Final four meet Saturday in semifinals with 109th Yates Cup berths on the line

BURLINGTON, Ont. – And then there were four.

The Yates Cup semifinals take place on Saturday with the No. 8 nationally ranked Carleton Ravens travelling to London, Ont. to take on the top seed No. 3 Western Mustangs, while in Waterloo, Ont. the No. 7 McMaster Marauders will battle the No. 5 Laurier Golden Hawks.  The winners will advance to the 109^thYates Cup, while the losers will see their quest for the cup come to an end.

Kickoff for both games is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. from TD Stadium in London, Ont. and Laurier's University Stadium.  Fans can catch all the action between the Marauders and Golden Hawks live across the province on CHCH, while Carleton-Western will be available to those locally on Rogers TV in London.  Both semifinal games will also be streaming live on OUA.tv.

For those interested in listening to the games, McMaster-Laurier will be broadcast on Funny 820 Hamilton and 570 NEWS in the Waterloo region, with the Ravens and Mustangs is available on CJBK 1290 AM or CHRW 94.9 FM.

After a 7-1 regular season, the No. 3 nationally ranked Western Mustangs are the top seeded team in the Yates Cup playoffs and should they win on Saturday, would have home field advantage for the championship game next Saturday.

However, if the Mustangs mistakenly look past the Ravens this weekend, the error could prove costly in their pursuit of the 31^st Yates Cup championship title in program.  Carleton is the only team to hand the high powered Mustangs a loss during the regular season, as the Ravens shocked the then No. 4 ranked team in the nation 38-31 back in Week 2.

In the victory, Ravens quarterback Jesse Mills (Halifax, NS) threw for 341 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Jayde Rowe (Toronto, Ont.), who was making his home debut after transferring to Carleton prior to the season, exploded for 161 yards and a pair of touchdowns as well. 

Western will need to get off to a quicker start on Saturday if they hope to shut down a high flying Ravens team who are looking to advance to Yates Cup final for the first time since their rebirth. 

In that game, Carleton jumped out to an early 24-0 lead before the Mustangs stampeded back into the game with 31 consecutive points of their own.  However, the Ravens would even the score 31-31 with just under six minutes to go in the game before taking the lead for good on a 12-yard touchdown from Mills to Wilson Birch (Niagara Falls, Ont.) with 2:45 to play in the game.

The Ravens will be looking to ride an emotional 45-9 win over the crosstown rival uOttawa Gee-Gees last Saturday as they leave the nest and head to the "Forest City" for a rematch with the Mustangs.

Just as they did against the Mustangs, Carleton overwhelmed the Gee-Gees in the first half, scoring 17 unanswered points against uOttawa and carried a 27-3 lead into halftime.  The Ravens picked up right where they left off putting up another 18 straight before the Gee-Gees scored late in the 4^th quarter with the game already out of reach.

After splitting the duties under centre to open the season, quarterback Chris Merchant (Calgary, AB) took a firm grasp of the Mustangs reins in Week 3 and hasn't let go as the second-year medical sciences student-athlete led Western to six straight wins to close out the regular season.  Merchant, who transferred from the University at Buffalo before the season, averaged 215 yards per game to go along with 14 touchdowns.

The Mustangs relied heavier on the run than they did a season ago and with running back Alex Taylor (Winnipeg, Man.) in the backfield, who can really blame them. Taylor carried the load this season for Western and averaged 123.4 yards per game, the second highest mark in the conference.  The dynamic back also found the end zone 10 times to lead OUA, including a season high three scores on Oct. 15 against the Gee-Gees.

The No. 5 Laurier Golden Hawks turned some heads this season on their way to a 7-1 record and with their only loss of the season coming at the hands of the previously mentioned Mustangs, Laurier will be out for revenge as the road to their first Yates Cup since 2005 will likely run through London, Ont.

McMaster and Laurier did not play each other during the regular season so Saturday's semifinal will be the first meeting between the two sides since their OUA quarter-finals showdown in Hamilton a season ago.

In that game, the Golden Hawks upset the then No. 6 ranked Marauders 29-15, handing McMaster one of their earliest playoff exits in recent memory.  The loss still weighs heavily on those Marauders players who were involved in the game and to return the favour to the Golden Hawks in front of their home crowd on Saturday would be sweet revenge.

