October 27, 2005
MCMASTER AND WINDSOR MEET IN OUA QUARTER-FINAL ON THE SCORE
HAMILTON – The McMaster Marauders found themselves in uncharted territory after dropping three of their first six games of the 2005 season. But the dominant program that has made five straight Yates Cup appearances has a chance to wipe away any lingering disappointment. McMaster hosts the Windsor Lancers in Ontario University Athletics quarter-final action Saturday, October 28 on this week’s University Rush broadcast, presented by RCA LYRA, on The Score Television Network. Air time is 2:00 pm.
The Marauders have had a trying season but enter the playoff match-up with the Lancers on the mend, both physically and mentally. McMaster suffered key injuries to a number of starters on both sides of the ball, including quarterback Adam Archibald (Kingston, ON), All-Canadian defensive end Jeff Robertshaw (Hamilton, ON), all-star linebacker Tristan Clovis (Toronto, ON) and long snapper Rob Mitchell (Lucan, ON), forcing head coach Marcello Campanaro to constantly insert new players into the lineup. The immediate result was some inconsistent play though the positive is that the Marauders younger players have gained experience in critical situations, adding depth to a team that was initially thin in that department.
“We had a season of adversity but at the end of it all, we hung in there,” says Campanaro. “We grew up as a team.”
McMaster jumped out to a 2-0-0 start this year and seemed poised to make it three straight before the Western Mustangs overcame a 28-3 deficit to humble the Marauders 55-31 on national television. McMaster would lose again in a tough game with the unbeaten Laurier Golden Hawks 33-26 but an unexpected 22-20 defeat by the underdog Guelph Gryphons in week six had the perennial powerhouse reeling. The three losses are the most the program has suffered since going 4-4 in 1998.
McMaster did wrap up the season as expected with victories over the Waterloo Warriors (43-22) and the Toronto Varsity Blues (64-13). Archibald returned against Waterloo after missing three and half games with an upper body injury and passed for an incredible 768 yards and 10 touchdowns in McMaster’s final two wins. Rookie running back Jordan Kozina (Brantford, ON) also finished with a flurry, racking up 471 yards on the ground and three touchdowns combined against Waterloo and Toronto. Campanaro has raved about the bruising first-year player, suggesting he expected the youngster to contribute to the running attack but has been surprised to the extent. Kozina’s late-season push helped him finish second in the CIS with 1,191 rushing yards, behind Windsor’s Daryl Stephenson (1,306). Kozina was just a yard shy of catching Stephenson for the rookie rushing record of 1,192, which the Lancer star set last season.
“He was outstanding,” Campanaro says of Kozina. “The more we got into it, the better he got. He learned every week. And not just the running – he’s a great pass blocker, as well. You sit down and watch film and you see what he does.
“He gave us a running game and allowed us to throw the ball.”
The Lancers finished the season 4-4-0-0 to earn their third playoff berth in the past four years. Windsor rebounded from a disheartening 22-19 home loss to the Guelph Gryphons in week seven, winning their final game of the year in convincing fashion, 49-18 over Waterloo. The Lancers had a new look in that game with freshman Joshua Duguay (Edmonton, AB) taking over the quarterback duties from fourth-year veteran Jon Dent (Chatham, ON). Duguay looked solid against the Warriors, helping Windsor build a 38-0 half-time lead. He finished the game with 201 passing yards and three touchdowns and may have earned the starting job against McMaster.
“We had to take a look at him,” said Windsor head coach Mike Morencie. “We were surprised by what we got. He was able to spread the ball around. We’ve got a bit of decision to make.”
Two of Duguay’s scores went to fifth-year senior Arjei Franklin (Scarborough, ON), who has enjoyed another standout year. Franklin caught 43 passes for 703 yards and seven touchdowns in 2005 and will be a focal point for Campanaro’s defence.
“We’ve got to be very aware of Arjei,” says Camapanaro. “He’s very dangerous and can score at any time, as well.”
Morencie will hope to control the ball to keep it away from the mending McMaster offence and the Lancers possess one of the best weapons in the country to do that. Stephenson (London, ON) has been a workhorse all season, leading the nation in rushing attempts with 193. The second-year man’s 12 rushing touchdowns were also a CIS high. Stephenson has racked up some huge numbers, like his five-touchdown, 280-yard game against the Varsity Blues on September 24, but he has seen a dip in production against the league’s better clubs. The star back did take some time to recover from a sprained ankle, which he suffered prior to training camp when he slipped on a text book.
“It’s really important for us to get Daryl off against Mac,” said Morencie.
Windsor will also mix in running back C.J. Mwalawanda (Hamilton, ON) to give the Marauders a different look. The second-year Criminology student exploded for 177 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries against Waterloo.
The two teams met in the first week of the season with McMaster winning 29-22 in Windsor. The Lancers kept it close even though they committed eight turnovers in the game. Morencie knows that despite McMaster having personnel changes throughout the year, the Marauders will play their trademark brand of smash-mouth football, meaning the battle between the lines will be important in deciding a winner, as will turnovers.
