November 12, 2004
LAURIER AND MCMASTER MEET IN YATES CUP REMATCH
Marauders injured star tailback Lumsden may be out
Waterloo, ON - In a repeat of the 2003 season, No. 2 Wilfrid Laurier University Laurier Golden Hawks (9-0 overall) and No. 4 McMaster University Marauders (8-1 overall) have both advanced to the Yates Cup, presented by Pioneer Petroleums, but when the visiting Marauders roll into windy Waterloo Saturday, November 13 (1:00 pm, broadcast on The Score), they might not have the most prolific tailback in CIS history available. McMaster phenom Jesse Lumsden injured his left knee in the third quarter of his team's 40-23 victory over The University of Western Ontario Mustangs last week, leaving him questionable for the Ontario final. Lumsden set CIS single-season records with 1,816 yards and 21 touchdowns, en route to establishing career marks, as well. He still managed to churn out 217 yards and a touchdown against Western, despite leaving the game early in the second half, a precautionary move by the coaching staff with the Marauders sitting on a big lead
"We've got to be able to play with anybody out of the game to go the distance," first-year McMaster head coach Marcello Campanaro said after the win. "Jesse does matter but we have to make sure other players pick it up."
The Golden Hawks - who handed the Marauders their only loss in a regular season clash back on September 25 (34-33) to earn the home field in the Yates Cup - overwhelmed the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees 46-7 in the other semi-final. Laurier did much of the damage through the air as quarterback Ryan Pyear tossed three touchdown passes in the decisive victory. Coach Gary Jeffries' number-two ranked squad desperately wants to avenge the 41-17 defeat to McMaster in the 2003 title game. Laurier also lost to the Marauders in 2000 and has been winless in their last five Yates Cup contents. In fact, the Hawks have not won the Yates Cup since 1991, when they defeated Western 13-12, the same year they took home the Vanier Cup. There certainly won't be any lack of motivation for the hosts.
"The regular season did mean something," Jeffries said of playing in Waterloo. "It's huge to be able to play this game at home."
The regular season win was the first time in 39 games that McMaster had fallen to an OUA opponent. Prior to the last minute win, the Golden Hawks had lost six straight time to the Marauders, who are looking for an unprecedented fifth-straight Yates Cup this Saturday.
Laurier will prepare as if the bruising Lumsden is going to be on the field but Jeffries isn't solely concerned about McMaster's dominating ground attack. Marauders quarterback Adam Archibald, who passed for two touchdowns against Western and ran in another from short range following a big-time fake handoff, will also be a focal point for the Golden Hawks.
"You can't stop Lumsden necessarily but you can contain him and limit him," said Jeffries. "We did a reasonable job of that in the first game.
"We have to do a good job of getting pressure on Archibald. He has an exceptional arm and good receivers."
"We're happy with our progress the past couple of games," said Archibald, a towering second-year player from Kingston. "We've got some momentum with a couple big wins and a couple big plays, so we're pretty happy in that sense. But we know that they're going to be fired up with all their pistons working. Having the home crowd will be key for them, as well.
"We're not going in there overconfident by any means. We're in for a big game, for sure."
Archibald helped McMaster jump out to a 30-0 lead in the semi-final but the offence experienced a noticeable stall when Lumsden went out. Western narrowed the margin to 15 points but the Marauders blocked an extra point attempt following a Mustangs touchdown and Hamilton native Mike Ray then made the score 33-15 early in the fourth quarter with a crucial 39-yard field goal to stop the bleeding.
"Obviously, when Jesse goes down that puts a hurt on our offence," said Archibald. "When you have him in the backfield, it takes a lot of weight off of everybody.
McMaster also lost standout cornerback Kwame Aidoo to an injury. Aidoo landed awkwardly on his left leg after leaping to break up a deep ball and had to be carried off the field by teammates. His status for the Yates Cup is also uncertain.
Despite Pyear's three touchdown strikes, Laurier's staunch defence was the story against Ottawa. The Golden Hawks allowed just 121 yards of offence and added two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and an incredible seven sacks to set up the dream Yates Cup rematch.
"We wanted a chance at Laurier but we wanted a chance at anybody," said Campanaro. "We want to win the Yates Cup. We want to win it for the fifth time. We've got to go there now to do it."