Former Golden Hawks running back Dillon Campbell was the story in that one for Laurier, however, this time around the spotlight will be on Eric Guilitan(London, Ont.) after he finished the season averaging 105.1 yards per game and nine touchdowns, just one major behind Western's Taylor.  Guiltinan was limited late in the season due to injury but a pair of second-year standouts, Levondre Gordon (Mississauga, Ont.) and Osayi Iginuan (Hamilton, Ont.), stepped up to carry the load for Laurier and all three could have a major roles to play on Saturday.

On the defensive side of the football, Saturday's showdown features the two top defences in the league as McMaster (10.9) and Laurier (15.8) finished first and second, respectively, in points allowed per game.  The high flying Marauders secondary led OUA with 17 interceptions, while the aggressive Golden Hawks defence finished the year with 36 sacks in eight games.

With that in mind the Marauders will need to find a way to protect quarterback Asher Hastings (Regina, SK) or it could be a long day for the 2015 second-team all-star.  A season after breaking several OUA and CIS records, Hastings finished fourth in the conference averaging 239.4 yards per game.  Just a year removed from tossing 31 touchdown passes, the third year sociology major threw just 11 this season. 

However, with the arsenal of receivers at his disposal, Hastings and the Marauders can put points on the board in a hurry.  The McMaster receiving corps is led by fourth-year standout Danny Vandervoort (Barrie, Ont.), but it definitely doesn't end there, as the Marauders have one of the deepest groups in the province, if not the country. 

In what could be his final season with the Marauders, Vandervoort, who earlier this year was named the No. 4 prospect eligible for the 2017 CFL Draft, finished the season in the top five in yards (78.9), yards per catch (18.6) and touchdowns (5).

The Marauders are making the trip to Waterloo, Ont. on Saturday coming off a narrow 17-11 quarterfinal win over the rival Guelph Gryphons in a rematch of the 107^th Yates Cup. 

McMaster found themselves playing from behind for most of the game until midway through the fourth quarter when Hastings connected with receiver Dan Petermann (Stoney Creek, Ont.) on an 8-yard touchdown pass.  Rookie kicker Adam Preocanin (Burlington, Ont.) extended McMaster's lead to 17-11 with just over two minutes to play but the Gryphons did not go quietly into the night. 

With under a minute to go Guelph marched 68 yards down the field before defensive back Keldyn Ahlstedt (Whitby, Ont.) made a game saving interception on goal line to seal the Marauders victory.      

The Quest for the Cup Campus Tour, fuelled by Pioneer, will also be on site at University Stadium in Waterloo to promote OUA student-athletes and competitions with an interactive OUA booth featuring contests, games and prizes, along with displays and promotional materials.

Road to the Hardy: Semifinal showdowns set for Saturday

Jason Hills, Canada West Communications

EDMONTON - The playoff picture has been set, and the two Canada West semifinals have all the makings to be classics.

The Regina Rams secured home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and host the defending Vanier Cup champion UBC Thunderbirds, while the Calgary Dinos host a playoff game for the ninth straight year, when they battle the Saskatchewan Huskies.

No. 9 Saskatchewan (5-3) @ No. 6 Calgary (6-2)

Saturday, November 5

12 p.m. MT

Shaw TV / Access /canadawest.tv

Can the Saskatchewan Huskies pull off the unthinkable and beat the Calgary Dinos on their home turf for a second straight time this season?

Huskies head coach Brian Towriss believes they can.

“It was certainly nice to finally come away from Calgary with a victory. We’ve played them tough the last few years, and haven’t been able to pull a victory away, but the win a couple weeks backs gives the kids confidence that they can go in there and beat them,” said Towriss.

“We’ve played pretty well the last few weeks. We had come off a rough part of our schedule and we’ve got healthy at the right time… as a result, we’ve been more consistent.”

The Huskies offence is rolling with the return of standout wide receiver Mitch Hillis. He’s quarterback Kyle Siemens' favourite target, and with the veteran receiver in the lineup, the Huskies are a perfect 5-0.

“He’s a big factor in Kyle's (Siemens) improved play,” said Towriss.

“It’s no secret, he’s a catalyst for us. He’s led the conference in receptions. He gets between six and 10 catches a game, and he does so many things when he has the ball in his hands.”

What’s the game plan in beating the Dinos stingy defence that led the Canada West conference with just 167 points against?

