The last time these two teams met it was considered one of the best games in CIS football history. The exhibition rematch of the 2011 Vanier Cup game between McMaster and Laval wasn't historic, but it was a close back an forth contest that saw the Rouge et Or come out ahead, 28-22, in front of 9991 at Telus Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Kyle Quinlan (South Woodslee, Ont.) directed the offence for the majority of the first half for McMaster finishing 8 of 12 for 114 yards and a touchdown. He also ran the ball seven times for 45 yards. Jimmy Hill (Hamilton, Ont.) was the top rusher for the Marauders with 43 yards on six carries.

The Rouge et Or opened the scoring with a Boris Bede (Toulon, France) 38-yard field goal with 8:46 remaining in the first quarter to take a 3-0 lead. The Marauders responded on their next drive. Quinlan had a 33 yard rush to move the Marauders into field goal range. Tyler Crapigna (Nepean, Ont.) capped off the drive by connecting on a 17-yard field goal to even the score.

On their next drive Quinlan connected with rookie Andrew Sinclair (Denfield, Ont.) for a 34-yard completion setting up a 47 yard field goal attempt by Crapigna. The field goal attempt missed and it was returned by Maximilian Ducap Kamara (L'Islet, Quebec) 33 yards to avoid the rouge for the single point.

At the end of the first quarter, pinned deep in their own zone the Rouge et Or conceded a safety to give the Marauders a 5-3 lead.

In the second quarter, Crapigna added another field goal, this time from 30 yards, and then the Marauders scored their first touchdown of the game. Quinlan connected with Robert Babic (Oakville, Ont.) for a 23 yard reception to move McMaster ahead 15-3.

Laval responded on their next position with 42 yard Bede field goal. Bede connected on his third field goal of the half stretching his long for the game to 50 yards to make it 15-9 for McMaster at half-time.

The Marauders had 14 first downs to Laval's seven for a combined 242 yards of total offence compared to Laval's 138 in the opening half.

In the second half both teams looked to their respective benches. A McMaster penalty for a substitution infraction on a Laval punt extended the Rouge et Or's first drive of the second half and they subsequently marched down the field. The Laval drive was extended again on a roughing the kicker call on a field goal attempt. Pascal Lochard (Montreal, Que.) took the ball on the next play and ran it in for Laval's first touchdown of the game. Laval also took their first lead of the game at 16-15.

It didn't take long for the Marauders to respond. On the second play of the ensuing drive Marshall Ferguson (Kingston, Ont.) connected with Mathew Kit (Stoney Creek, Ont.) for a 99 yard touchdown reception. Crapigna made the extra point to give the Marauders back the lead at 22-16.

Ferguson finished 5 of 18 for 141 yards with the one touchdown and an interception in relief of Quinlan.

After a few changes of possession, the Marauders had the ball, but a bad snap resulted in a 20 yard loss deep in their own zone and the Marauders conceded the safety on the next play to end the quarter ahead only 22-18.

Laval regained the lead with 6:26 remaining in the fourth quarter concluding a six play 33 yard drive with another Lochard run for touchdown to regain the lead at 25-22. Laval added a rouge at 2:47 to move ahead 26-22 with just under three minutes to play in the game.

The Marauders had the ball on their one yard line with 40 seconds to go in the game, but Brandon Tennant (Lachine, Que.) sacked Ferguson in the end zone for a safety to lock up the 28-22 win for the home side.

Tristan Grenon (Quebec City, Que.) was 11 of 20 for 92 yards starting at quarterback for Laval. Maxime Boutin (Quebec City, Que.) was the top rusher with 77 yards on 13 carries.

Post-game comments from assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Jon Behie indicate the Marauders achieved what they wanted from the trip to Laval.  “I  would have to say it was mission accomplished,” said Behie.  “We played well head to head against their starters, held the lead at halftime, and had a chance to win the game in the fourth quarter. “

“We got to try some things and evaluate some players, and we came out of the game relatively injury-free which was important.  You’d like to win but it was a good way to prepare for the season opener”

McMaster will now open their conference season at home on Monday, September 3 against the Guelph Gryphons at Ron Joyce Stadium. Kick is at 1:00 pm.