And the crowd goes wild.

McMaster gave their fans something to cheer for on Oct. 1 in their showdown against Guelph, avenging last year’s loss with a 27-15 victory at home over the Gryphons. With the win, McMaster remains perfect in their last 16 homecoming appearances, and improves to a solid 4-1 record on the season.

But it wasn’t easy. Tight through the first two quarters, Mac failed to hit their offensive stride, trailing Guelph 7-5 at the half. Injuries to fullback Blake Reason and backup Matthew Decicco forced the Marauders to adjust early, while execution struggles and a few timely penalties kept Mac out of the end zone.

“Half the game we played really well, but we struggled in the first half,” said offensive coordinator Jon Behie. “We had some key injuries early and we were struggling to accommodate that. It took us two quarters to figure out what we would really do… but I’m so proud of the way our players responded.”

And respond they did. McMaster came roaring out of halftime to score 16 unanswered points in the third quarter in just under five minutes. Fueled by their strong game on the ground, fifth-year veteran Chris Pezzetta had 143 yards on 22 carries in his final homecoming game, securing key first downs and providing more options for a deep receiving core.

“It was a big day for him,” said Behie. “He’s battled back from three knee injuries, and that’s not easy, but we were able to ride him in the second half.”

Perhaps the unsung hero of the Mac’s comeback was the stellar play their offensive line. Executing well throughout the game, they gave Pezzetta room to operate on the ground and cleared space for quarterback Asher Hastings when he needed it.

Fifth-year senior Zach Intzandt was a part of that offensive stronghold, and was happy with his line’s performance.

“Our goal is to always win every game,” said Intzandt. “As the offensive line when we keep rushing, a goal of ours is always to try and rush 150 yards. If we get it we get it, if not we go back and clean it up. But tonight, I think we did a good job.”

Penalties have been a thorn in Mac’s side this season, but they managed to keep the penalty yards to a minimum. Meanwhile – thanks mostly to Mac winning the battle in the trenches – the Gryphons committed 18 penalties for 125 yards, stalling many of their drives on offence and any momentum they had during the game.

“It’s like coach Knox always says to us… preparation, focus, and attention to detail,” said Intzandt. “We’ve had two weeks to focus on those things, and I think that really showed today.”

On the other side of the ball, Mac’s defence hung tough to hold Guelph to just 15 points, down 12 from their season average. Fifth-year senior Michael Kashak had five tackles on the night, citing support from the defensive coaching staff for his success.

“A lot of it has to do with coaching,” said Kashak. “Carm Genovase and Jeff Robertshaw get us ready from the technical side, and coach Knox had a great game plan… When you have a unit that is all on the same page with minimal mistakes, you are going to get a good game.”

Looking ahead, Mac’s next challenge is a quick turnaround to host Queen’s at home, under the lights on Oct. 7. Coming off a short week, the Marauders will need to recover physically to keep a two-game win streak alive. But head coach Greg Knox believes his team’s resilience will play a key role moving forward.

“Football is a tough sport. If grit is a missing ingredient, then you have to inject the grit into what you do and how you do it. We showed a little more of that today, and I think the results speak for themselves.”

Asher Hastings and Guelph’s defensive line
Hastings has been dynamite in the air. He has the third highest completion percentage (64.7) and the best touchdown-to-interception ratio amongst OUA quarterbacks (7:2).

Guelph’s defensive line will look to put pressure on Mac’s QB before he has time to look downfield. Guelph currently ranks second in the OUA in recorded sacks (11), and will use their frontline pressure to reach Hastings as much as possible.

Linebacker pair and first time starters Lukas Korol and Riley Baines have been standout defensive players for Guelph and currently rank in the top five in total tackles in the OUA (41 and 34 respectively), while St Mary’s transfer Matt Delmas has already collected three sacks on the season.

Danny Vandervoort and Guelph’s Defensive Secondary
Danny Vandervoort has been unstoppable this season. Vandervoort is McMaster’s leader in career touchdown receptions (27), fourth in receiving yards per game (88.5) in the Ontario University Athletics conference, and fifth in touchdown receptions (seven), despite sitting out against Waterloo.

