Marauders fall to the Mustangs

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[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/robertshaw.jpg” caption=”Marauder Jeff Robertshaw steals the ball at Saturday’s game against the Mustangs.”]For 20 minutes on Saturday, the McMaster Marauders (2-1) looked like world beaters. However, football games are 60 minutes long, and the Western Mustangs (3-0) dominated the last 40 minutes in their 55-31 victory over the McMaster Marauders at Ivor Wynne Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

With eight minutes left to play in the first half and McMaster leading 28-3, Western kicker Derek Schiavone missed a short field goal, and it seemed as if yet another scoring chance had slipped past the Mustangs. However, a roughing the kicker penalty was called, which led to a eight-yard touchdown pass from Michael Faulds to Jay Akindolire, and three more touchdowns before the end of the half, propelling Western to a 31-28 halftime lead. They would never
look back, and ended up outscoring Mac 52-3 in the final 40 minutes of action.

Penalties and injuries led to the demise of the Marauders. Sixteen penalties for 226 yards allowed many stalled Western drives to continue, while injuries to quarterback Adam Archibald, CIS leading tackler Eugene Boakye, Jeff Robertshaw, and Andrew Jones decimated Mac's depth.

Archibald played the finest football of his career in the first quarter, moving the ball at will against the Western defence. However, after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit, Archibald struggled for a couple series, before being removed from the game as a precautionary measure. He completed 13 of 22 passes for 257 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Vaughan Swart and B.J. Malott each had three catches for 80 yards, with Malott notching a touchdown. Other scores went to Rob Serviss and Jeff Robertshaw (fumble recovery). Jordan Kozina rushed 16 times for 68 yards.

Tristan Clovis led the Marauders with 10.5 tackles on the day.

Meanwhile, Western played a patient game on offence, taking advantage of a tired Mac defence in the second half. Michael Faulds completed 26 of 35 passes for 364 yards and six touchdowns, with one interception. Andy Fantuz left no doubt that he is the top receiver in the country, catching seven passes for 61 yards, with four touchdowns.

Randy McAuley led a dominant Western rushing game, that pounded the Mac defence inside the hashmarks and on the perimeter. McAuley rushed 15 times for 93 yards, while D.J. Bennett rushed 11 times for 70 yards, and Jay Akindilore rushed nine times for 51 yards.

Matt Carapella stood out for the Western defence with five tackles and an interception.

McMaster now prepares for a tough contest next Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Wilfrid Laurier (3-0). The game will appear live on The Score, and will be a rematch of last year's Yates Cup.