No. 1 McMaster grabs home field in playoffs with 39-18 win over Windsor
McMaster sits atop of the OUA standings with a perfect 7-0 record and extends their winning streak to 17 games which dates back to September 17, 2011. They need just two more wins to equal Laval’s record 19 victories which they accomplished between the 2004 and 2005 seasons.
In the win, McMaster’s Ben D’Aguilar of Hamilton became the CIS single season record holder in sacks by posting his 12.5 sack on Windsor’s Austin Kennedy. He passed Bishop’s great Leroy Blugh (1988) and Queen’s Jim Aru (1996) who previously held the mark of 11.5.
Hec Creighton candidate Kyle Quinlan of South Woodslee, Ont. was 24 of 40 passing for 401 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions in the win while Windsor’s Austin Kennedy was 27 of 40 for 380 yards tossing two touchdowns. Kennedy also had four interceptions in the loss.
Quinlan’s top target was Max Cameron of St. Catharines, Ont. who was named the “McDonald’s Big MAC” player of the game, finishing as the day’s top receiver with seven catches on 209 yards. Spencer Moore of Hamilton, Dahlin Brooks and Tyler Loveday of Kitchener, Ont., all registered a touchdown in the win for the Marauders.
Evan Pszczonak of Amherstburg, Ont., was Windsor’s top receiver brining down 135 yards including an 80 reception from Kennedy which was Windsor’s only score in the second half.
Defensively, McMaster’s Shane Beaton Brampton, Ont., led the way for the Marauders registering eight total tackles and a sack. Linebacker Michael Kashak of Courtice, Ont. recorded a touchdown in the fourth quarter on a fumble recovery in the end zone. Overall, the Marauders recorded five sacks and forced five turnovers on Windsor’s offence.
After going down 1-0 on a rouge in the first quarter, McMaster got on the board at 7:03 when Quinlan found Moore on a two-yard throw to make the score 7-1 at the time. Windsor pushed ahead 11-7 after Kennedy connected with Dylan Whifield (Windsor, Ont.) on a 17-yard pass and then tacked on a 16-yard field goal by Dan Cerino of Stoney Creek, Ont.
The Marauders would go on to score 20 unanswered points building a 27-11 lead in the second and third quarters behind two Quinlan touchdowns to Brooks and Loveday as well as two field goals from Tyler Crapigna of Nepean, Ont.
The Lancers final score came after Kennedy found a streaking Pszczonak for an 80-yard strike making the score 27-18. The Marauders would close the scoring in the fourth quarter with another Crapigna field goal, the Kashak fumble recovery touchdown and a team safety with 2:54 remaining.
The Marauders posted 140-yards lost on 16 penalties while Windsor also had 16 penalties for 125-yards lost.
In other OUA action on Saturday, Guelph captured sole possession of second place in a 33-28 comeback win over Queen’s, while Ottawa dumped Waterloo 61-0. Western beat Laurier 56-3 and York beat Toronto 36-24.
Next week, McMaster hosts the 3-4 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks next Saturday (Oct. 20) while Windsor contends against Waterloo Warriors (1-6) in Waterloo.
RECORD WATCH: D’Aguilar set the new CIS single season sack record 90 seconds into the fourth quarter when he tackled Kennedy at the Windsor 20 for a nine-yard loss… Quinlan is now tied with Ben Chapdelain with 59 passing touchdowns for McMaster’s all-time career leader… Robert Babic of Oakville, Ont. moved past Kevin D’Hollander for 10th place on McMaster’s all-time reception list.
NOTES: Quinlan’s first quarter interception was his first after going 186 attempts without throwing a pick to open the season... McMaster honoured the 2002 and 2003 Yates Cup championship teams at during halftime… Attendance during McMaster’s Homecoming was announced as 5,714.
Source: McMaster Sports Info