Always a deep threat, Guelph will look to contain him quickly and force the Marauders to other options.

“In every game we have to figure out early how teams are going to try and take away Danny Vandervoort,” said offensive coordinator Jon Behie. “Everyone has a different plan to do that, and they have some veterans in the their secondary, so who matches up against Danny and how [they do it] is going to be an important piece of the puzzle for us.”

Free safety Tristian Doughlin has been absent from the Gryphons’ lineup due to injury, but third-year player Mike Carney has stepped into his role and played consistently well. Guelph’s secondary kept Ottawa to a season-low 286 passing yards, 160 yards less than his season average, when they met in week four.

Doughlin and the rest of the secondary will look to take Vandervoort out of the offense, and force Mac to adjust on the fly.

Keys To The Game
Capitalize on offence 
- McMaster has struggled to finish off long drives this season, with 14 field goal attempts but only nine touchdowns on the year.

“We need to score touchdowns instead of just field goals,” said Behie. “That is something we have been struggling with this season but against Guelph we are going to need 7s instead of 3s.”

The offence has entered the red-zone only eight times.  While they have scored on every trip to the redzone, only four times have they scored a touchdown.  Look for them to create long drives to wear down the Guelph defence.

Playing disciplined - Guelph is second in the OUA in defensive interceptions (seven), while Mac has struggled with a league high 552 total penalty yards, giving opposing teams more opportunities gain ground.

If Mac gives Guelph the ball on offence, odds are that the Gryphons will take advantage, who are currently third in first downs (137) in the OUA. Guelph quarterback James Roberts has been consistent with 91 completions for just over 1000 yards this season, and a balanced run game already has eight touchdowns.

Ground n' pound - To keep the field open for Hastings and his receiving core, Mac will look to running backs Chris Pezzeta and Jordan Lyons to keep the Guelph defence on their toes.

“[We have to] establish the run game early to help open things up downfield,” said Behie. “We weren’t able to do that against Guelph last year and it hurt us, so that will be a point of emphasis for us throughout the week of preparation.”

Both Pezzeta and Lyons will look to carry their momentum from Waterloo, where they picked up two touchdowns and 105 receiving yards respectively.

Wildcard: McMaster’s Defence
McMaster currently leads the league in defensive interceptions with 11 through four games. Taking possession back from Guelph on defence could play a major part in the momentum of the game.

Bad blood - a Marauder history
2014: McMaster 34 vs Guelph 27 
- The Marauders came back with ten points in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime. QB Marshall Ferguson ran the ball into the end zone to seal a Mac win in their home opener.

2014: McMaster 20 vs Guelph 15 - Mac captured their third Yates Cup in four years by beating Guelph in a defensive battle. The Marauders had five interceptions and no touchdowns, but did enough to come away with the win.

2015: Guelph 33 vs McMaster 23 - Playing in Guelph’s second homecoming in three years, a 96-yard drive late in the fourth quarter kept things interesting, but McMaster’s struggles in the rain saw them fall to the eventual Yates Cup champions.

Home field advantage
McMaster has the highest average home attendance in Ontario, and when Behie was asked how important their playing at home would be, the answer was clear.

“It’s huge. Our record at Ron Joyce stadium since it opened is very good. It is a great environment to play in and our fans, especially at homecoming, have been the 13th man for us. I think it’s a huge advantage playing an opponent like Guelph at home as opposed to on the road.”

From all-stars to up and comers, the McMaster men look to make a statement in a league full of surprises

With four games in the books, football season is in full swing, and what a swing it was. McMaster bounced back from a 30-8 loss against the red-hot Ottawa Gee-Gees to defeat the Waterloo Warriors 35-0 in a league that is becoming increasingly difficult to predict.

But from the numbers, players and storylines have emerged that are sure to keep the rest of the season interesting.

