HAMILTON – After going down by seven points in the opening thirty seconds, the McMaster Marauders football team battled back and secured a 31-19 victory over the Waterloo Warriors on Friday afternoon at Ron Joyce Stadium. The win is the second of the season for the Marauders and keeps the maroon and grey's playoff hopes alive.
 
The Marauders rushed for 120 yards, the best ground game performance of the season, in the contest with the Warriors. Brayden Kelly led McMaster with seven carries for 45 yards and a touchdown while Caleb Daher added six carries for 30 yards.
 
Waterloo had a picture-perfect start to the opening quarter, forcing a fumble on the opening kickoff return to set up a 24-yard rushing touchdown just 21 seconds into the game to take an early 7-0 lead. On the ensuing drive, McMaster conceded the safety to make the score 9-0 in favour of the visitors.
 
Michael Horvat got the hosts on the board, recording a single point from a deep punt. Earning his first start as a Marauder, quarterback Stephen Narancic capped a short drive with a one-yard touchdown run to cut the advantage to two. Waterloo conceded a safety to even the score at 9-9 headed into the second.
 
It was all McMaster in the second frame while holding Waterloo on the defensive end. Horvat recorded a 27-yard and 15-yard field goal while Kelly found the endzone on a 20-yard score. With another safety, the Marauders extended the lead to 24-9 at the break.
 
Waterloo had the lone score of the third quarter with a 33-yard field goal to make the score 24-12 headed into the final frame. The Marauders tallied their third major of the day in the early stages of the fourth. Rookie quarterback, Luke Thalman, found Aidan Nemeth on a 32-yard connection for Thalman's first touchdown pass in the maroon and grey. The Warriors added a touchdown in the closing minutes of the game, but it wasn't enough. McMaster secured the victory to move to 2-5 on the season while dropping the Warriors to 2-4.
 
Drake Bodi was all over the field on Friday and helped lead an impressive defensive effort for McMaster. Bodi finished with a team-high six tackles on twelve assists, with one sack and 0.5 tackles for a loss. Carter Blad pulled in his third interception of the season which has him tied as the national leader in that statistical category.
 
Thalman relieved Narancic at the half and shone in his first Thanksgiving contest, going 8-for-11 for 85 yards and a touchdown.
 
With just one game remaining on the schedule for the Marauders and many playoff scenarios still possible, all eyes will be on their Week 8 match-up with the Ottawa Gee-Gees.
 
Next Up 

McMaster football will end the regular season on the road on Saturday October 14, taking on the Ottawa Gee-Gees in Ottawa, Ont.