Daniel Vandervoort's go-ahead touchdown for the McMaster Marauders with seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference as the Gee-Gees fell 42-31 in a thrilling OUA semifinal.
Under cold and wet conditions in Hamilton, the Gee-Gees recovered from a slow start that saw them get down 18-0 in the second quarter.
The Gee-Gees couldn't get past midfield until six minutes into the second quarter. But they'd shake that off and broke through with a Derek Wendel deep pass to last week's OUA offensive player of the week, Ian Stewart, to get the Gee-Gees on the board. Ward hit a 34 yard field goal before halftime to make it 18-10.
Just as it looked like they were going to head to halftime, the Gee-Gees went 62 yards down the field in 20 seconds to set up chip shot for Lewis Ward. That sent the teams into halftime with the Marauders holding a 18-13 edge and the Gee-Gees holding the momentum.
Despite the tight score, Barresi wasn't satisfied with how his team left opportunities on the field.
When the second half kicked off, it was clear the Gee-Gees were going to lay it all on the line. They opened the half with a 71-yard drive that was capped off with a 32-yard connection with Tristan Bailey in the near corner of the end zone. That gave uOttawa the lead.
After the Marauders drove it right back down field and missed the go-ahead field goal, the Gee-Gees came right back with another TD drive. Wendel went back to Stewart who shed a few tackles on his way to his second TD of the game making it 27-19.
Finding trouble containing a dangerous Gee-Gees pass rush, led by Ettore Lattanzio, McMaster kept it on the ground and showed that the Gee-Gees had no answer for the McMaster running game. The Marauders finished with 299 yards between three backs on the day.
Wayne Moore drew the Marauders closer with a rushing touchdown but McMaster followed that up by again missing a chance to go ahead on a blocked field goal.
McMaster finally took the lead back with seven minutes to go and looked to run out the clock. But when a running back pitch was dropped with five minutes to go, the Gee-Gees pounced on it and eventually converted it into three points.
But, McMaster wouldn't be denied as they stopped the Gee-Gees last ditch drive and put it in the end zone with 34 seconds to go to seal it.
The Marauders move on to host the Yates Cup against the Guelph Gryphons next week.
