankings. Both teams were each coming off a three-game winning streak to start the quarterfinals each with a 5-3 season.
The game also saw the return of some of Mac’s injured, with Joey Cupido, Matt Sewell and Jimmy Hill all returning to the line up for the Maroon and Grey.
McMaster came out strong to start the quarterfinal match-up against the Gee-Gees, pouncing on a Gee-Gee fumble in the opening minutes of the game.
Runningback Wayne Moore had a breakout game for the Marauders as he gave Mac their first bit on the scoreboard. With a successful kick from Tyler Crapigna, the Marauders took an early 7-0 lead against Ottawa. Moore would rush for 63 yards in the first quarter alone.
Danny Vandervoort helped out Quarterback Marshall Ferguson by running in a touchdown with just over five minutes to play in the first quarter. McMaster finished out the first quarter with a commanding 14-0 lead over the Gee-Gees.
The second quarter saw a hungry Mac defensive unit as linebacker Joe Richardson entered the quarter with an early sack on Gee-Gees quarterback Aaron Colbon. The play forced a two and out for the Ottawa team with 12:36 left in the half. Danny Vandervoort lended a hand in maintaining a Marauder lead by getting the team a first down at the 10-minute mark. Wayne Moore got Mac in the red zone once more rushing 20 yards on the play. Mac would increase their lead by 17-0.
Not long after the Marauder touchdown, the Ottawa Gee-Gees would get on the board, bringing their deficit to 17-2. Ottawa would then follow that up by scoring a 27-yard field goal, bringing the score to 17-5.
The third quarter brought lots of opportunities for the McMaster Marauders as the Gee-Gees started to lose their ground. The Marauders took advantage of a low Gee-Gee snap with Jeremy Kyei bringing it back for a touchdown at 13:18 in the third quarter.
With 8:06 left to play in the third quarter, linebacker Joe Richardson once again levelled Ottawa QB Aaron Colbon. Wayne Moore came through with 24 yards to take McMaster to Ottawa's 45 yard line. The third quarter also saw Tyler Crapigna complete his second field goal of the game, bringing McMaster’s lead to 27-7.
Ferguson went down on an awkward-looking hit by the Gee-Gee defense and was slow to get up. He would eventually walk to the sidelines under his own power and continue to play the remainder of the quarter unscathed. Ottawa recovered from the fumble from Ferguson’s sack to take over the Marauders at their 40-yard line.
The Maroon and Grey would not disappoint in the fourth quarter, finishing the game on a strong note. Steven Ventresca stripped the ball off Colbon at Ottawa’s 50-yard line. QB Marshall Ferguson connected with wide receiver Ben O’Connor for a touchdown to bring the Mac lead to 34-7. McMaster once again brought the Gee-Gees back to their one-yard line, forcing Ottawa to make an offensive play.
Ventresca struck again in the fourth quarter, picking off Aaron Colbon’s pass for an 18-yard touchdown. The Ottawa Gee-Gee’s trailed Mac with a score of 41-7 with less then 10 minutes to play in regulation.
With a massive McMaster lead, the Marauders coaching staff decided to play back up quarterback Tyler Filson for the remaining minutes of the fourth quarter. McMaster ran down the clock and came away with their fourth straight win and the quarterfinal match with a final score of 41-7.
The Marauders will face either Queen's or Western in semifinals next week, pending the result of another quarterfinal match-up tonight between the U of Guelph Gryphons and UWindsor Lancers.
Photo c/o Rick Zazulak, McMaster Athletics
Coming off of a 45-3 victory over the Carleton Ravens on Oct. 19, the Marauders can move onto the playoffs with a little extra confidence.
McMaster finished off the OUA regular season in fourth place and are set to face the team they currently remain tied with in the standings. The Ottawa Gee-Gees, who the Marauders beat in their home opener game back viagra pfizer uk in August, currently remain tied with McMaster, both teams holding 10 points, with each securing five wins on the season.