On the offensive side of the ball, rookie kicker Adam Perocanin has continued his unlikely rise to stardom. With a career best 45-yard completion in game one, a perfect six for six conversions in game two, and Ontario University Athletics special teams player of the week, it was hard to imagine how he could get any better. Until he drilled a 49-yard field goal in the third quarter against the Warriors, beating his own record and making his case for another highlight reel appearance.

“He is off to a good start,” said head coach Greg Knox. “So far so good. His focus has been good, his production has been good, and we expect big things from him.”

Mac’s running game has also hit its stride, with veteran running back Chris Pezzetta adding two touchdowns to Mac’s total against Waterloo, silencing critics who questioned his ability to return from another ACL tear last season.

But it was second-year player Jordan Lyons whose game-high 105 rushing yards made a case for his own development, and could provide some new options for Mac on the ground down the stretch.

McMaster’s young defensive secondary made their own statement, keeping Waterloo scoreless after struggling against the Gee-Gees.  Knox seems confident in their development moving forward.

“The secondary is gaining more experience, and that allows us to be more versatile on the defensive side of things” said Knox.

“They are progressing well, they got out of the gate strong in the first couple of games and struggled [against Ottawa], but that’s going to happen when you have a young group.”

Elsewhere in the league, McMaster can look forward to some stiff competition as the season goes on, with familiar faces and a few Cinderella stories looking to challenge their regular season run.

Western is still being touted as an early OUA favorite, despite falling to Carleton in week two. Reeling from last year’s Yates Cup loss at home, the Mustangs haven’t had had much player turnover from last season and will add hard-earned experience to an already big and athletic lineup. Dark horse Carleton proved they have the potential to play spoiler, but big losses to Mac and Laurier leave them with a shaky 2-2 record to start the year.

After week three the only undefeated teams in the OUA are Laurier and Ottawa, both of which were outranked by four other OUA competitors to start the season. Early upsets suggest fans brace themselves for an exciting run in a league enjoying far more parity than previous years.

For now, the Marauders next challenge is a heated homecoming matchup with newfound rival Guelph. The defending Yates Cup champions fell early to an unknown Windsor team but have worked themselves back to a 2-2 record.

Expect an offensive showdown with the Gryphons, who currently outrank McMaster in both points and yards per game, but have been vulnerable on the road, losing both their away games this season.

When asked about how his team copes with the hype surrounding such as unpredictable season, Knox insists the message is clear.

“We need to get better every day and worry about what we can control. We have our hands full with that… but as a group we know we have the potential to be successful this year and everyday our focus is on getting better, one step at a time.”

Two games, two wins. So far, so good.

The McMaster football team opened their regular season with a 40-10 win over Canadian Interuniversity Sport no. 9 ranked Carleton, in front of a sellout crowd at Ron Joyce Stadium, most of whom were frosh students getting their first look at Marauder football. One week later, in a Labour day clash at Tim Hortons Field, Mac once again flexed their muscles in a dominating 32-5 victory over Toronto.

Mac’s balanced offence has looked impressive thus far.  Quarterback Asher Hastings has shown no signs of rust, leading the way with over 300 yards per game and five touchdowns.  Three of these touchdowns have gone to CIS first-team wide receiver Danny Vandervoort, who has registered over 100 yards receiving over the first two games of the season while making big-time plays (including a deep one-handed grab against Toronto) and making opposing defences helpless.

The excellent chemistry between the two has grown even more since the end of last season.

“We basically picked up where we started off,” Vandervoort said, after their victory over Carleton. “We had good chemistry at East-West [Bowl] too, we were actually roommates there. Hopefully it carries on for the rest of the season.

Chris Pezzetta – returning from an ACL injury that kept him out of the 2015 campaign – has balanced the offensive attack on the ground, rushing for over 100 yards against Toronto this past Monday behind a powerful offensive line.

Even after all these years (Pezzetta started in 2011, the same year McMaster won the Vanier), the team still relies on him to carry the load on his back.

“The o-line was big today, especially in the second half,” Pezzetta noted after the win on Monday.  “They created holes and made my job a lot easier.”

