HAMILTON, Ont. — The McMaster Marauders remained undefeated in the 2026 season Saturday afternoon, rallying in the final minutes to defeat the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks 18-16 in front of a sold-out Homecoming crowd at Ron Joyce Stadium. The victory moves McMaster to 4-0 on the season.
The day began by celebrating the history of McMaster football, as the Marauders honoured OUA coaching legend Greg Marshall during Homecoming. As Marshall prepares to retire, McMaster recognized his lasting impact on the program, including his seven seasons with the Marauders, during which he led the program to its first-ever Yates Cup championship in 2000.
Marshall compiled a 53-18-2 record during his time at McMaster and guided the Marauders to undefeated conference seasons in 2002 and 2003.
Thousands of McMaster students, football alumni, and family members filled Ron Joyce Stadium for the sold-out Homecoming matchup, creating an electric atmosphere for the meeting between McMaster and Laurier.
Head coach
Stefan Ptaszek credited his players for embracing the moment.
"I thought my kids handled a bigger stage with a Homecoming crowd and just a top-10 opponent in our backyard very well," said Ptaszek.
Ptaszek also reflected on Marshall's influence on the program and the Ontario football community.
"Greg's been a mentor to all of us," said Ptaszek. "He looks out for the betterment of football. He wants to win more than any human being you will ever meet. But once the final whistle blows, he's such an ambassador of the sport and of the coaches across this country. We all love him."
On the field, Laurier opened the scoring early, with Tayshaun Jackson breaking free for a 24-yard touchdown run with 10:45 remaining in the first quarter. Marcus Reypa added the extra point to give the Golden Hawks an early 7-0 advantage.
McMaster responded with a safety midway through the opening quarter before
Michael Horvat connected on a 28-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining, cutting Laurier's lead to 7-5.
Reypa added a 10-yard field goal early in the second quarter to push Laurier's advantage to 10-5, but Horvat kept the Marauders within striking distance. The Marauders' kicker added a rouge before connecting on a pair of 40-yard field goals, giving McMaster a 12-10 lead at halftime.
After a scoreless third quarter, Laurier regained the lead with 2:41 remaining in the fourth. Quarterback Will Russell found Jaxon Stebbings for an eight-yard touchdown. Laurier's two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the Golden Hawks ahead 16-12.
McMaster needed a touchdown on its final offensive possession, and the Marauders delivered with their most important drive of the afternoon.
With two-and-a-half minutes remaining and two timeouts, quarterback
Lucas Barresi led the Marauders' offence down the field, first connecting with
Shane Wismer on a screen pass before finding him again on a deep post. Wismer made the catch and came down with the ball before it was knocked loose after he hit the ground. The play was ruled a completion, keeping the Marauders' drive alive.
"Those two plays by Shane and Barr are the bulk of the drive," said Ptaszek.
Wismer said the Marauders remained composed because of the work they had put in throughout the week.
"Everyone just said stay calm. You know, we do this in practice every day. We do fire, we do hurry-up offence, and we just got to stay calm," said Wismer. "We got to do what we do and what we practice through and what we know to do."
McMaster continued into the red zone before Barresi found
Nathan Denkers for a four-yard touchdown with just 42 seconds remaining. The extra-point attempt was blocked, but McMaster had taken an 18-16 lead.
Laurier had one final opportunity, but McMaster's defence closed the door.
Nick Garcia recorded a critical sack on the Golden Hawks' final possession, pushing Laurier much further away from field-goal range and helping the Marauders run out the clock.
The defensive performance was another strong showing from a unit that entered the game allowing an OUA-best 13.3 points per game. McMaster finished with three sacks and one interception while holding Laurier to 59 rushing yards.
Sestanovic said the play was a result of preparation and trust in the defensive scheme.
"We knew Laurier; they're going to be throwing a lot of quick game, a lot of RPO," said Sestanovic. "Great coaching from Grandy, great scheme all week, and I'm just super happy with the result."
Sestanovic also credited the chemistry throughout the defensive unit for its continued success.
"It comes down to trust and communication. Trust on all three levels, from the D-line to linebackers to the secondary," said Sestanovic. "I trust my brothers around me."
The Marauders finished with 299 yards of total offence and 19 first downs. Barresi completed 18 of 30 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown, while Wismer led the receiving corps with six catches for 83 yards.
Aidan Nemeth added four receptions for 76 yards, while Denkers finished with four catches for 27 yards and the game-winning touchdown.
Micah DuChene led McMaster on the ground with 63 yards on 13 carries, while Horvat accounted for nine points with three successful field goals.
Laurier controlled the ball for 42:19 and finished with 354 yards of total offence, but McMaster's defence and special teams repeatedly kept the Marauders within reach.
McMaster also recorded 155 return yards, led by
Ben Kingston's 81 yards on four punt returns.
For Sestanovic, the victory was particularly meaningful in his fifth season with the program.
"Just electric. Like, team win. I'm so happy," said Sestanovic. "Been here for five years and I don't think I've been happier from a win. The atmosphere was amazing, and that just added fuel."
With the victory, McMaster improves to 4-0 on the 2026 season, while Laurier falls to 1-3. The Marauders have now opened the season with four consecutive victories and will take their undefeated record on the road next week.
McMaster will travel to London on Saturday, September 26, to take on the Western Mustangs at Western Alumni Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. as the Marauders look to remain undefeated and continue their strong start to the 2026 season.
