Waterloo, ON - The Yates Cup has come back to Wilfrid Laurier University for the first time since 1991. In a game played in front of a University Stadium record 8,175 fans, the Golden Hawks defeated the McMaster Marauders 31-19. Earlier this season the Hawks ended the Marauders 39-game OUA winning streak and with the win today, they ended their four year reign as Ontario champions.
Our success this year is a result of teamwork and cohesiveness, said Golden Hawk Manager of Football Operations and Head Coach,
Gary Jeffries. When we play as a team, it gives a chance to win every game, he continued. Just having the opportunity to play in a game like this is a tremendous feeling, winning it is all the more gratifying considering the work that these players and this coaching staff has put into our team.
McMaster started the game without number 28, their star running back, Jesse Lumsden, in the lineup. Lumsden, who was injured in the OUA Semi-Final against the Western Mustangs, was on the sidelines in his sweats to support his team with a bone contusion in his left knee.
The first half was a struggle for field position and was won by McMaster, who scored 10 of their 13 first quarter points off of Golden Hawk turnovers in their own end. A
Bryon Hickey fumble led to a Mike Ray field goal, and a deflected Pyear toss was intercepted by Jason Pottinger, leading to an Adam Archibald seven-yard pass to quarterback turned wide receiver Jon Behie.
They came at us with a lot of emotion early on in the game, said Laurier quarterback
Ryan Pyear. They were definitely fired up, it seemed like their defense was blitzing, putting pressure up front every play.
It didn't help that the Hawks were taking drive-ending penalties at all the wrong times. With the momentum going the other way, and the crowd silenced, Andrew Baechler stepped up. The Hawks' OUA All-Star wide out was double covered all game until seven minutes into the second quarter when Pyear was finally able to find him with man to man coverage 40 yards down for the major. The crowd erupted. By half time, there was belief, that last year wasn't about to repeat itself. By halftime, Mac's 13 point lead was cut to five, 13-8.
The second half opened much like the first half, a battle for field position. The teams exchanged field goals in the third quarter, giving way to the drama which was about to ensue in the final 15 minutes. We've been doing this all year, Pyear said. We fall behind early, and we always play as a team and find a way to comeback.
McMaster's Mike Ray opened the festivities with a field goal giving his team a 19-11 lead. The combination of
Ryan Pyear and
Joel Wright took over from there. After a solid 28 yard return by Baechler and a five yard run by
Nick Cameron, Pyear found Wright behind the defenders for a 30 yard pitch-and-catch touchdown. With the crowd now in a frenzy,
Lee Maggiacomo made a momentum turning sack on Adam Archibald, giving the Hawks terrific field position, and giving Pyear and Wright another chance to hook up. The 21 yard touchdown gave the Hawks their first lead of the game.
The defining drive of the game happened with 1:03 left on the clock and the Marauders pinned deep on their own 10 yard line. Adam Archibald overthrew Vaughn Swart on first down and BJ Mallot on second down. Running out of time and downs, Archibald looked for Mallot over the middle again, who was promptly crushed by
Lee Maggiacomo, securing the 97th Yates Cup in favour of the Hawks.
Amidst a mob of fans who swarmed the field, Golden Hawk team captains were presented the Championship Banner, as well as the Yates Cup. The other piece of hardware, The Dalt White Trophy, for most outstanding player in the championship game, was awarded to Andrew Baechler, who finished with 3 catches, 74 yards and a touchdown.
Next Saturday, the only undefeated team in the country and Yates Cup Champion Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (10-0) travel to Laval to play the Dusmore Cup Champion Laval Rouge et Or (9-1) in the Uteck Bowl, for the right to play in the Desjardins Vanier Cup on November 27th, 2004.