Perhaps more impressivehas been the dominance of the Marauder defence.  The defensive schemes created by Knox and co-defensive coordinators Joe Sardo and Mark Forsyth, have held teams to 54 rushing yards per game (2nd best in the OUA) and 15 points over two games (4th best).

“One thing that’s helped us has been playing with a lead, which allows us to be a little more conservative and make the offense move the ball in small chunks rather than over the top,” Knox said.  “Probably our biggest success has been limiting explosion plays, which are really the only things that will hurt us.  So [we are] making offenses work for everything they get.”

An improvement from the 2015 season has been the special teams, specifically the performance from first year kicker Adam Preocanin, who thus far has remained perfect in field goal attempts, tallying 15 and 20 points respectively in his first two games.

“He showed a great deal of poise for us for a young man,” Knox said.  “He’s stepped up, vand right now we have a lot of confidence in him.”

McMaster hits the road this Saturday for the first time this season against the 1-0 Ottawa Gee-Gees. While only two games in, all signs point to optimism for a successful season, and for Mac fans, hopefully a deep playoff run in November.

Most of this year’s off-season hype surrounding the McMaster football team has revolved around the professional prospects of graduating quarterback Kyle Quinlan, accompanied by the occasional excitement about new recruits. Quinlan, who signed with the Montreal Alouettes in December, usually gets most of the attention from media when it comes to playing at the next level. CFL scouts, on the other hand, look past the superstar and see Mac as a much deeper breeding ground for professional talent.

Each year, the CFL invites 50 players from around the country to participate in the “E” (evaluation) camp, where the prospects can showcase their talents for scouts. This year’s combine will take place on the weekend of March 22-24 at the University of Toronto Varsity Centre and will feature a strong presence from the Marauders, who will send three players to the camp.

From Mac, defensive end Ben D’Aguilar who won the CIS award for best d-lineman, offensive lineman Matthew Sewell who is widely considered to be one of the nation’s best prospects, and standout safety Michael Daly will all have a chance to display their athletic capabilities.

Cornerback Joey Cupido was also invited to the event, but had to decline as a result of his commitments to the National Lacrosse League’s Colorado Mammoth, who drafted him last year.

Sewell is not only ranked as the No. 2 prospect overall, but standing at 6’8” 335 lbs., he is also the most physically imposing offensive lineman (and player in general) headed to Toronto later this month.

The Milton, Ont. native has been turning heads as the guardian of Quinlan’s blindside, a big reason why the Hec Creighton winner only landed on his back 23 times last year.

The subsequent time spent in the pocket allowed for the pivot to find his favorite targets including receiver Michael DiCroce, who received an invite despite being injured for the majority of the 2012 season.

When he returned from injury DiCroce resurrected his Vanier Cup-winning form, sparking the Marauders to a playoff victory over Western with an incredible performance that included a spectacular 103-yard touchdown reception.

Injuries on both sides of the ball plagued the Maroon and Grey in 2012, but a mix of youth and veteran leadership held the team together.

Michael Daly was one of those veterans on defense, playing centerfield for the best secondary in Canadian university football. Daly, picked off opposing QB’s three times in the regular season, adding another in the playoffs against Western to change the tempo of the game. He was a big reason why Mac’s defensive backfield led the nation in interceptions the last three seasons.

It should come as no surprise that these players would have their shot at a career in professional football. Undoubtedly, there are other Marauders deserving a shot who will help another run at a championship season. The E Camp selections are a testament to the increasing strength of the McMaster program, which can only be expected to improve in the future. Even if their camps don’t end in pro contracts, or draft selections-Daly, D’Aguilar and Sewell are each eligible for a return to Ron Joyce next season.

A heavily McMaster-favoring crowd of 37,098 spotted the Rogers Centre with Maroon for the 48th Vanier Cup against the Laval Rouge et Or Friday night.

In a rematch of last year's game, which the Marauders won 41-38, the Rouge et Or came out firing on all cylinders. Without question, the nation's second-ranked team had not forgotten about their loss from a year ago.

The first quarter of the game was scoreless for both teams, as neither seemed willing to give up the first points.

