September 8, 2007
MUSTANGS FALL TO 0-2 IN MARSHALL'S RETURN TO HAMILTON
HAMILTON Ont. - McMaster receiver Mike Bradwell's three touchdown catches lit up the Western Mustangs to give the hometown Marauders the 22-15 win at Ivor Wynne Stadium on Sept. 8.
The Toronto native was the go-to target for quarterback Adam Archibald (Kingston, Ont.) as the Marauders improve to 1-1 on the season.
Western, which falls to 0-2, controlled the play in the opening quarter but squandered the lead.
The Mustangs had trouble for the second straight week with quarterback protection with McMaster blitzing at almost every opportunity.
It looked like they would have their way with the Marauders at their home opener early on.
Nick Kordic (Toronto) lead the Western defence early on, breaking up what looked to be a sure touchdown play to a wide open Rob Mitchell (Lucan, Ont.) in endzone and Western survived an early Mac threat.
But Western responded with strong defensive play and built a 12-3 lead combining good luck, strong defence and intelligent play calling.
It all started when rookie running back Jeremy Hipperson (St.Catharines, Ont.) returned the ball 85 yards to put Western into the red-zone.
Randy McAuley (London, Ont.) was stupped on several attempts both rushing and receiving, and Western had to settle for a 29-yard field goal from Derek Schiavone (Port Colborne, Ont.) to tie the game just under five minutes in.
Jesse Bellamy (Guelph, Ont.) pulled in a 65-yard pass from Michael Faulds (Eden Mills, Ont.) just over two minutes later pass to give Western a 10-3 lead with 8:46 left in the first quarter.
A minute later, after great pressure from the Mustangs' defensive line, Jason Kosec gave Western a chance to make the lead even bigger when the Mississauga, Ont., native picked off Archibald, giving Western the ball in Mac territory.
The Mustangs did not convert, but pinned the hometown Maruaders deep in their own territory, eventually focrgingforced McMaster QB Adam Archibald to concede a safety to give Western the 12-3 lead with 3:53 remaining in the first quarter.
At the start of the second quarter, Mac appeared to have scored a touchdown after Schiavone's punt was partially blocked, but a holding call on Dvein Brown (Barrie, Ont.) brough the play back on teh ensuing play, Mac fumbled and Andrew Bain recovered it giving Western the ball on teh Mac 48 yard line
But Western failed to convert and was forced to punt after Adderley dropped a sure first-down pass 12-9 with 9:13 left.
On the ensuing Mac possession, Bradwell, a fourth-year engineering student, scored his first major on a 24-yard pass from Archibald with Andrew Bain (Sarnia, Ont.) missing the assignment.
The major pulled McMaster within 3 points, after the point-after attempt was blocked.
Bradwell scored his second touchdown taking a Archiabld pass thrown from his own 9-yard-line from midfield and running it past two Mustangs for the 101-yard scoring play.
Bradwell's second touchdown catch of the game put him in the history books as it is the second best in all-time history for McMaster.
The longest came on a Mark Stubbert pass to Bob Hulegren against Waterloo on Sept. 30, 1978. The longest in CIS history came when Regina's Jon Ryan hit Mark Henderson for a 109 pass-and-catch in October, 2001.
McMaster led 16-12 at the half.
After a 22-yard Schiavone field goal pulled Western within a point, Bradwell pulled in his third touchdown from 48 yards out giving McMaster the 22-15 lead.
Western pressured late in the fourth quarter with McAuley pushing the ball deep into Mac territory.
After a costly holding call to offensive lineman Scott Nason (Vancouver, B.C.), the Mustangs were forced into a 1st and 20 situation with just over five minutes remaing, trailing by only a touchdwdown.
Faulds nearly hit Bellamy in the endzone for a major but he missed the ball. On the next play, Frank Longo (London, ont.) intercepted Faulds in the endzone giving Mac the ball again.
But the see-saw battle continued, with rookie linebacker John Surla (Niagara Falls, Ont.) intercepting Archibald on the next play from scrimmage and giving Western a fresh set of downs on the Mac 18-yard line.
On the next play, Faulds took a bad snap and hit Dave Clayton with a bullet of a pass inside the Mac five yard line; however, he was smothered by two Mac linebackers forcing a fumble and Mac took possession deep in their own terroritory.
Western's defence did its job but a controversial call - Cory Watson (London, Ont.) was incorrectly ruled to have touchded the ball returning a punt - McMaster held onto possession for the win.
On a bright note, Western's special teams were much improved. The Mustangs special teams blocked two Faiazza convert attempts, one in each half.
Western's road to the playoffs doesn't get any easier as they will face the defending Yates Cup champion Ottawa Gee-Gees, who will likely be 2-0 after their game against Toronto at home later tonight.