(Source: David DiCenzo, Special to the OUA)
Waterloo, ON - In a repeat of the 2003 season, No. 2 Wilfrid Laurier University Laurier Golden Hawks (9-0 overall) and No. 4 McMaster University Marauders (8-1 overall) have both advanced to the Yates Cup, presented by Pioneer Petroleums, but when the visiting Marauders roll into windy Waterloo Saturday, November 13 (1:00 pm, broadcast on The Score), they might not have the most prolific tailback in CIS history available. McMaster phenom Jesse Lumsden injured his left knee in the third quarter of his team's 40-23 victory over The University of Western Ontario Mustangs last week, leaving him questionable for the Ontario final. Lumsden set CIS single-season records with 1,816 yards and 21 touchdowns, en route to establishing career marks, as well. He still managed to churn out 217 yards and a touchdown against Western, despite leaving the game early in the second half, a precautionary move by the coaching staff with the Marauders sitting on a big lead
"We've got to be able to play with anybody out of the game to go the distance," first-year McMaster head coach Marcello Campanaro said after the win. "Jesse does matter but we have to make sure other players pick it up."
The Golden Hawks - who handed the Marauders their only loss in a regular season clash back on September 25 (34-33) to earn the home field in the Yates Cup - overwhelmed the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees 46-7 in the other semi-final. Laurier did much of the damage through the air as quarterback Ryan Pyear tossed three touchdown passes in the decisive victory. Coach Gary Jeffries' number-two ranked squad desperately wants to avenge the 41-17 defeat to McMaster in the 2003 title game. Laurier also lost to the Marauders in 2000 and has been winless in their last five Yates Cup contents. In fact, the Hawks have not won the Yates Cup since 1991, when they defeated Western 13-12, the same year they took home the Vanier Cup. There certainly won't be any lack of motivation for the hosts.
"The regular season did mean something," Jeffries said of playing in Waterloo. "It's huge to be able to play this game at home."
The regular season win was the first time in 39 games that McMaster had fallen to an OUA opponent. Prior to the last minute win, the Golden Hawks had lost six straight time to the Marauders, who are looking for an unprecedented fifth-straight Yates Cup this Saturday.
Laurier will prepare as if the bruising Lumsden is going to be on the field but Jeffries isn't solely concerned about McMaster's dominating ground attack. Marauders quarterback Adam Archibald, who passed for two touchdowns against Western and ran in another from short range following a big-time fake handoff, will also be a focal point for the Golden Hawks.
"You can't stop Lumsden necessarily but you can contain him and limit him," said Jeffries. "We did a reasonable job of that in the first game.
"We have to do a good job of getting pressure on Archibald. He has an exceptional arm and good receivers."
"We're happy with our progress the past couple of games," said Archibald, a towering second-year player from Kingston. "We've got some momentum with a couple big wins and a couple big plays, so we're pretty happy in that sense. But we know that they're going to be fired up with all their pistons working. Having the home crowd will be key for them, as well.
"We're not going in there overconfident by any means. We're in for a big game, for sure."
Archibald helped McMaster jump out to a 30-0 lead in the semi-final but the offence experienced a noticeable stall when Lumsden went out. Western narrowed the margin to 15 points but the Marauders blocked an extra point attempt following a Mustangs touchdown and Hamilton native Mike Ray then made the score 33-15 early in the fourth quarter with a crucial 39-yard field goal to stop the bleeding.
"Obviously, when Jesse goes down that puts a hurt on our offence," said Archibald. "When you have him in the backfield, it takes a lot of weight off of everybody.
McMaster also lost standout cornerback Kwame Aidoo to an injury. Aidoo landed awkwardly on his left leg after leaping to break up a deep ball and had to be carried off the field by teammates. His status for the Yates Cup is also uncertain.
Despite Pyear's three touchdown strikes, Laurier's staunch defence was the story against Ottawa. The Golden Hawks allowed just 121 yards of offence and added two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and an incredible seven sacks to set up the dream Yates Cup rematch.
"We wanted a chance at Laurier but we wanted a chance at anybody," said Campanaro. "We want to win the Yates Cup. We want to win it for the fifth time. We've got to go there now to do it."
(Source: David DiCenzo, Special to the OUA)