Running a strong ground game in the second frame, Laval went out to a 12-0 lead. It looked as though Mac was outmatched by their opponents. Suddenly, a drive was sustained, which ended in an all too familiar Kyle Quinlan rushing touchdown.

With less than two minutes remaining in the first half, Laval took possession of the ball to be promptly shut down by Mac's defense.

What happened next was unthinkable. Pinned to their own 14, Quinlan led his team up the field for a 24-second, 96-yard scoring drive capped by a 52-yard Dhalin Brooks touchdown reception.

The Maroon and Grey entered half time with a 14-12 lead as a result.

When both teams returned to play in the third quarter, Laval looked determined to take the Vanier Cup away from the defending national champions.

The Rouge et Or went up 18-14 and never looked back. It was not the day for Mac to repeat as champions, and Rouge et Or tailback Maxime Boutin made sure of that. The second-year player, who only recently moved into a starting role, rushed for over 287 yards, including an 84-yard run that marked the third longest play from scrimmage in Vanier Cup history.

As the crowd thinned out and the clock wound down, it was clear that the spirits of Mac,s fans had been broken. But the players on the field continue to battle, persevering through tough calls and plenty of time wasted by Laval injuries.

Regardless of the 37-14 loss, Mac's run to the 48th Vanier broke CIS records, and they carried their school the entire way through.

For all the players, coaches and fans of McMaster football it was a difficult day. One loss is certainly not enough to break the spirits of this program.

It was the greatest game ever played.

This statement can neither be proven nor disproven; any other overtime championship win throughout history is undoubtedly comparable. However, if you ask anyone who watched McMaster win the 2011 Vanier Cup over Laval by a score of 41-38, they will tell you that it was not an average three point overtime victory. The 47th Vanier Cup changed CIS football.

It was David against Goliath. The storied Rouge et Or, who had won six national championships in 17 seasons, ranked number one in the country, travelled to Vancouver as the most dominating CIS team of the 21st century.

The fourth ranked Marauders had only been to the Vanier Cup game once, a 10-9 loss to the University of Alberta. That game was in 1967.

As underdogs, no one predicted that the Marauders would unseat Laval from the throne of Canadian Interuniversity football.  It took more than four quarters, but the Maroon and Grey did just that. And they did so after winning nine games in a row - one of the more memorable playoff runs in recent history.

When kicker Tyler Crapigna kicked the winning field goal during double overtime, much like David’s slingshot, the Goliath of the CIS was defeated.

For the first time in history, after all the drama and an exchange of spectacular plays by both teams, the Marauders had won the Vanier Cup.

This season, Mac is no such underdog. This year’s Marauders are the best football team in the country and last year’s top team, Laval, is ranked number two in 2012.

Last year’s game will be a difficult act to follow, but this game is set on a much different stage.

The 48th Vanier Cup will feature two powerhouse teams, a clash of the titans if you will.

The Laval Rouge et Or (11-1) are strong on both sides of the ball, ranked number four in the CIS on offense and second on defense. The Marauders (11-0) by comparison are ranked number two on offense and fourth on defense.

Weaknesses are hard to find on both teams. However, there is one notable mismatch. McMaster’s Kyle Quinlan is arguably the nation’s best player; his ability to both run and pass the football are unparalleled in the CIS. The Marauders are equipped with the second best passing offense in the nation - an interesting stipulation considering that the Calgary Dinos, who failed to score a touchdown against Mac in the Mitchell Bowl, were the number one aerial attack this year.

In contrast, Laval’s pass defense is ranked 13th in the country. Rouge et Or head coach Glen Constantine will need to find a way to stop the numerous weapons in Kyle Quinlan’s arsenal.

Robert Babic, Bradley Fochesato and Dhalin Brooks each had career years in the absence of Quinlan’s usual number one target Michael DiCroce, who suffered a broken foot during training camp and missed the entire regular season.

Since DiCroce’s return against the Western Mustangs in the Yates Cup semifinal, Quinlan has had four receivers that are a legitimate threat to score.

