September 14, 2006 Source: :
http://dailynews.mcmaster.ca/story.cfm?id=4204 McMaster Marauders at Ottawa Gee Gees Could the battle for top spot in the Ontario University Athletics football conference be taking place in only the third week of the season? On Saturday night, the nationally fifth-ranked McMaster Marauders (2-0)travel to the nation's capital to take on the third-ranked Ottawa Gee Gees (2-0). Both teams possess all the ingredients required for a Yates Cup champion. Experienced quarterbacks, depth, good ball control, and outstanding defences...these two teams have it all. McMaster heads into this week's matchup with a perfect record after soundly defeating the York Lions and Waterloo Warriors thus far in the OUA season. In last week's 60-9 win over Waterloo, the Marauders generated over 400 yards of offence in the first half, and the starters produced 48 points in only 33 minutes of action. Quarterback Adam Archibald completed 11 of 16 passes for 233 yards, and two touchdowns. Combined with Jon Behie's performance under centre in week 1, the Mac pivots have completed 25 of 40 passes, for 425 yards and four touchdowns, without allowing either a sack or interception. When Behie returned to slot back last week, all he did was catch five passes for 116 yards and a touchdown, including a 79-yard catch on the first offensive play of the game for Mac. Head coach Stefan Ptaszek's balanced offence has seen 11 players catch a pass so far for the Marauders, with no player catching more than five passes. Receivers Jordan Charter, Brian Chamney, Rob Serviss and Kevin D'Hollander have all caught four passes. Mac's rushing attack ranks fourth in the country, averaging 246.5 yards per game. Andre Sadeghian has rushed 25 times for 200 yards and three touchdowns, as well as catching three passes for 56 yards and a score. Jordan Kozina, last year's outstanding rookie RB, has performed excellently at fullback alongside Sadeghian. Kozina has rushed 16 times for 143 yards and a score. His blocking, both on passing and running plays, has also been commended by the Mac coaching staff. The Marauder defence ranks eighth in the country, allowing 300.5 yards per game. They are averaging 103 yards rushing per game, good for fourth in the country. With all-Canadian linebackers Tristan Clovis and Jason Pottinger graduating to the CFL, and lone returning starter Eugene Boakye out with an injury, Mac's linebacking corps was its most inexperienced group heading into the season. However, Jason Arakgi (13 tackles), Simon Binder (12 tackles, 1.5 sacks), and Nick Burns (6 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles) have played outstanding football to date. Ottawa has put up less impressive numbers than the Marauders, but has played two strong teams in defeating Western 17-3, and Laurier 29-19. Quarterback Josh Sacobie, a pre-season favourite for the Hec Creighton award, has not produced outstanding passing results, but has produced victories. Sacobie has completed 28 of 49 passes for 383 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. He has been sacked four times. Dave Masson has bucked the trend of Ottawa's reliance on their passing game. Masson ranks second in the OUA in rushing, gaining 276 yards on a whopping 46 attempts. Wide Receiver Adam Nicolson has picked up where he left off from last season. The 6'4", 215-lb wide out has caught eight passes for 153 yards and a score this season. However, it's been Ottawa's outstanding defence that has paced them to victory. The Gee Gees rank third in the country in total defence (259 yards per game) and second in rushing defence (88.5 yards per game). Leading the defence is their athletic linebacking corps. Joe Barnes (16.5 tackles, sack, interception) is second in the OUA in tackles, while Cheelor Lindor (9 tackles, sack, interception) continues to be one of the best all-around defenders in the province. NOTES: McMaster ranks second in the country with 51 first downs, Ottawa ranks sixth with 46... Ottawa (31 penalties, 290 yards) and Mac (30, 275) are the second- and third-most penalized teams in the country...Mac has only allowed three turnovers, Ottawa has given up four... Marauder Kicker Pauolo Faiazza ranks second in the country with six field goals, he's also kicked the longest field goal in the country this year (46 yards) The game starts on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. at Frank Clair Stadium.
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