Box Score Post game audio (note raw from media scrums)
HAMILTON (CIS) – No. 1 McMaster will defend its 2011 Vanier Cup title as they knocked off the No. 3 Calgary Dinos 45-6 at Ron Joyce Stadium in Hamilton on Saturday night.
McMaster returns to their second straight Vanier Cup to face the No. 2 Laval Rouge et Or in a rematch of last year`s CIS championship which the Marauders won in overtime 41-38 in Vancouver. Earlier Saturday, Lav
al dumped No. 9 Acadia 42-7 to return to the Vanier for their third consecutive appearance.
The win also extends McMaster`s CIS record consecutive win streak to 21 games.
Kyle Quinlan of South Woodslee, Ont., who was named the game’s most valuable player, was involved in 36 of the Marauders 45 points tossing three touchdowns and rushing for another three on the ground. He finished with 412-yards passing on 25 of 35 attempts. The fifth-year senior also rushed for an additional 50 yards on 11 carries.
“The bigger the game the better he plays and that’s for his entire career. That’s not just once or twice.” said Head Coach Stefan Ptaszek about his Hec Crighton nominee quarterback. “He comes up big on the biggest stage.”
McMaster`s defence stymied Calgary`s offence, which was the ranked No. 1 in almost every offensive category heading into the game, posting just 200 total yards and only six points. Dinos running back Steve Lumbala of Calgary finished with just 39 yards on 14 carries while Canada West MVP Eric Dzwilewski of Bosie Idaho USA, threw for just 114 yards making 10 completions on 21 attempts.
CIS regular season sack leader Ben D’Aguilar of Hamilton racked up three of the five sacks surrendered by Calgary while Aram Eisho of Hamilton tallied a game high 10 solo tackles. Defensive back Steve Ventresca of Hamilton also posted nine tackles and two pass breakups. Joey Cupido of Hamilton was the lone Marauder to pick of Dzwilewski returning it 49 yards late in the fourth quarter.
Quinlan was proud of what the Marauders could do on the defensive side of the ball.
“It was wild,” said Quinlan. “There was a sense it might be a shootout if we do our job and two high scoring offences going head to head. Our defence shut that up pretty quickly.”
“Those kids were on the bit all day, we gave up things horizontally and nothing vertical” said Ptaszek on the Marauders defensive play “[Calgary] were out of sorts all day. That’s a tribute to the game plan and the kids playing their hearts out.”
Rob Babic of Oakville, Ont. was the game’s top receiver and favorite Quinlan target making 10 receptions for 156 yard and converting one touchdown in the win for the Marauders.
McMaster scored 37 unanswered points, starting in midway through the second quarter, to push the Marauders into their third Vanier Cup appearance.
In the end, Calgary came undone in the second quarter committing eight penalties for a loss of 66 yards helping McMaster post 17 points in that quarter on route to the win. In total, the Dinos were called for 17 penalties for a loss of 127 yards.
“We spoke about penalties all year and it came back to bite us today,” said Calgary Head Coach Blake Nil. “Our defence came out strong but got worn out and the offence just couldn’t get it started today.”
Quinlan’s first rushing touchdown came after two crucial penalties by Calgary as time expired in the opening frame making the score 7-3 at the time.
McMaster blew the game open late in the second quarter after securing scoring 14 points twice within 58 seconds. Quinlan punched in a one-yard run on the first score then found Brad Fochesato of Windsor, Ontario to make the score 24-4 heading into the half. The Marauders would go on to punch in 21 more points in the second half while Calgary would must just a safety with a 1:17 left to close the game’s scoring at 45-6.
NOTES: McMaster Athletics and Recreation has secured a special Vanier Cup ticket price for McMaster supporters only – The special price for Vanier Cup tickets can be purchased for $40.00 at the McMaster business office in the David Braley Athletic Centre beginning on Sunday. The office opens at 12:00pm. This deal is not available online or by phone and only in person.
SCORING SUMMARY
Complete stats:
http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/fball/2012/schedule
CGY: 3-1-0-2: 6
MAC: 7-17-7-14: 45
First Quarter
CGY-FG Johnny Mark 37 5:39
MAC-TD Kyle Quinlan 1 run (Tyler Crapigna kick) 0:00
Second Quarter
MAC-ROUGE Tyler Crapigna 14:55
CGY-ROUGE Johnny Mack 12:13
MAC-SAFETY Team 8:20
MAC-TD Kyle Quinlan 1 run (Tyler Crapigna kick) 3:23
MAC-TD Brad Fochesato 61 pass from Kyle Quinlan (Tyler Crapigna kick) 2:25
Third Quarter
MAC-TD Kyle Quinlan 11 run (Tyler Crapigna kick) 11:49
Fourth Quarter
MAC-TD Rob Babic 31 pass from Kyle Quinlan (Tyler Crapigna kick) 13:42
CGY-SAFETY Team 1:17
Attendance: 5,442