Mac will have to emphasize the pass game in order to be successful against Laval, who has the nation’s number one rush defense in the country allowing only 57.8 yards per game on the ground.

It will be a tough test for the Marauders who have struggled with numerous backfield injuries, seeing Christopher Pezzetta and Jimmy Hill miss significant time.

Both teams have stingy defenses, potent attacks and neither team has seen a challenge similar to last year’s Vanier match.

This will be the fourth matchup between the two, with the Rouge et Or slightly edging out the Marauders with two victories in their previous three meetings.

The old adage that the team who wants it more will win is not necessarily applicable to this game. Laval is a program built on a winning tradition, and last year’s loss is undoubtedly entrenched in their memory.

For McMaster, winning the Vanier Cup last season was a welcome first. That being said, to win the trophy for a second straight season would firmly place the program in the CIS history books. In addition, Mac could continue their already historical 21 game winning streak.

Friday night’s game is heavily anticipated, and fans of both teams can attend more easily this year. Toronto is a more feasible trip than Vancouver. The excitement is evident in the ticket sales that have forced organizers to open the fifth deck of the Rogers Centre. According to the CIS, ticket sales are approaching record-breaking proportions for the 48th Vanier Cup. By mid week the sales figure was nearing 30,000. The previous record of 32, 000 was also set at the Sky Dome in 1989.

This will be an important game for both schools, both teams, but most importantly, this game will be important for CIS football.

Broadcast on national television, kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m. on TSN and RDS. Certainly, more people will pay attention this time.

The McMaster Marauders are headed to the Vanier Cup for the second straight season after beating the Calgary Dinos on Saturday by a score of 45-6. The Nov. 17 Mitchell Bowl at Ron Joyce Stadium in Hamilton marked the first ever meeting between the two teams.

A crowd of 5,442 packed the stadium to watch one of the most anticipated matchups of the year in the CIS.

Mac’s quarterback Kyle Quinlan took over the game in the first half despite struggling early, scoring two touchdowns on the ground and throwing another to receiver Bradley Fochesato for 61 yards. After two frames, the Marauders were up 24-4 over the Hardy Cup champion from the west.

The visiting Dinos racked up a costly 97 yards of penalties in the first half, which helped Mac sustain drives and get into good scoring position.

The Marauders defense neutralized the nation’s number-one offense, holding Calgary to their lowest halftime point total of the season.

In the second half, the Marauders extended their lead early. Quinlan scored his third rushing touchdown to make the score 31-4 with 11:49 left in the third quarter.

From that point, Mac never looked back. “When this team goes all out, they are pretty good,” said head coach Stefan Ptaszek of his team’s performance.

Receiver Robert Babic had a strong third quarter, catching the ball six times for 95 yards in the frame. Babic added a 31-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter for his ninth catch of the game, making the score 38-4. He would finish with an outstanding 10 catches for 156 yards and a touchdown.

Drive after drive, Calgary could not seem to penetrate the home team’s defense. On the other side of the ball, the Dinos could not stop Kyle Quinlan and the McMaster air attack. “The guys were doing the little things and it came together as a full team effort offensively,” said Quinlan.

With the Laval Rouge et Or winning the Uteck Bowl by a score of 42-7 earlier in the day, it looked as though a rematch of the 2011 Vanier Cup final was inevitable.

The 13th man was alive and well for the Marauders as the Ron Joyce crowd made constant noise.

Both quarterbacks in the Mitchell Bowl game are candidates for the Hec Creighton trophy, awarded yearly to the most outstanding player in the CIS.

Calgary’s Eric Dzwilewski finished 10 of 21. Quinlan, who will be taking his team to a second straight Vanier Cup game, with one of his best games of the season, completed 25 of 35 passes for 412 yards, three TDs. Quinlan also added 50 more yards and three scores on the ground.

“He is one of the best I have ever seen at this level, he does it so many different ways. The bigger the game, the better he plays. That has been his entire career - not just once or twice. He comes up big in the biggest stages,” said Ptaszek of his senior pivot.

