WESTERN, MCMASTER BATTLE IN FIRST WEEK OF UNIVERSITY RUSH ON THE SCORE
HAMILTON, Ont. - Ontario University Athletics (OUA) returns to The Score Television Network this Saturday, September 11 at 1:00 p.m. ET as the No. 8 nationally ranked Western Mustangs play host to the undefeated No. 6 McMaster Marauders. Saturday’s game, presented by Pioneer Petroleums, will mark the ninth season of University Rush on The Score.
Week 2 of the OUA football season saw both teams tangled in exciting come-from-behind games.
McMaster (2-0) was victorious coming back from a 20-point deficit to beat the Laurier Golden Hawks 26-24. The Marauders did not tally a single point until almost seven minutes through the third quarter.
“Our team woke up in the second half,” said McMaster head coach Stefan Ptaszek.
The Marauders scored 24 points, and took two more from a Laurier conceded safety. For the remainder of the game, McMaster stopped the Hawks from scoring a point of their own, a familiar happening from their 46-1 loss at the hands of the Mustangs in the opening week of the season.
Western (1-1) road that trampling of the Laurier Golden Hawks to Ottawa on Labour Day. Though they controlled most of the game, the Ottawa Gee-Gees were able to push the Mustangs defence and run in the winning touchdown with 29 seconds left on the game clock.
“We’ve played really well against Laurier and okay again Ottawa,” said Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall. “We want to play well this week, we want to win. It is a big game for us.”
The two teams are strong, well coached, and feature talented players.
McMaster holds OUA’s fourth ranked passer Kyle Quinlan (South Woodslee, Ont.) and running backs Jordan Kozina (Burlington, Ont.) and Joey Nemet (Burlington, Ont.) combine for 217 yards. They are a tough squad to defend against.
Ptaszek contributes the success of his offence on mixing it up, and making play action believable.
“You want to take some of the pressure off the QB position,” he said. “Establishing run and keeping the defence honest will create the balance and usually greases the wheels.”
Penalty wise both teams average the same, and have four turnovers in two games. What will be the deciding factor between the two teams who are so evenly matched on paper?
“A big play,” said Marshall. “You get a big run, or a big reception and it will sway the momentum a bit. There are a lot of intangibles that go into it. The team that takes care of the football and doesn’t turn it over will be successful.”
Ptaszek agrees and thinks field position is something very important.
“If we have the long field it will be hard to move Surla and the boys, but if Western has the long field I am confident our defence will apply that same pressure.”
The Surla he speaks of is Mustangs linebacker John Surla (Niagara Falls, Ont.). Surla, along with fellow defenders, Craig Butler (London, Ont.) and Jason Kosec (Mississauga, Ont.) combine for 35 tackles, one sac, four forced fumbles, and three interceptions.
Already a quarter through the OUA regular season this game will hold importance for playoff positioning.
“If we could get to 3-0 and be two games up on Western they are running out of weeks to tie us or get ahead of us,” said Ptaszek. “If we go 2-1 then we are behind Western and we lose that tie-breaker and we lose some of the control over placing first or second in the league and that is something we want to jockey for.”
Watch as McMaster tries to continue their win streak this Saturday, live on The Score.
WESTERN LEADERS
21 completions, 40 attempts, 393 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
32 attempts, 161 yards, 3 touchdowns
7 receptions, 120 yards, 1 touchdown
16 solo tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception
John Surla (Niagara Falls, Ont.)
McMASTER LEADERS
33 completions, 56 attempts, 494 yards, 3 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
25 attempts, 109 yards, 1 touchdown
12 receptions, 201 yards, 1 touchdown
17 solo tackles, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions
Bryon Metcalfe (Pickering, Ont.)
15 solo tackles
Roberto Filice (Stoney Creek, Ont.)
12 solo tackles, 1 interception
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
