Marauders win Yates, prepare for national semi-final
'You win championships with defence and that was certainly true today,' said McMaster head coach Stefan Ptaszek, claiming his third conference title as a head coach. 'Our defence played their best football when we needed it most. I think Guelph's quarterback played a great game but he was playing against I think the best defence in the conference.'
The No. 3 McMaster Marauders have captured their third Yates Cup championship in four seasons defeating the Guelph Gryphons 20-15 on Saturday at Ron Joyce Stadium in Hamilton.
Defences dominated the 107th playing of the Yates Cup, with a combined 12 turnovers between the two teams, including five interceptions by the McMaster defenders.
For the Marauders, defensive backs Joey Cupido of Hamilton, Ont., and Allan Dicks of Abbotsford, B.C., each had a pair of interceptions, and defensive lineman Mike Kashak (Courtice, Ont.) returned one interception for a 30-yard touchdown. Each squad also conceded two safety touches apiece.
Cupido’s performance earned him the Dalt White Trophy as the most valuable player of the Yates Cup game. In addition to two interceptions he posted three solo tackles, one assist, and one late-game pass breakup in a strong McMaster defensive stand.
“To be able to win this on our home field in front of our own fans in the city I grew up in is the most special feeling in the world,” said Cupido, who has now accumulated 14 career post-season appearances. “This defence just has so many good players. At the end of the day, we just stuck to the game plan and played our best game of the year today.”
The championship marked the seventh Yates Cup title in McMaster club history, all coming from 2000 to date. The Marauders last won the title back-to-back in 2011 and 2012, advancing to the Vanier Cup both years and winning the national title in 2011. McMaster had downed Guelph 30-13 in the 2012 Yates Cup final.
“You win championships with defence and that was certainly true today,” said McMaster head coach Stefan Ptaszek, claiming his third conference title as a head coach. “Our defence played their best football when we needed it most. I think Guelph’s quarterback played a great game but he was playing against I think the best defence in the conference.”
On offence McMaster running back Chris Pezzetta of Burlington, Ont., amassed 144 yards on 23 carries to lead the ground attack, while quarterback Marshall Ferguson of Kingston, Ont. completed 24 of 34 attempts for 191 yards and three interceptions.
The top Marauder receiver was Daniel Petermann of Stoney Creek, Ont., with seven receptions for 67 yards.
For Guelph, starting pivot Jazz Lindsey of Markham, Ont. completed just one of six passes for 13 yards and threw three interceptions before being pulled early in the second quarter. In relief, James Roberts of Cambridge, Ont., connected on 17 of 29 tosses, amassing 183 yards and throwing a pair of interceptions. Receiver Alex Charette of St. Catharines, Ont., pulled in eight passes for 108 yards.
Both defences asserted their presence from the outset, the first quarter seeing a combined six turnovers in addition to a safety touch apiece. McMaster grabbed three interceptions, including a pair by Cupido, while the Gryphons reeled in one pick and a pair of fumble recoveries. In the dying minutes of the quarter, Guelph’s Rob Farquharson of Niagara Falls, Ont., scored the first touchdown of the game on a 41-yard run, giving the Gryphons a 9-2 advantage at the first intermission.
McMaster closed the gap midway through the second quarter with a 32-yard Tyler Crapigna of Nepean, Ont., field goal, and took a 12-9 lead on the next play from scrimmage with Kashak returning a 30-yard interception for a major score.
Crapigna added a 34-yard field goal in the third quarter, and later conceded a safety on the final play of the frame, to nurse a 17-11 McMaster lead into the final intermission.
McMaster and Guelph each added a field goal in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, and a Guelph rouge on a 61-yard punt by Daniel Ferraro of Mississauga, Ont., narrowed McMaster’s advantage 20-15. Guelph mounted a last-ditch drive in the dying seconds, but was firmly repulsed by the Marauder defence.
With the win McMaster will now host the CIS semifinal Mitchell Bowl on Saturday, November 22, at Ron Joyce Stadium against the AUS-champion Mount Allison Mounties at 4.00 pm.