For the quarterback, and numerous other Marauders, Saturday was their last game on the turf of Ron Joyce. There could be no better ending to that chapter. “It is a pretty special program; we talked about this being our last game at Ron Joyce for a lot of our senior guys. We came in and this was a brand new stadium and this program has grown so much. It is pretty special to send it off that way for sure,” said Quinlan after the game.

By the time all was said and done, McMaster had crushed the Dinos, not allowing a single touchdown while scoring six times, extending their winning streak to 21.

Only Laval, St. Mary’s and Western have ever consecutively repeated as national champions, and the Marauders have a chance to join that exclusive company next week.

The 48th Vanier Cup will be played on Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. The game will be a rematch of the 2011 final between the Laval Rouge et Or and the McMaster Marauders. Last year, Mac won in double overtime by a score of 41-38.

 

 

The McMaster Marauders are a game away from their second straight trip to the Vanier Cup after a record-breaking season that culminated in a 30-13 Yates Cup victory over the Guelph Gryphons on Nov. 10.

Mac set a new CIS record for consecutive wins with 20, surpassing the mark of 19 held formerly by the 2004-05 Laval Rouge et Or. Several Marauders received individual OUA honors. Kyle Quinlan took home the conference’s MVP award for his play at quarterback, linebacker Aram Eisho captured the Presidents Trophy, awarded yearly to the OUA’s outstanding defensive player, and Ben D’Aguilar was the J.P. Metras recipient for lineman of the year.

Additionally, Stefan Ptaszek was honored as the Dave “Tuffy” Knight coach of the year. The numerous accolades for both the team and its players, ten of which were named first team OUA all stars, could be a distraction, but Ptaszek doesn’t let his team get distracted.

“Championship football teams, awards, all stars – and we have a few – are byproducts of a great season. We will continue to focus on the on field product and reaching our full potential on the field. These side things, we don’t let them distract us from the task at hand, which is to get back to our second straight Vanier Cup,” said the seventh-year head coach.

“It is about getting these young men to their full potential, and their potential is very high,” he added.

For this year’s team, there have been many challenges. Injuries have been an issue since before the season’s first snap. During training camp, Michael DiCroce and Chris Pezzetta both went down with ailments that saw both miss the entire 2012 regular season.

Ptaszek admires his team’s perseverance.

“We saw our receivers all grow and develop. In the absence of Michael DiCroce, Robert Babic and Bradley Fochesato had career seasons.”

In the backfield, though, Pezzetta was not the only casualty. “We saw in the absence of Chris Pezzetta that Jimmy Hill can step up. In the absence of Hill, we saw Tanner Forsyth step up, and in the absence of Forsyth, Kasean Davis can step up and so forth,” said Ptaszek.

Despite all of the uphill battles, the Maroon and Grey have found their way back to playing for a chance at the national title. Over the past two seasons, Mac has a record of 21-1. But if you ask Ptaszek, it is the last game that matters the most.

“If you are going to look at the most dominating teams in the history of the CIS, I think that you will find the second Vanier to be much more relevant than 20, 21 or 22 wins in a row,” he said.

“It’s a neat thing. It signifies some great things going on in the program, but in order to be considered to be one of the best teams to ever play in the CIS, we have to get a couple more things done.”

In short, there is plenty of football left to be played. Standing between the Marauders and a trip to the Rogers Centre in Toronto on Nov. 23 is the Calgary Dinos.

On the field, the Mitchell Bowl will be the season’s toughest test. However, home field advantage is invaluable to the team’s success, according to Ptaszek.

“It is a real and tangible and contribution that those six thousand fans are making, then afterwards, when you celebrate, to look and see a sea of maroon and Ron Joyce in the background. These are memories for these young men that they will never forget.”

Although Saturday’s game is only a semi-final matchup, the Marauders (10-0) and Dinos (9-1) are ranked one and three, respectively, in the CIS top ten ranking. The second ranked team is the Dunsmore Cup champion Laval Rouge et Or, who Mac defeated to win the 2011 Vanier Cup trophy.

