It was a valiant effort but the McMaster football team saw its season end after a 19-6 loss to the Laurier Golden Hawks in the OUA semi-finals.  The result marks the third straight season that Laurier has eliminated McMaster from the playoffs.

The game was a microcosm of the Marauder season as the defense performed at a level that put them in a position to win, but the offense struggled mightily and could only muster a pair of field-goals. 

Laurier took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on an 11-yard run from LeVondre Gordan, but were held off the scoreboard for the rest of the opening half.   A Mac field-goal in the second quarter brought the Maroon to within 7-3 at intermission. 

The Hawks extended the lead with a third-quarter field-goal and while McMaster moved into the red zone in the fourth-quarter, trailing 10-3 the Mac attack could only get a second placement from kicker Adam Preocanin to trail 10-6.  Laurier scored the last nine points of the game to take control, with several penalty calls against McMaster giving the Hawks scoring opportunities. 

Penalties were an ongoing issue on the day for the Marauders, as they have been all season, and the game ended with some controversy around the officiating.

McMaster will now start the process of getting ready for the 2018 season, which will include recruiting and off-season training for the returning players.