McMaster will travel to play Queen's (1-0) at Richardson Stadium on Sept. 15. The Golden Gaels host Guelph on Sept. 9.
(Source: Andy Watson, Western Mustangs, Sports Information)
The Toronto native was the go-to target for quarterback Adam Archibald (Kingston, Ont.) as the Marauders improve to 1-1 on the season.
Western, which falls to 0-2, controlled the play in the opening quarter but squandered the lead.
The Mustangs had trouble for the second straight week with quarterback protection with McMaster blitzing at almost every opportunity.
It looked like they would have their way with the Marauders at their home opener early on.
Nick Kordic (Toronto) lead the Western defence early on, breaking up what looked to be a sure touchdown play to a wide open Rob Mitchell (Lucan, Ont.) in endzone and Western survived an early Mac threat.
But Western responded with strong defensive play and built a 12-3 lead combining good luck, strong defence and intelligent play calling.
It all started when rookie running back Jeremy Hipperson (St.Catharines, Ont.) returned the ball 85 yards to put Western into the red-zone.
Randy McAuley (London, Ont.) was stupped on several attempts both rushing and receiving, and Western had to settle for a 29-yard field goal from Derek Schiavone (Port Colborne, Ont.) to tie the game just under five minutes in.
Jesse Bellamy (Guelph, Ont.) pulled in a 65-yard pass from Michael Faulds (Eden Mills, Ont.) just over two minutes later pass to give Western a 10-3 lead with 8:46 left in the first quarter.
A minute later, after great pressure from the Mustangs' defensive line, Jason Kosec gave Western a chance to make the lead even bigger when the Mississauga, Ont., native picked off Archibald, giving Western the ball in Mac territory.
The Mustangs did not convert, but pinned the hometown Maruaders deep in their own territory, eventually focrgingforced McMaster QB Adam Archibald to concede a safety to give Western the 12-3 lead with 3:53 remaining in the first quarter.
At the start of the second quarter, Mac appeared to have scored a touchdown after Schiavone's punt was partially blocked, but a holding call on Dvein Brown (Barrie, Ont.) brough the play back on teh ensuing play, Mac fumbled and Andrew Bain recovered it giving Western the ball on teh Mac 48 yard line
But Western failed to convert and was forced to punt after Adderley dropped a sure first-down pass 12-9 with 9:13 left.
On the ensuing Mac possession, Bradwell, a fourth-year engineering student, scored his first major on a 24-yard pass from Archibald with Andrew Bain (Sarnia, Ont.) missing the assignment.
The major pulled McMaster within 3 points, after the point-after attempt was blocked.
Bradwell scored his second touchdown taking a Archiabld pass thrown from his own 9-yard-line from midfield and running it past two Mustangs for the 101-yard scoring play.
Bradwell's second touchdown catch of the game put him in the history books as it is the second best in all-time history for McMaster.
The longest came on a Mark Stubbert pass to Bob Hulegren against Waterloo on Sept. 30, 1978. The longest in CIS history came when Regina's Jon Ryan hit Mark Henderson for a 109 pass-and-catch in October, 2001.
McMaster led 16-12 at the half.
After a 22-yard Schiavone field goal pulled Western within a point, Bradwell pulled in his third touchdown from 48 yards out giving McMaster the 22-15 lead.
Western pressured late in the fourth quarter with McAuley pushing the ball deep into Mac territory.
After a costly holding call to offensive lineman Scott Nason (Vancouver, B.C.), the Mustangs were forced into a 1st and 20 situation with just over five minutes remaing, trailing by only a touchdwdown.
Faulds nearly hit Bellamy in the endzone for a major but he missed the ball. On the next play, Frank Longo (London, ont.) intercepted Faulds in the endzone giving Mac the ball again.
But the see-saw battle continued, with rookie linebacker John Surla (Niagara Falls, Ont.) intercepting Archibald on the next play from scrimmage and giving Western a fresh set of downs on the Mac 18-yard line.
On the next play, Faulds took a bad snap and hit Dave Clayton with a bullet of a pass inside the Mac five yard line; however, he was smothered by two Mac linebackers forcing a fumble and Mac took possession deep in their own terroritory.
Western's defence did its job but a controversial call - Cory Watson (London, Ont.) was incorrectly ruled to have touchded the ball returning a punt - McMaster held onto possession for the win.
On a bright note, Western's special teams were much improved. The Mustangs special teams blocked two Faiazza convert attempts, one in each half.
Western's road to the playoffs doesn't get any easier as they will face the defending Yates Cup champion Ottawa Gee-Gees, who will likely be 2-0 after their game against Toronto at home later tonight.
McMaster will travel to play Queen's (1-0) at Richardson Stadium on Sept. 15. The Golden Gaels host Guelph on Sept. 9.
(Source: Andy Watson, Western Mustangs, Sports Information)
