[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Yates_Cup_opt.jpg” caption=”Yates Cup champs”]McMaster captured its fourth consecutive Yates Cup with a 41-17 victory over the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in front of 12,464 spectators at Hamilton's Ivor Wynne Stadium. This was the largest crowd in McMaster Marauder history.

With the win, McMaster becomes only the third team to win four consecutive Ontario championships. The University of Western Ontario, featuring McMaster head coach Greg Marshall at running back, was the last team to accomplish this feat. Queen's had four consecutive Yates Cup victories from 1922-1925 and the University of Toronto from 1908-1911.

McMaster will now host the University of Laval in the Mitchell Bowl
(Formally Atlantic Bowl) Saturday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. at Hamilton's Ivor Wynne Stadium. The game will broadcast live on TSN.

Tickets will be available beginning Monday, Nov. 10 at 12 p.m. at the Hamilton Tiger-Cats ticket office on Balsam Street, Copps Coliseum and
the McMaster (MSU) Compass Information Centre with no service charge. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster by phone 905527-7666,
Ticketmaster online and all Ticketmaster outlets. Normal service charges apply.

Play-by-play

McMaster experienced a scare early in the first quarter, when CIS leading rusher and OUA First Team all-star Jesse Lumsden was removed from the game when he was upended during a running play and landed on his back.

This set the stage for 2002 CIS leading rusher and 2003 OUA Second Team all-star Kyle Pyear. Pyear, playing against his brother Ryan (quarterback) and Father Barry (running back coach) rushed for 134 yards on 23 carries and one touchdown. Pyear missed two of the last three games with a sore neck, and last week carried the ball only one time for five yards in the OUA semi-final. Jesse Lumsden returned in the second quarter and finished the day with 104 yards on 18 carries and one touchdown. McMaster had 263 yards of rushing on the day.

Marauder quarterback Jon Behie completed nine of 19 passes for 100 yards and one touchdown. Behie also ran for a second touchdown.

McMaster OUA First Team all-star receiver Vaughn Swart had five catches for 67 yards and one touchdown to lead the receivers. McMaster slot back Konrad Gloge added three completions for 31 yards.

On special teams defensive back Brandon Little ran back a kickoff for 109 yards in the second quarter. Little was named the RCA Lyra Player of the Game. OUA First Team all-star place-kicker Michael Ray was good on two of two field goals and all five converts.

OUA First Team all-star defensive back Jesse Card, with six tackles, anchored the McMaster defense. OUA Second Team all-star defensive back Josh Armstrong added three tackles and one interception.

Linebacker Manny Furtado added two Tackles, one assist and one interception and defensive end Jeff Robertshaw had one tackle, two assists, two sacks and one forced fumble.

Wilfrid Laurier First Team all-star running back Derek Medler ran for only five yards on three carries playing with an injured shoulder. Laurier managed to gain only 75 rushing yards for the game with quarterback Ryan Pyear leading all rushers with 36 yards on seven carries. Pyear also completed 15 of 30 passes for 230 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The leading receivers were Byron Hickey with five catches for 89 yards and one touchdown, Andrew Agro with three completions for 80 yards, and Andrew Baechler with two catches for 54 yards and a major.

Linebacker Ian Logan led the Laurier defensive unit. He had 11 tackles, and three assists on the day. Kevin MacNeil added six tackles and two assists for the Golden Hawks.

Photo caption: Top: The Marauders display an OUA banner after winning the Yates Cup Championship game on Saturday. Bottom: McMaster Students Union president Neville Boney had his head shaved for the Shave for a Cure event during half-time. Photo credit: Tommy Piribauer.