Ron Joyce Stadium is the place to be on Thursday, October 8th as the Marauder Football team moves under the lights to tackle the Waterloo Warriors in a rare night game, with kick-off set for 7 p.m.

The OUA standings have tightened up heading into the Thanksgiving break, and McMaster needs a win over Waterloo to retain any chance of a top-two finish and a bye in the first-round of the playoffs.

Thursday’s game versus Waterloo is the first OUA regular-season night game played at Ron Joyce Stadium since  October 6, 2011 when the Marauders defeated the Toronto Varsity Blues 50-14.

Marauder quarterback Asher Hastings will enter play on the brink of setting a new McMaster record for touchdown passes in a single season, which he currently shares with Marshall Ferguson, who threw for 21 touchdowns in 2013.   Hastings could also break the OUA record for TD tosses, which stands at 24 and is held by a pair of Queen’s alumni, Tommy Denison and Danny Brannigan.

However, McMaster is taking nothing for granted against a young Waterloo team that is in its first year under Head Coach Chris Bertoia.  Though the Warriors are winless so far in the OUA, the team has shown signs of improvement this season.

McMaster Coach Stefan Ptaszek continues to juggle his roster, as several Marauders recover from injuries of various severity.  The challenge of keeping a competitive team on the field, while giving some key players time to recuperate is a difficult one.   Coach Ptaszek is also mindful that the OUA playoffs are looming and being as healthy as possible will be vital to having a deep post-season run.

McMaster students attending the THURSDAY NIGHT LIGHTS  game can use their ticket stub to bypass the line and get direct entry at Campus Pub 1280.

Marauder Football will also salute minor football in the Golden Horseshoe on Thursday night and is hoping to see minor teams from around the region at the game.
Source: Bill Malley, McMaster Marauders Sports Information

Mustangs return to the field to take on Toronto

After a week away from competition the Western Mustangs will travel down Highway 401 as they take on the University of Toronto Blues at Varsity Stadium on Thursday night.

Western enters the game ranked third in the nation and will be looking to remain undefeated when they take on the 2-3 Blues.

The Mustangs offence has been stellar all year long. In the last game against Carleton, a 70-14 win, the Mustangs took several long shots down the field, resulting in long touchdown throws for quarterbackWill Finch. The deep ball is something the Mustangs have used sparingly this year, opting more often to get the ball in the hands of their receivers quickly and allowing them to move up field on the ground. The purple and white offence is averaging 766 yards per game and are scoring 65.4 points per contest, both tops in the CIS.

As a result of the quick hit mentality and great timing on his throws, Finch leads the OUA in completion percentage and is averaging 11.5 yards per completion, while also throwing 14 touchdowns and only three interceptions so far this season.

However, the Mustangs defensive unit has not been upstaged this year. They are allowing 377 yards per game, eighth in the nation and second in the OUA, and have forced a CIS high 17 turnovers in five games.  The Mustangs are limiting opponents to only 13 points a game thanks in large part to an aggressive defensive line that leads the nation with 21 sacks and a ball hawking secondary that has picked off 12 passes, also tops in the CIS.

Since his return to the lineup, defensive lineman Ricky Osei-Kusi has six sacks in four games, and safety Jesse McNair continues to lead the team in tackles with 31.5.

The Blues are coming off a victory over the York Lions in which second year running back Alex Malone rushed for a school record 315 yards with one touchdown. Look for Toronto to emphasize the run game in an attempt to limit turnovers that could cost them. This means that limiting Malone and leading rusher Divante Smith will be a key for the Mustangs, who have been doing an excellent job stopping the run so far this season, allowing only 135 yards per game, the third fewest in the OUA.

When the Blues drop back to throw the ball it will be up to quarterback Simon Nassar to try and find holes in the Mustangs secondary, something most quarterbacks have had trouble with the season as Western has only allowed 242.2 yards per game. So far in 2015 Nassar is throwing for 205.8 yards per game and has four touchdowns with seven interceptions. He has also been sacked 11 times; something the Mustangs will be looking to take advantage Thursday night.

Kickoff for Thursday night’s contest is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Varsity Stadium. Fans can watch the action live on OUA.tv, or listen on CHRW Radio 94.9 FM and on Newstalk 1290 CJBK.

Source: Tony von Richter, Western Mustangs Sprts Information