October 11, 2012
Lancers look to spoil McMaster homecoming live on theScore
HAMILTON, Ont. - After taking a week off for the Thanksgiving break, University Rush on theScore is back with a bang on Saturday, October 13 at 1 p.m. as the Windsor Lancers take the long road to Hamilton to square off against the No. 1 McMaster Marauders. The week seven matchup, presented by Pioneer Energy, will showcase the pass savvy Lancers visiting the Marauders in front of a hostile homecoming crowd. Coach Joe D'Amore's team is coming off a tough loss, and will have their work cut out for them as they look to solidfy a place in the OUA postseason. Meanwhile, the defending Vanier Cup champions are riding a 12 game regular season win streak, and have held the top spot in the national poll all season. A win on Saturday would guarantee the Marauders first place in the conference, so both teams have a lot to play for. The energy will be intense and the action will be fast and furious at Ron Joyce Stadium.
The Windsor Lancers enter this matchup with a 3-3 record and are fresh off a disappointing 24-7 loss to the Queen’s Gaels last week at home. The Lancers will look to bounce back on the strength of the nation’s top passing attack, which features CIS passing yardage leader Austin Kennedy (Windsor, Ont.) and CIS receiving yards leader Jordan Brescacin (Tecumseh, Ont.).
“They are the vital part of our offensive system," said Lancers head coach Joe D’Amore when asked about the impact of the Kennedy/Brescacin combo. “Jordan is one of the best receivers in the country and has shown that in his production each week. The two have a great comfort level and relationship, but we have other talented players that can carry the load if need be.”
Kennedy has thrown for 1,990 yards through six games this season. He has completed 135 of 230 attempts and has 14 touchdown passes. Brescacin has easily been Kennedy’s favorite target, with the two connecting on 49 passes for 757 yards and seven majors. Not to be outdone is third-year receiver Evan Pszczonak (Amherstburg, Ont.) who has caught 25 passes for 497 yards and four scores.
Linebacker Brad Adams (LaSalle, Ont.) bolsters the Windsor defence, a cast of characters that is fifth in the OUA in points allowed, giving up 23.7 points per game. Adams is the OUA’s third leading tackler with 41, including 30 solo stops. Lineman Tai Pham (London, Ont.) is the team leader with 5 sacks, and his 31 tackles trails only Adams for the team lead. The Lancers lead the OUA in passing defence, giving up only 190 yards per game through the air.
The McMaster Marauders have been the top ranked team in the nation since the season began, and are well on their way to defending their 2011 Yates Cup and Vanier Cup titles. Though the team is 6-0 heading into their homecoming game, head coach Stefan Ptaszek will be the first to admit his team is far from perfect.
“We can always get better,” said Ptaszek. “We haven’t created turnovers as much as we’d like. Kennedy is going to be slinging the ball all over the field and hopefully our defensive backs can get up and steal a few of those balls away.Offensively we’ll just have to progress. We have some bodies coming back and we’ll have to work to get everyone on the same page.”
Saturday’s contest will be the second straight appearance for the Marauders on University Rush on theScore. The Macmen downed the Western Mustangs two weeks ago 33-27 in front of theScore television audience and a packed Western house and more recently are coming off a 54-14 win over the York Lions last week.
Though the Marauder offence gets most of the publicity, the team’s defence is one of the top units in the OUA. Defensive lineman Ben D’Aguilar (Hamilton, Ont.) leads the CIS with 11.5 sacks, while fellow Hamilton native, linebacker Aram Eisho, is second in the OUA in tackles with 41.5. Sophomore linebacker Nick Shortill (Nobleton, Ont.) had a three-sack, 11-tackle performance two weeks ago that earned him CIS defensive player of the week honours and defensive back Steven Ventresca (Hamilton, Ont.) has three interceptions, tying him for third in the OUA.
2011 Yates Cup and Vanier Cup most valuable player Kyle Quinlan (South Woodslee, Ont.) is the Marauders leader on offence. The fourth-year quarterback has thrown for 1,825 yards, which trails only Kennedy for the CIS lead. His 15 TD passes is tops in the nation. Quinlan has also rushed for 484 yards and five scores, averaging 10.3 yards per carry.
