Playoff Preview: Week One Rematch in Hamilton

The OUA football playoffs begin this Saturday with a pair of quarter-final matchups. Ottawa travels to McMaster for a 1 p.m. game which will be televised live on Sportsnet Ontario, East, and Pacific, while Windsor will face Guelph in the late game at 8 p.m.

Both Ottawa and McMaster finished the regular season with 5-3 records, but the Week One head-to-head game which the Marauders captured 51-24 elevated the defending Yates Cup champions to fourth position and home-field advantage. McMaster also currently holds the no. 8 position in the CIS Top Ten.

Ottawa's powerful pass offence will be tested by McMaster's league leading defensive corps, which limited regular season opponents to an average of 225 passing yards per game. In the season opener, quarterback Aaron Colbon hung 335 yards on the Marauders. Only no. 1 ranked Western had more success through the air against the maroon this season.

"There are so many possible game-breakers in this game," said head coach Jamie Barresi. "The key for us is to keep our poise and play with confidence."

The Marauders finished the season with a trio of single-digit scores against them as the defensive unit clamped down on Waterloo, Laurier, and Carleton. McMaster allowed no touchdowns and a total of 11 points across the three games.

Ottawa's defence has also been impressive of late, holding their last three opponents to scores of 16 or less. "Since week one there's no doubt we've improved our ability to rally to the ball and have team play on defence," said Barresi.

Defensive flashes of brilliance against Windsor were tarnished by penalties at key points, which harkened back to the season opener and looms large as a question for the Gee-Gees to solve.

"Our defence has been playing some great football lately and we have a lot of confidence in them," said Colbon. "As on offence we just have to execute and try to limit our turnovers."

The game features two of the best protected quarterbacks in the league, as McMaster's offensive line allowed the fewest sacks in the OUA while Ottawa ranked third. The Gee-Gees gained major confidence from early sacks by CIS leader Ettore Lattanzio against Windsor, and will need to find a way to break through the protection.

The winner will advance to the OUA semifinal round and will play next Saturday, November 2 at either Western if Guelph defeats Windsor, or Queen's if the Lancers are victorious.

"You have to treat it like any other game even though you know it's win or go home," says Colbon, who will start in his second playoff game. "For us fifth-years that means a little more, but you can't think about that."

NOTES: McMaster was 3-1 at home this season…Ottawa was 2-2 on the road...The teams have met in the playoffs six previous times and are even at 3-3…The teams last met in the playoffs in 2009 when no. 5 McMaster upset no. 4 Ottawa 27-15 at Lansdowne Park…