It took awhile to get rolling, but the McMaster football team went into a hostile environment at Guelph's Homecoming and spoiled the party with a 29-9 victory. The win moves Mac to 3-1 in the OUA, while Guelph slips to 2-3.
The Marauder defense had another dominant effort, and it was needed in the first quarter as the Mac offense struggled out of the gate. Twice Guelph brought the ball into the redzone, but the staunch Maroon defenders kept the Gryphons out of the endzone, only giving up two field-goals to trail 6-0.
But the second quarter saw Jackson White and the Marauder offense find their legs, and after a field-goal brought the score to 6-3, the rookie QB engineered a scoring drive that saw Tyson Middlemost with his first career touchdown catch, as Mac took a 10-6 lead. The Gryphons got a late field goal to close within 10-9 at the intermission.
Receiving the kick-off to start the second half, Mac's Justice Allin had a big 48-yard return to give McMaster great field position. On the second play from scrimmage after the big return, White hit Tommy Nield for a 64-yard touchdown and the momentum was all Maroon.
Playing without starting quarterback James Roberts, who left the game late in the first half, the Gryphons struggled to move the ball behind back-up Theo Landers. Conceding a safety, Guelph faced a 19-9 deficit after three quarters.
In the fourth quarter, another Adam Preocanin field-goal bumped the Mac lead to 22-9, and late in the game with the Gryphons desperate to close the gap, Landers tossed an interception to Marauder Nolan Putt, who returned it to the Guelph 6-yard line. Jordan Lyons carried it into the endzone on the next play to close out the scoring, and send the Gryphon faithful heading to the exits.
In all three of the team's wins so far, the Mac defense has not allowed a touchdown, and has only allowed two major scores in four games. The Marauder defense had four sacks, including two from Mark Mackie, while Jake Heathcote had an interception to go along with the one by Putt.
The Marauders will now prepare for their own Homecoming Game, next Saturday, September 30th versus the York Lions. Game time is at 1-pm at Ron Joyce Stadium, and Mac students can get tickets at the Compass information desk in the McMaster Student Centre, at the David Braley Athletic Centre, or online at Marauders.ca. Community members and alumni can get Homecoming tickets online, or through the Athletics & Recreation ticket office.
Don't miss the major stadium addition that is being unveiled at Homecoming.
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