Hamilton, Ont. – The McMaster Marauders defeated the Guelph Gryphons 20-15 Saturday (Nov. 15) at Ron Joyce Stadium to win the 107th Yates Cup. The Marauders now move on to the national semifinal where they will host the Mount Allison Mounties in the Mitchell Bowl, while the Gryphons end their season one win shy of capturing the school's first Yates Cup since 1996.
With all of the speculation surrounding Guelph's quarterback situation leading up to Saturday, it
was Jazz Lindsey who was under centre to start the game. But it was not the Jazz Lindsey that Gryphon fans are accustomed to seeing. A separated shoulder is not an injury that is easy to play through for any player on the field, much less the quarterback. Lindsey, who was a game-time decision and who did not practice during the week leading up to the Yates Cup, had his right shoulder frozen by team doctors prior to the game. Lindsey had done a tremendous job all season long in terms of limiting turnovers, so it was clear from the start that he was not his usual self. After McMaster fumbled a punt return to give the Gryphons the ball on the McMaster two-yard line, Guelph would be unable to capitalize as Jazz would be intercepted in the endzone by McMaster's Joey Cupido. Lindsey would throw two more interceptions later in the quarter before being pulled in favour of rookie
James Roberts. With the passing game struggling early on, the Gryphons would turn to the ground game and get a boost from their All-Star running back,
Robert Farquharson. Late in the first quarter, Farquharson would rip off a 41-yard touchdown run to give the Gryphons a 9-2 lead after the first quarter. That would prove to be the final touchdown run of Farquharson's stellar five year career at Guelph.
In the second quarter, McMaster would take the lead thanks to a tremendous play from their third year defensive end. Mike Kashak (Courtice, Ont.) was able to sniff out a screen pass, pick off James Roberts and take it back 30-yards the other way for a touchdown to make it 12-9 Marauders.
While it was a nervous start for the Gryphon offence, the Guelph defence was flying around all over the field. With under a minute to go in the opening half, McMaster decided to go for it on a 3
rd and short from mid-field. Guelph's All-Star free safety
Tristan Doughlin (Toronto, Ont.) would force a turnover on downs thanks to crushing hit on Marauders' receiver Declan Cross. When the dust settled after a hard-hitting opening half, the two teams had combined for seven turnovers as McMaster led 12-9 heading to the third quarter.
The turnovers would continue in the second half. Guelph's standout rookie defensive back Nicholas Parisotto (Guelph, Ont.) would intercept Marshall Ferguson (Kingston, Ont.) to give the Gryphons some momentum. Once again however, the Gryphons were unable to take advantage of the field position as James Roberts (Cambridge, Ont.) would sail a pass over his intended receiver and into the waiting hands of McMaster free safety Allan Dicks. Dicks (Abbostford, B.C.) would finish the day with two interceptions, and the Marauders took a 17-11 lead to the final quarter.
Guelph's All-Star kicker
Daniel Ferraro (Mississauga, Ont.) would connect on a clutch 43-yard field goal to make it a three point game. On the very next play, the Gryphon defence would once again come up big as
Colin Mandich (London, Ont.) would come down with Guelph's third interception of the game. Unfortunately the Gryphons were unable to capitalize on the good field position. After the offence stalled, Ferraro was once again facing a long field goal attempt which he would this time miss. The Marauders would add a field goal of their own later in the quarter to make it 20-15 for McMaster.
Late in regulation, the Guelph defence did their job and got the ball back to their offence with one last chance to find the endzone and book a spot in the Mitchell Bowl. With 1:27 remaining, the Gryphons would start their drive at their own 54-yard line. Facing a third and two situation, Roberts would complete a pass to
Jacob Scarfone(London, Ont.) who would
just get enough for the first down. Shortly after that however, Roberts would be sacked at the McMaster 40-yard line. With just over 30 seconds left, the Gryphons were facing a third and 13. With the crowd at Ron Joyce Stadium on their feet and the game on the line, James Roberts would fire over the middle in the direction of
Alexander Charette (St. Catherine's, Ont.) but his pass would fall incomplete. The turnover on downs would give the Marauders the ball and their third Yates Cup championship in the last four years.
The Dalt White Trophy, given to the game's Most Valuable Player, would go to McMaster's Joey Cupido (Hamilton, Ont.) who recorded two interceptions in the win. Overall, there were 10 turnovers in the game (eight interceptions and two lost fumbles) with Farquharson's 41-yard run in the opening quarter being the only offensive touchdown scored on the day. After the game, Gryphon head coach Stu Lang said, "our defence deserves a lot of accolades. They held McMaster without a touchdown today and that should be enough to win, but we were unable to take advantage of our opportunities." For the second time in three seasons, the Gryphons' season comes to an end in Hamilton in the Yates Cup.