Assistant Coach for the Marauders Jon Behie is hopeful for a positive outcome for the Marauders football squad, but also understands that it will be a very different Ottawa team faced against them this weekend.
“Ottawa is a veteran team and the score from week one is not indicative of the caliber of team they are,” said Behie.
“They have athletes at important spots and are playing with a lot of confidence. There's no question this game will be a challenge, which is ok...it is the playoffs after all.”
Not only have the Marauders secured a quarterfinal playoff game, but they will also be playing for their home crowd, with a sea of Maroon expected to attend the game on Saturday afternoon.
“Being at home gives us such an advantage,” said Behie “…and I hope our Marauder faithful fill Ron Joyce Stadium to cheer us on.”
A home game is definitely an advantage for the Marauders and will give them an upper hand on the Gee-Gee’s.
Veteran wide receiver Mike DiCroce is looking forward to the challenge ahead keeping in mind this Ottawa team will definitely give the Marauders a run for their money.
“We know they have some talented players and some CFL caliber guys, we need to set the level of intensity and effort the whole game,” said DiCroce.
It is all about Marauder execution and striking early against the Gee-Gee’s in order to set the tone for the remainder of the game.
“Our challenge this week is executing in what we do, we cannot beat ourselves and put ourselves in a hole,” DiCroce added.
“We have both grown as a unit throughout the year and I think we need to stick to what we do best and compete across the board.”
Both teams have grown this season and this weekend’s battle will set one team apart, giving them the tiebreaker within the OUA rankings.
The last time the Marauders faced the Gee-Gees this season was at the home opener on Aug. 25 at Ron Joyce Stadium.
The Marauders came a way with a 51-24 victory and their first win to start the 2013 season. The game is set to begin at 1:00 p.m. on Oct. 26 at Ron Joyce Stadium.
The McMaster Marauders football squad tore up the field in Waterloo, Ont. this past Saturday afternoon against the Laurier Golden Hawks. The Oct. 12 match saw the Marauders once again find success over their opponents, this time to the tune of 28-5.
With expectations continuing to mount weekly, the stakes continue to reach new heights. A playoff spot is not the only thing up for grabs, but also the opportunity to host a home playoff game.
The Carleton Ravens (0-7), a team returning to OUA football competition after a 15-year absence, is only remaining it is crucial for the team to continue to maintain their confidence in order to set the tone for playoffs.
“Momentum is everything in football so there is no problem getting motivated to play anyone, especially an up-and-coming Carleton program,” said quarterback Marshall Ferguson of the team’s opponents.
Ferguson set a new Marauder single-season record for touchdown passes in a season; tossing two touchdowns to reach a total of 20 this season with one game remaining. The third-year QB is aware of the team’s goals and that an effort is to be made in order to improve.
“We don't have concerns as an offence week-to-week, we have challenges that we need to prepare for on a day-to-day basis so that we can accomplish the goals we all have as a team,” Ferguson added.
“My focus is on improving every day both individually, as a team and an offence.”
Aram Eisho led the defense in tackles with a total of 12 on the day. The Marauders were able to keep the Golden Hawks out of the end zone, including three goal line stands in the fourth quarter.
With the playoffs in sight, the Marauders will once again face some of the top-ranked opponents who defeated them during the regular season.
Proving his leadership capabilities this season, Ferguson is well aware of the challenges these teams will provide.
“We have to get better in some way, every day between now and our eventual playoff opponents,” said the Kingston, Ont. native.
The Marauders now look to face some uphill battles, ones that will be the biggest they have come across this season. With key starters Joey Cupido and Matt Sewell still out of the lineup, the Maroon and Grey face the harsh reality of possibly entering the playoffs without their big guns.
With two down and one to go the Marauders are set to face Carleton on Oct. 19 in Ottawa, Ont. With the last of the do-or-die games approaching, the ninth-ranked Marauders hopes of hosting a playoff game.
