Football POWs: Dueck, Cumber, O’Brien take home Yates Cup honours on the gridiron
Burlington, Ont. – Andreas Dueck, Josh Cumber, and Joe O’Brien have been named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Football Players of the Week for the period ending November 10, 2019.
Offensive Player of the Week – Andreas Dueck, McMaster Marauders
Andreas Dueck has had quite a year under centre for McMaster, and in fitting fashion, the Marauders quarterback capped off his first full season as a starter with an MVP effort in the 112th Yates Cup.
Things didn’t get off to the most impressive of starts for Dueck and the offence, but the third-year QB was quick to right the ship and turn the page on the team’s shaky start. Thanks to his steady, leading presence for the maroon machine, he was able to bring his team back from their early 10-0 deficit to reel off 22 consecutive points en route to the win. Dueck would finish the game completing over 70% of his passes, 18-of-25, for 243 yards. He would also add another 16 on the ground on three carries.
After leading his Marauders to their first Yates Cup victory since 2014, Dueck was named the game’s MVP, taking home the Dalt White Trophy as a result.
Defensive Player of the Week – Josh Cumber, McMaster Marauders
It’s not easy to go through your first football season at the university level, especially when that involves taking the field in a championship setting, but McMaster’s Josh Cumber rose to the occasion in his rookie campaign.
Cumber, who started off with a seamless transition to the OUA after three interceptions in his first two games, got right back to his ball-hawk ways against the league’s top offence. The first-year defensive back was a presence all game long for the Hamilton squad, despite being tasked with covering first team all-star Brett Ellerman. Cumber limited the Mustangs’ receiver to just two catches for 33 yards, but his shining moment came when his team needed it most. After Western secured a turnover and were threatening to close the gap in the fourth quarter, Cumber got his hands on the Kevin John pass deep in Mac territory and came down with the much-needed interception.
Not only did Cumber get his team the ball back in these crucial moments, but he also added 2.5 tackles (including two solo efforts) and a pair of pass breakups to his first Yates Cup outing.
Special Teams Player of the Week – Joe O’Brien, McMaster Marauders
After a dominant second quarter for the McMaster Marauders saw them take a nine-point lead late into the frame, a dynamic special teams play set the team up for a little additional success before the break.
While it seemed all but certain that the first half would wrap up with a 19-10 score, McMaster’s Joe O’Brien came up with one of the game’s most important plays and by far the most emphatic special teams effort of the championship.
With Western set to punt the ball downfield and all but wind down the clock, O’Brien got his hands on the Marc Liegghio kick. The impressive block, which was recovered by the Marauders, got his team right into scoring position with just seconds left on the clock and set up an Adam Preocanin field goal on the final play of the half, adding another blow to the Mustangs’ three-peat hopes.
