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It was a valiant effort against the top-ranked team in the nation, but the McMaster Marauders dropped a 32-3 OUA semi-final to the Western Mustangs to bring the 2013 football season to an end.

The game plan was to try and keep the vaunted Mustang offense off the field as much as possible, but it was the Western defense that stepped up and prevented McMaster from any kind of sustained offense.

The Maroon defence did its best to limit the damage and held Western to five field goals in the first half to trail 15-0 at halftime. The second half was more of the same for the Marauders as Western was able to drive the field for two touchdowns and added another field goal to complete the scoring, with Mac only able to offset the tally with a Tyler Crapigna field goal in the third quarter.

McMaster Coach Ptaszek praised his defense, which held Western to its lowest point total this year.

"They played great football from start to finish. We were too many two and outs and they were on the field all day. That Western offence in similar games would have scored 80. But against us that was the lowest total they've had all year. Defence stood on its ear," he said.

The Marauder football family will now say good-bye to several graduating players that have been contributors to tremendous success over their careers, not the least of which was the 2011 national championship. Coach Ptaszek paid them tribute, adding, "We thank them for five of the best years this program has ever seen. They have put us on the map nationally and it's a place we intend to stay."

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