“We’re going to have to protect Kyle and give him tim to throw the ball. Our offensive line is really key to our production and scheme,” said Towriss.

The Dinos head into the playoffs riding high after a come-from-behind victory in the final regular season game against UBC.

The 6-2 Dinos are playing a home playoff game for a ninth straight year and certainly have experience on their side.

The Dinos will have backup Adam Sinagra as their starting pivot. The second-year QB has filled in nicely for Calgary after starter Jimmy Underdahl injured his leg on Oct. 22.

“Getting game experience is critical to development and to play in two key games for us has helped with his development. He’s making his reads better every week and we’ve been very pleased with the way he’s stepped in,” said Dinos head coach Wayne Harris.

The Dinos boast a dynamic duo in the backfield with fifh-year running back Bryce Harper and second-year running back Jeshrun Antwi. Harper has emerged as the Dinos tailback late in the season.

Last week in the victory over UBC, Harper ran for 145 yards and three TDs on 23 carries.

“We’ve known about Bryce for a long time in our program now. He gives you every ounce of energy he has. Pound for pound, he’s the toughest guy in our league,” said Harris.

Calgary will have their hands full against the Huskies who are riding momentum with three straight wins. Their offence is rolling having scored 40, 38 and 48 points respectively.

“We’re going to have to execute much better, especially in the pass game,” said Harris.

“Saskatchewan has their full complement of players back and Hillis has been one of the top receivers in Canada the past few years.

“They’re a big physical team, and we’re going to have to match their intensity.”

UBC (3-5) @ No. 4 Regina (6-2)

Saturday, November 5

3:30 p.m. MT

Shaw TV/ Access / canadawest.tv

You clinch first-place in the Canada West conference for the first time in school history — your reward? Playing the defending Vanier Cup champion UBC Thunderbirds.

But that suits the Regina Rams just fine.

“You have to set your goals this lofty, You can’t have mediocre goals,” said Rams head coach Steve Bryce.

“My very first day, I wrote down Nov.26 (Vanier Cup date) in our locker room. I believed we had what it took to go all the way, and I wanted to make sure they believed they could go all the way, and that I had the confidence in them.”

The Rams offence is explosive. Led by veteran QB Noah Picton, who will no doubt be considered for the Hec Crighton award, the Rams offence is arguably the best in the country after breaking the Canada West record for most yards in a single season with 3,186.

Regina’s group of receivers are deep, led by another Picton. Mitch Picton led the conference in receptions (58), touchdowns (11) and yards (834).

“It will be a challenge,” said UBC head coach Blake Nill.

“Regina’s offence has been consistent since my tenure in the Canada West. They have a high pass content and quick timing routes. You have to play with a good cognitive approach… try to limit their offence, by making them work for every inch down the field, and hopefully bend, but not break on defence.”

The T-Birds have endured an up and down year in defence of their Hardy Cup and national championship. One week, they look dominant and the next week, they look like a team that is still trying to find their identity, but Nill believes that his team is turning the corner at the right time of the year.

“It’s been a year of growth for us. I genuinely thought we’d have more of a carry over from our 2015 year into this current edition, but we’ve been learning from moment one,” said Nill.

“Right now, we’ve played tough football three of our last four games, and I’ve got to be optimistic this week."

Nill will no doubt be counting on the 25 players that helped the T-Birds win the national championship to help UBC go on another deep playoff run.

One thing UBC has the edge in in this game is playoff experience. Regina went from worst to first this year. After suffering an 0-8 season last year, the Rams vaulted up the standings with a 6-2 record, but don’t have as much big game playoff experience like the T-Birds.

“We talk about it. We know what has to happen. I talk to the kids almost daily about drawing something from last year’s experience,” said Nill.

“We talk about the win (last year) in Calgary, the Uteck Bowl win… the Vanier Cup win. We have experience to draw on.”

The Rams lack playoff experience, but they’re a team that doesn’t lack confidence. Other than a disappointing late season loss to Alberta, the Rams have been strong on both sides of the ball.

They aren’t afraid of UBC — a team the Rams have beaten twice this year.

“We got a good taste of what they can bring,” said Bryce.

“If you told us we had to beat the defending CIS champions to go deep into the playoffs at the beginning of the year…we know it’s a daunting task, but we know we can do it.”