Quinlan has the good fortune to play with a talented group of receivers, including Robert Babic (Oakville, Ont.), who has 43 catches for 574 yards and three touchdowns this season, and Bradley Fochesato (Windsor, Ont.) who has 21 catches for 493 yards and five scores. McMaster also looks to the OUA’s fourth leading running back Kasean Davis-Reynolds (Mississauga, Ont.) to carry the ball, collecting 553 yards and three touchdowns on just 62 carries.
Ron Joyce Stadium will be painted maroon with McMaster’s homecoming crowd, but coach D'Amore's Lancers will be looking to silence the crowd and stun the top-ranked Marauders. University Rush on theScore coverage begins at 1 p.m., presented by Pioneer Energy.
WINDSOR LEADERS
Passing
Austin Kennedy (Windsor, Ont.)
135 completions, 235 attempts, 1990 yards, 14 touchdowns
Rushing
Mitch Dender (Amherstburg, Ont.)
37 carries, 235 yards, 2 touchdowns
Receiving
Jordan Brescacin (Tecumseh, Ont.)
49 catches, 757 yards, 7 touchdowns
Evan Pszczonak (Amherstburg, Ont.)
25 catches, 497 yards, 4 touchdowns
Dylan Whitfield (Windsor, Ont.)
27 catches, 354 yards, 1 touchdown
Defence
Brad Adams (LaSalle, Ont.)
41 tackles, 30 solo tackles, 1 sack
Tai Pham (London, Ont.)
31 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 forced fumble
MCMASTER LEADERS
Passing
Kyle Quinlan (South Woodslee, Ont.)
120 completions, 174 attempts, 1825 yards, 15 touchdowns
Rushing
Kasean Davis-Reynolds (Mississauga, Ont.)
62 carries, 561 yards, 3 touchdowns
Kyle Quinlan
47 carries, 484 yards, 5 touchdowns
Receiving
Robert Babic (Oakville, Ont.)
43 catches, 574 yards, 3 touchdowns
Bradley Fochesato (Windsor, Ont.)
21 catches, 493 yards, 5 touchdowns
Defence
Aram Eisho (Hamilton, Ont.)
41.5 tackles, 39 solo tackles, 2 sacks
Ben D’Aguilar (Hamilton, Ont.)
23 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Steve Ventresca (Hamilton, Ont.)
25.5 tackles, 3 interceptions
The Windsor Lancers enter this matchup with a 3-3 record and are fresh off a disappointing 24-7 loss to the Queen’s Gaels last week at home. The Lancers will look to bounce back on the strength of the nation’s top passing attack, which features CIS passing yardage leader Austin Kennedy (Windsor, Ont.) and CIS receiving yards leader Jordan Brescacin (Tecumseh, Ont.).
“They are the vital part of our offensive system," said Lancers head coach Joe D’Amore when asked about the impact of the Kennedy/Brescacin combo. “Jordan is one of the best receivers in the country and has shown that in his production each week. The two have a great comfort level and relationship, but we have other talented players that can carry the load if need be.”
Kennedy has thrown for 1,990 yards through six games this season. He has completed 135 of 230 attempts and has 14 touchdown passes. Brescacin has easily been Kennedy’s favorite target, with the two connecting on 49 passes for 757 yards and seven majors. Not to be outdone is third-year receiver Evan Pszczonak (Amherstburg, Ont.) who has caught 25 passes for 497 yards and four scores.
Linebacker Brad Adams (LaSalle, Ont.) bolsters the Windsor defence, a cast of characters that is fifth in the OUA in points allowed, giving up 23.7 points per game. Adams is the OUA’s third leading tackler with 41, including 30 solo stops. Lineman Tai Pham (London, Ont.) is the team leader with 5 sacks, and his 31 tackles trails only Adams for the team lead. The Lancers lead the OUA in passing defence, giving up only 190 yards per game through the air.