“Offensively, we can’t turn the ball over,” said Morencie. “And defensively, we have to create some turnovers. We have to get after them and knock Adam around.
“On both sides of the stick, turnovers are a big key.”
The Marauders have had a trying season but enter the playoff match-up with the Lancers on the mend, both physically and mentally. McMaster suffered key injuries to a number of starters on both sides of the ball, including quarterback Adam Archibald (Kingston, ON), All-Canadian defensive end Jeff Robertshaw (Hamilton, ON), all-star linebacker Tristan Clovis (Toronto, ON) and long snapper Rob Mitchell (Lucan, ON), forcing head coach Marcello Campanaro to constantly insert new players into the lineup. The immediate result was some inconsistent play though the positive is that the Marauders younger players have gained experience in critical situations, adding depth to a team that was initially thin in that department.
“We had a season of adversity but at the end of it all, we hung in there,” says Campanaro. “We grew up as a team.”
McMaster jumped out to a 2-0-0 start this year and seemed poised to make it three straight before the Western Mustangs overcame a 28-3 deficit to humble the Marauders 55-31 on national television. McMaster would lose again in a tough game with the unbeaten Laurier Golden Hawks 33-26 but an unexpected 22-20 defeat by the underdog Guelph Gryphons in week six had the perennial powerhouse reeling. The three losses are the most the program has suffered since going 4-4 in 1998.
McMaster did wrap up the season as expected with victories over the Waterloo Warriors (43-22) and the Toronto Varsity Blues (64-13). Archibald returned against Waterloo after missing three and half games with an upper body injury and passed for an incredible 768 yards and 10 touchdowns in McMaster’s final two wins. Rookie running back Jordan Kozina (Brantford, ON) also finished with a flurry, racking up 471 yards on the ground and three touchdowns combined against Waterloo and Toronto. Campanaro has raved about the bruising first-year player, suggesting he expected the youngster to contribute to the running attack but has been surprised to the extent. Kozina’s late-season push helped him finish second in the CIS with 1,191 rushing yards, behind Windsor’s Daryl Stephenson (1,306). Kozina was just a yard shy of catching Stephenson for the rookie rushing record of 1,192, which the Lancer star set last season.
“He was outstanding,” Campanaro says of Kozina. “The more we got into it, the better he got. He learned every week. And not just the running – he’s a great pass blocker, as well. You sit down and watch film and you see what he does.
“He gave us a running game and allowed us to throw the ball.”
The Lancers finished the season 4-4-0-0 to earn their third playoff berth in the past four years. Windsor rebounded from a disheartening 22-19 home loss to the Guelph Gryphons in week seven, winning their final game of the year in convincing fashion, 49-18 over Waterloo. The Lancers had a new look in that game with freshman Joshua Duguay (Edmonton, AB) taking over the quarterback duties from fourth-year veteran Jon Dent (Chatham, ON). Duguay looked solid against the Warriors, helping Windsor build a 38-0 half-time lead. He finished the game with 201 passing yards and three touchdowns and may have earned the starting job against McMaster.
“We had to take a look at him,” said Windsor head coach Mike Morencie. “We were surprised by what we got. He was able to spread the ball around. We’ve got a bit of decision to make.”
Two of Duguay’s scores went to fifth-year senior Arjei Franklin (Scarborough, ON), who has enjoyed another standout year. Franklin caught 43 passes for 703 yards and seven touchdowns in 2005 and will be a focal point for Campanaro’s defence.
“We’ve got to be very aware of Arjei,” says Camapanaro. “He’s very dangerous and can score at any time, as well.”
Morencie will hope to control the ball to keep it away from the mending McMaster offence and the Lancers possess one of the best weapons in the country to do that. Stephenson (London, ON) has been a workhorse all season, leading the nation in rushing attempts with 193. The second-year man’s 12 rushing touchdowns were also a CIS high. Stephenson has racked up some huge numbers, like his five-touchdown, 280-yard game against the Varsity Blues on September 24, but he has seen a dip in production against the league’s better clubs. The star back did take some time to recover from a sprained ankle, which he suffered prior to training camp when he slipped on a text book.
“It’s really important for us to get Daryl off against Mac,” said Morencie.
Windsor will also mix in running back C.J. Mwalawanda (Hamilton, ON) to give the Marauders a different look. The second-year Criminology student exploded for 177 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries against Waterloo.
The two teams met in the first week of the season with McMaster winning 29-22 in Windsor. The Lancers kept it close even though they committed eight turnovers in the game. Morencie knows that despite McMaster having personnel changes throughout the year, the Marauders will play their trademark brand of smash-mouth football, meaning the battle between the lines will be important in deciding a winner, as will turnovers.
“Offensively, we can’t turn the ball over,” said Morencie. “And defensively, we have to create some turnovers. We have to get after them and knock Adam around.
“On both sides of the stick, turnovers are a big key.”
