Last weekend’s game captured in 60 minutes what the Golden Gaels’ football season has been like this year: so close, but so far. Mental errors in the third quarter were the deciding factor in the 43-24 loss to the McMaster Marauders.
The Gaels were widely considered to have no chance against the OUA juggernaut Marauders, but once play got underway, fans saw a gritty Gaels defence hungry for victory, next to a tailback who had only eight carries going into the game.
The key to the defence was the play by the linebacking core, who applied pressure to Mac quaterback Jon Behie and also attempted to contain rookie running back Jordan Kozina, who in the end ran for 150 yards on 20 carries. Behie also had a good game, throwing for 304 yards and three touchdowns and running another touchdown in himself.
The most exciting play of the game came with four minutes left in the second quarter and the Marauders with a 14-3 lead and the football. Yet when the McMaster Homecoming fans least expected it, the Gaels came up with a big play.
D.J. Mulholland, a Gaels outside linebacker, came on a weak-side blitz and sacked quarterback Jon Behie, forcing him to fumble the ball. Mike Patone, a fifth-year linebacker, scooped up the ball and seemed on the way to his second touchdown in as many weeks. However, Patone was tripped up and coughed up the ball after 10 yards. Ian Hazlett picked it up and ran the final five yards into the end zone for his first career touchdown. Hazlett’s touchdown was the second defensive touchdown in the last two weeks for the Gaels.
The Gaels’ only offensive touchdown last weekend was set up by a wobbly punt touched by punter Ryan Elger and picked up by Mike Patone, who had his sights on another touchdown. But again Patone was short of paydirt, giving the Gaels a short field to work with and eventually a Dave Weese receiving touchdown in the third quarter. The third quarter touchdown by Weese was the only bright spot in what has been a troublesome quarter for the Gaels. The Gaels have been outscored 63 to 13 in the third quarter this year, and this week Mac put up 26 points in the quarter to 7 from Queen’s.
The Gaels travel to Waterloo for Thanksgiving hoping for solid play by the O-line and aiming to give up fewer than the 200 penalty yards they did against Mac.
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