 

No. 1 McMaster Marauders (10-0)

 

For the last three seasons, the Marauders have had the best secondary in the CIS. No team has had more regular season interceptions (53) than the Marauders in that time period. It seems that the “dirty birds” are even more vicious in the playoffs.

“When it comes to interceptions, they seem to get more in the playoffs than they do in the regular season. It seems that the bigger the game, the bigger the contribution is from those kids,” said Ptaszek of his defensive backfield. The Marauder defense has been among the most solid units in the CIS as a whole this season, with a front seven including the likes of Aram Eisho and Ben D’Aguilar, who each took home some hardware this year for their play.

There can be no mistake, though, that the Kyle Quinlan-led offense is the heart of this team. According to Ptaszek, Quinlan is the leader of this team. “He is the guy we all look to to make a play. The chips are down, coaches, players, offense, defence, they look at 12 to right the ship. Most guys in that role would feel the pressure and wouldn’t be as calm, as collected and as patient with everyone around them. Kyle manages that role better than anyone I have ever seen, and he is a unique leader.”

Recently returning from injury, Michael DiCroce has contributed heavily in the first two playoff games. The Marauders air attack led the nation with 22 passing touchdowns in 2012. If the game is close, kicker Tyler Crapigna can make a large contribution. No CIS team has been more successful in field goal attempts this year.

 

No. 3 Calgary Dino’s (9-1)

 

Head coach Blake Nill has put together a powerhouse team at the University of Calgary. This season, the Dinos were the most prolific scoring team in the country. No team in any conference scored more points (380) and no team had a better point differential (283). The Dinos allowed only 117 points all season.

According to Ptaszek, the Hardy Cup champions are a force to be reckoned with. “Once you watch the film, Coach Nill of the Dinosaurs has put together a team with one purpose in mind, and that is to win a Vanier Cup. They are the most talented group we have seen so far. They are wired to be a national champion. It will take our best game to survive the day.”

Calgary has some extremely talented playmakers on both sides of the ball. Offensively, quarterback Eric Dzwilewski had an outstanding season and has been nominated for the Hec Creighton trophy (competing against Mac’s Quinlan for the honors). Runningback Steve Lumbala is also a constant threat to break a big play, averaging 8.1 yards per carry, the best average in the CIS for backs with 70 or more rushes. On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Mike Edem is a production machine, recording 55 tackles, four sacks and one interception in 2012.

For Calgary’s playmakers, it all starts on the line. “At the line of scrimmage, between the defensive and offensive lines, they have about six or seven future CFL’ers. In the trenches, this will be as solid a team as we will ever see,” said Ptaszek.

The Dinos are certainly a difficult team to stop, leading the nation with 75 per cent success on third down conversions. The McMaster passing game will also face the stingiest secondary in the nation; the Dinos allow only 167.8 pass yards per game.

A late interception by cornerback Steven Ventresca all but closed the curtain on the 105th Yates Cup on Saturday. For the second straight season, the McMaster Marauders are provincial champions. The victory also marks the first time that the trophy has been lifted at Ron Joyce stadium. The final score was 30-13, bringing Mac's record on the season to 10-0.

In addition to the OUA title repeat, Mac also set a CIS record for consecutive victories with 20, a mark previously held by the 2004-2005 Laval Rouge et Or.

Defense was the story for the Maroon and Grey as they picked off Guelph’s second-year sensation, quarterback Jazz Lindsey, three times.

Receiver Michael DiCroce continued to impress, as McMaster’s leading receiver in the game. Tailback Kasean Davis made his return to the field from injury, sharing carries with Tanner Forsyth for a strong team rushing performance.

Mac will now move on to the Mitchell Bowl, where they'll play the University of Calgary Dinos, who beat Regina in Saturday's Hardy Cup game out west.

In what has been a record-breaking season for the Marauders, there is room for even more history.

The sell-out crowd of 5,427 at Ron Joyce made sure to honor their team, rushing the field as the clock wound down. A large crowd congregated at centre field after the game as fireworks were set off atop Hedden Hall.

The celebration must be short lived, as the Vanier Cup is once again within arms reach.

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