With a 25-17 win over the McMaster Marauders, the Gaels have claimed first place in the OUA regular season for the first time since 2021.
Men’s football travelled to Hamilton on Oct. 24 to take on the Marauders with first place in the OUA on the line. The Marauders, a formidable opponent who were also 6-1 heading into the matchup.
In the OUA, finishing first allows for a quarter-final bye and home field advantage for the duration of the OUA playoffs.
On the first drive of the game, the Gaels were stopped, but the drive was extended as the Marauders went offside on the punt. With the early break, the Gaels looked to the endzone to try to put a touchdown on the board early, but were forced to settle for a short field goal.
After the Gaels defence forced a two-and-out, the offence pushed down the field, featuring two Jack Ashby-Jacobs, ArtSci ’27, receptions, one of them being a catch and run for 51 yards. Despite the big play, the Marauders defence buttoned up and forced a second consecutive field goal.
The Queen’s defence continued not to let the Marauders earn a first down, giving the team’s offence good opportunities to break the game open. Gaels quarterback Alex Vreeken, Kin ’27, connected with Ben Falkowsky, ArtSci ’29, on a 58-yard pass down the sideline.
The Gaels found themselves deep in the redzone, but again not able to break through for a touchdown.
Tyler Mullan, ArtSci ’27, added his third field goal of the quarter, giving the Gaels a 9-0 lead heading into the second quarter.
Early in the second quarter, the Gaels found themselves in the redzone again following a big catch by Mateo Tuitoi, ArtSci ’27. A theme of the day, the Gaels were unable to score a touchdown, settling for their fourth field goal of the game.
While looking to muster up some offence, the Marauders were stymied following a big play from Brandon Spence, Kin ’27, who forced the ball out of the Marauders player’s hands and knocking it out of bounds to give the Gaels possession.
On the subsequent drive, the Gaels added their fifth field goal of the game from Mullan to take a 15-0 lead. This would be the last score of the half as both defences continued to hold the offences at bay.
McMaster began the second half with the ball, eventually finding their way down deep into Gaels territory. With the walls closing in, Gaels defensive lineman Oliver Jackson, ArtSci ’27, sacked the Marauders quarterback, preventing them from scoring a touchdown and forcing them to kick a field goal, earning them their first points of the game.
The Gaels offence was then stopped on their first two possessions in the second half, handing the momentum back to the Marauders. They pushed deep into the Gaels territory and scored the first touchdown of the game, cutting the deficit to five.
Needing a response, the Gaels were energized by a 65-yard kickoff return by Cederic Smith, ArtSci ’27, leaving the Gaels deep McMaster territory. After a roughing the passer penalty on the Marauders, the Gaels were set up on the one-yard line.
Gaels backup quarterback Ashton St Germain, ArtSci ’29, was able to sneak his way into the endzone, giving the Gaels their first touchdown of the game.
After a McMaster punt, the Gaels added another field goal early in the fourth quarter to go up 25-10.
McMaster tried to get the comeback started, pushing all the way down the field to the Queen’s nine-yard line. The Marauders, with three tries to get into the endzone, were unable to find a receiver. On the third down, Gaels defender Wilson Heslop, Kin ’29, swatted the ball away.
Following the stop, the Gaels were deep in their own territory, trying to push the ball away from a dangerous situation. However, the Marauders were able to sack Vreeken, forcing a fumble. The play gave the Marauders a lifeline as they scored a touchdown on the ensuing possession, making it a 25-17 game.
After a Gaels two-and-out, the Marauders, with all the momentum, advanced the ball into Gaels territory. Just as the Marauders were progressing into the redzone, Cordel Epale, Comm ’29, forced a fumble for the Gaels that was picked up by Heslop, giving Queen’s the ball with less than two minutes left in the game.
Despite the turnover, the Gaels offence were unable to run out the clock right away, giving the Marauders 53 seconds and one last chance.
But the defence came up with yet another big stop and, after a turnover on downs, the Gaels were able to kneel out the game and seal the victory.
With the win, the Gaels finish first-place in the OUA standings and earn a quarterfinal bye. They will play the winner of the Guelph Gryphons and Windsor Lancers in the semifinal game hosted at Richardson Stadium on Nov. 7.
Tags
Football, OUA playoffs, OUA Semifinals, Queen's football
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