Tale of the Tape: Western Mustangs vs. McMaster Marauders
All-time head to head:
Western leads 39-15-1
Last meeting:
McMaster 33, Western 27, (Sept. 29, 2012)
Series Streak: McMaster has won 2 in a row
Last 10: McMaster 6-4
After defeating the Windsor Lancers in last week’s OUA Quarterfinal the Mustangs get their long awaited playoff rematch with McMaster this Saturday in the Steel City. Western is riding a three game winning streak and look to make the next step on their journey towards the Vanier Cup. The ‘Stangs face a McMaster team that is the only undefeated squad in the country and has been ranked first in the CIS all season. The game is a 4:30 p.m. start pitting the number one and eight teams in the nation in what has the making to be a quarterback duel with a spot in the Yates Cup final on the line.
McMaster comes into the game riding an eighteen game winning streak dating back to last September when they lost to the Western Mustangs 48-21 at Ron Joyce Stadium. The ‘Stangs will be aiming for the same result as they go into a place where they have had success in the past. Western is riding a three game winning streak and in that time have put up 56, 32, and 56 points with first year quarterback Will Finch running the offence.
Western and McMaster have been back and forth in contests in recent memory. During the regular season the Marauders eked out a 33-27 victory in London that saw Donnie Marshall go down with an injury. Both teams are fairly healthy coming into this week’s contest and a four quarter battle is expected.
On offence both teams have a multitude of weapons as it’s a battle between the first and third highest scoring teams in the country. McMaster features arguably the CIS’ top player in Kyle Quinlan who has thrown for 2,457 yards and 19 touchdowns with only two interceptions. He has a variety of receivers to get the ball to including Robert Babic who has broken out in absence of injured star Mike Dicroce. The Marauders have a running by committee philosophy where many in the maroon get their hands on the ball.
For the Mustangs they are led by maybe the best freshman in the CIS in Finch who has already had two 300+ yard, four touchdown pass games. In addition to his passing skills he has the ability to elude pressure and be a threat with his legs, running for 137 yards against Ottawa in the regular season finale. The receiving corps is led by veteran Brian Marshall and breakout performer Matt Uren who set an OUA playoff record with four touchdown receptions last weekend versus Windsor. Finally, the Mustangs have the number one rushing attack in the nation led by 1,001-yard rusher Garret Sanvido and freshman Yanick Harou.
Defensively both teams rate among the top in the CIS. McMaster is led by sack machine Ben D’Aguilar who set a CIS record of 12.5 sacks in 2012. Aram Eisho anchors a stout linebacking core in the middle and veteran Michael Daly patrols a steady secondary. For Western they possesses arguably the best front seven in the CIS. The front four featuring Waud, Wheeler, Osei-Kusi and Ainsworth helped pave the way for 34 sacks as school record. Pawel Kruba, who has two interceptions returned for touchdowns on the season, leads a veteran linebacking corps. Hard hitting safety Mike Spence will be back anchoring the Western secondary making receivers think twice of going across the middle.
Special teams will be the X-factor in this huge matchup. Both teams possess very solid kickers and returners with the capability of taking it to the house. Tyler Crapigna of the Marauders went a perfect 18/18 on field goals in 2012 while Lirim Hajrullahu for the Mustangs regained his sophomore form going 19/25 including a game winner in the final seconds against Ottawa.
This game has all the markings to be one of the biggest showdowns in the OUA in recent memory with the victor punching their ticket to the conference championship. With both lineups containing many all-stars and pro prospects look for this affair to be one of the best the CIS has to offer in 2012.