The McMaster Marauders have been the top ranked team in the nation since the season began, and are well on their way to defending their 2011 Yates Cup and Vanier Cup titles. Though the team is 6-0 heading into their homecoming game, head coach Stefan Ptaszek will be the first to admit his team is far from perfect.
“We can always get better,” said Ptaszek. “We haven’t created turnovers as much as we’d like. Kennedy is going to be slinging the ball all over the field and hopefully our defensive backs can get up and steal a few of those balls away.Offensively we’ll just have to progress. We have some bodies coming back and we’ll have to work to get everyone on the same page.”
Saturday’s contest will be the second straight appearance for the Marauders on University Rush on theScore. The Macmen downed the Western Mustangs two weeks ago 33-27 in front of theScore television audience and a packed Western house and more recently are coming off a 54-14 win over the York Lions last week.
Though the Marauder offence gets most of the publicity, the team’s defence is one of the top units in the OUA. Defensive lineman Ben D’Aguilar (Hamilton, Ont.) leads the CIS with 11.5 sacks, while fellow Hamilton native, linebacker Aram Eisho, is second in the OUA in tackles with 41.5. Sophomore linebacker Nick Shortill (Nobleton, Ont.) had a three-sack, 11-tackle performance two weeks ago that earned him CIS defensive player of the week honours and defensive back Steven Ventresca (Hamilton, Ont.) has three interceptions, tying him for third in the OUA.
2011 Yates Cup and Vanier Cup most valuable player Kyle Quinlan (South Woodslee, Ont.) is the Marauders leader on offence. The fourth-year quarterback has thrown for 1,825 yards, which trails only Kennedy for the CIS lead. His 15 TD passes is tops in the nation. Quinlan has also rushed for 484 yards and five scores, averaging 10.3 yards per carry.
Quinlan has the good fortune to play with a talented group of receivers, including Robert Babic (Oakville, Ont.), who has 43 catches for 574 yards and three touchdowns this season, and Bradley Fochesato (Windsor, Ont.) who has 21 catches for 493 yards and five scores. McMaster also looks to the OUA’s fourth leading running back Kasean Davis-Reynolds (Mississauga, Ont.) to carry the ball, collecting 553 yards and three touchdowns on just 62 carries.
Ron Joyce Stadium will be painted maroon with McMaster’s homecoming crowd, but coach D'Amore's Lancers will be looking to silence the crowd and stun the top-ranked Marauders. University Rush on theScore coverage begins at 1 p.m., presented by Pioneer Energy.
WINDSOR LEADERS
Passing
Austin Kennedy (Windsor, Ont.)
135 completions, 235 attempts, 1990 yards, 14 touchdowns
Rushing
Mitch Dender (Amherstburg, Ont.)
37 carries, 235 yards, 2 touchdowns
Receiving
Jordan Brescacin (Tecumseh, Ont.)
49 catches, 757 yards, 7 touchdowns
Evan Pszczonak (Amherstburg, Ont.)
25 catches, 497 yards, 4 touchdowns
Dylan Whitfield (Windsor, Ont.)
27 catches, 354 yards, 1 touchdown
Defence
Brad Adams (LaSalle, Ont.)
41 tackles, 30 solo tackles, 1 sack
Tai Pham (London, Ont.)
31 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 forced fumble
MCMASTER LEADERS
Passing
Kyle Quinlan (South Woodslee, Ont.)
120 completions, 174 attempts, 1825 yards, 15 touchdowns
Rushing
Kasean Davis-Reynolds (Mississauga, Ont.)
62 carries, 561 yards, 3 touchdowns
Kyle Quinlan
47 carries, 484 yards, 5 touchdowns
Receiving
Robert Babic (Oakville, Ont.)
43 catches, 574 yards, 3 touchdowns
Bradley Fochesato (Windsor, Ont.)
21 catches, 493 yards, 5 touchdowns
Defence
Aram Eisho (Hamilton, Ont.)
41.5 tackles, 39 solo tackles, 2 sacks
Ben D’Aguilar (Hamilton, Ont.)
23 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Steve Ventresca (Hamilton, Ont.)
25.5 tackles, 3 interceptions
