Posted on Nov. 18: First loss of season a blow to Marauders

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BY Canadian Interuniversity Sport

November 18, 2002

In the first of two Canadian Interuniversity Sport football national semi-finals, the Saint Mary's Huskies defeated the No.1 ranked and previously unbeaten McMaster Marauders 36-25 on Saturday afternoon in front of a capacity crowd of more than 6,400 at Les Prince Field to claim the Churchill Bowl and earn a berth in a second straight Vanier Cup.

Next Saturday at Skydome in Toronto, the Huskies will try to become the first team since the Western Ontario Mustangs in 1976 and 1977, and the third in history, to repeat as CIS champions.

The contest marked the first ever appearance for an Atlantic team in the Churchill Bowl. For OUA champion McMaster, it also marked a third consecutive loss in a national semi-final. The Marauders lost to Ottawa in 2000 and Manitoba in 2001.

Saint Mary's won last year's Championship game 42-16 over Manitoba and were also in the 1999 Vanier Cup, losing 14-10 to Laval.

In Saturday's match-up, the Huskies didn't waste any time getting on the scoreboard on their second possession following a Dean Jones TD run. After the Marauders tied the contest at 7-7 to start the second frame on the first of three TD runs by CIS leading rusher Kyle Pyear, Saint Mary's all but put the game away with three consecutive majors that put the score at 28-7 at the half. The defending champions had already accumulated 313 yards of offence going into the locker room.

The visitors led by as much as 36-10 in the final quarter before the Marauders scored 15 unanswered points late in the game to end the scoring.

Huskies quarterback Steve Panella completed nine of 17 passes for 215 yards and one TD, his favourite target being Olaf Tomiuk who caught three balls for 102 yards. Gabe Harvey led the way on the ground with 40 yards and one major on seven carries. On defence, Joe Bonaventura came up huge with eight tackles and one sack, while Dennis Arruda and Cartier Shields each recorded 10 tackles.

For the Marauders, rookie quarterback John Behie went 13 for 26 for 149 yards and one TD. CIS rushing Leader Kyle Pyear was his usual self with 141 yards and three majors on 30 carries. Jason Pottinger accumulated seven tackles.

The Huskies finished the game with 467 total yards of offence, compared to the Marauders 454. 314 of McMaster's yards came on the ground, while Saint Mary's offence couldn't have been more balanced, with 253 yards rushing and 215 passing.

Next Saturday in Toronto, The Saint Mary's Huskies will try to defend their Vanier Cup title against the Saskatchewan Huskies, the winners of the Mitchell Bowl.

Click here for a story in The Hamilton Spectator.