Gaels defeat Marauders 26-16, advance to Yates Cup

KINGSTON, Ont. - The No. 4 Queen's Gaels defeated the No. 9 McMaster Marauders by 32-6 Saturday to earn a berth in the 102nd Yates Cup.

Next week Queen's will host the Western Mustangs, who defeated the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks 26-16 in the other OUA semifinal on Saturday. The win earns Queen's its first Yates Cup appearance since 2002 when McMaster stopped the Gaels 33-19. Next week's game also marks the first time the Kingston has hosted the Yates Cup since 1978 - that year the Gaels were a perfect 10-0 and marched to one of its three Vanier Cup titles.

With the wind at their backs to start the game, the Gaels took full advantage, putting up 13 points on the Marauders. Six of those points came off of conceded safeties by McMaster after the Gaels defence pinned them deep in their end.

The defence also contributed to the Gaels first touchdown of the game as Matt Vickers picked off McMaster quarterback Kyle Quinlan at the McMaster 35-yard line midway through the opening quarter. Five plays later, Marty Gordon punched the ball in from one yard out.

The Gaels extended their lead to 20 when McMaster punter Michael DiCroce fumbled a snap and was forced to fall on the ball at his own 22-yard line. This time, the Gaels turned to running back Jimmy Therrien to get them across the goal-line.

Queen's defence would continue to come up big for the remainder of the half as they twice stopped McMaster from finding the end zone. Holding them to a single field goal at the end of the second quarter, Queen's took a 20-3 lead into the half.

Queen's put the game out of reach early in the third quarter when quarterback Danny Brannagan rolled out and ran the ball in for a one yard score, despite McMaster having 13 men on the field.

Offensively, the Gaels were led by the running back duo of Therrien and Gordon who combined for 146 yards and two touchdowns.

Brannagan was 12-for-25 for 161 yards while Qulian was 12-of-36 for 185 yards.