Ron Joyce Stadium is the place to be on Thursday, October 8th as the Marauder Football team moves under the lights to tackle the Waterloo Warriors in a rare night game, with kick-off set for 7 p.m.

The OUA standings have tightened up heading into the Thanksgiving break, and McMaster needs a win over Waterloo to retain any chance of a top-two finish and a bye in the first-round of the playoffs.

Thursday's game versus Waterloo is the first OUA regular-season night game played at Ron Joyce Stadium since  October 6, 2011 when the Marauders defeated the Toronto Varsity Blues 50-14.

Marauder quarterback Asher Hastings will enter play on the brink of setting a new McMaster record for touchdown passes in a single season, which he currently shares with Marshall Ferguson, who threw for 21 touchdowns in 2013.   Hastings could also break the OUA record for TD tosses, which stands at 24 and is held by a pair of Queen's alumni, Tommy Denison and Danny Brannigan.

However, McMaster is taking nothing for granted against a young Waterloo team that is in its first year under Head Coach Chris Bertoia.  Though the Warriors are winless so far in the OUA, the team has shown signs of improvement this season.

McMaster Coach Stefan Ptaszek continues to juggle his roster, as several Marauders recover from injuries of various severity.  The challenge of keeping a competitive team on the field, while giving some key players time to recuperate is a difficult one.   Coach Ptaszek is also mindful that the OUA playoffs are looming and being as healthy as possible will be vital to having a deep post-season run.

McMaster students attending the THURSDAY NIGHT LIGHTS  game can use their ticket stub to bypass the line and get direct entry at Campus Pub 1280.

Marauder Football will also salute minor football in the Golden Horseshoe on Thursday night and is hoping to see minor teams from around the region at the game.