It’s home, sweet home this weekend for Marauders football
Ron Joyce Stadium is a difficult place for visiting football teams to play, thanks in large part to the atmosphere created by McMaster's fans.
The Marauders hope to use a not-so-secret weapon in Saturday’s semi-final football game against the Ottawa Gee-Gees: home turf.
Enthusiastic, grey and maroon-clad fans in the stands at Ron Joyce Stadium could make the difference between the Marauders moving on to play for the Yates Cup and seeing their season come to a close.
Of the 34 games the Marauders have played at the stadium since it opened in 2008, the team has won 30.
The team will need the support of its fans Saturday when it takes on the Gee-Gees, who defeated them 38-18 two weeks ago in Ottawa.
Ottawa is playing its best football of the season and has shown it can win on the road, dispatching Windsor 46-29 in quarter-final play last week.
After knocking off previously unbeaten McMaster and then beating Windsor on the road, the confidence-level of the Ottawa squad must be sky high.
McMaster will be playing to extend what has been one of the most successful seasons in recent memory.
The season has included record-setting performances by kicker Tyler Crapigna, who became Canadian Interuniversity Sport’s career field-goal leader, and cornerback Steve Ventresca, who became McMaster’s all-time interception leader.
The winner of Saturday’s game will face either Guelph or Western. The Yates Cup game will be played Saturday, November 15. If the Marauders are playing, the game will be at Ron Joyce Stadium.
