McMaster heads into the 2011 season with not only starting quarterback Kyle Quinlan returning for his senior season, but also returns a number of key skill players on both offence and defence. Helping Quinlan on offence will be running back Joey Nemet and receivers Michael DiCroce and Matt Peressini. Linebacker Ryan Chmielewski, will return for a fifth season on defence for the Marauders, having established records in solo tackles in a season and solo tackles in a career during his time at McMaster. The Marauders will look to improve on their back-to-back 6-2 seasons heading into the 2011 season with an eye on the OUA Yates Cup Championship after a seven year drought.
Last season the Marauders advanced to the OUA semi-finals for a second straight year. McMaster led the conference in passing efficiency at a rating of 159.2 and finished third in the conference and fourth in the CIS in scoring offence averaging 36.1 points per game. McMaster was second in the league in rush defence holding opponents to just 761 yards and average of 95.1 per game. The defence also led the league in interceptions with 18 for 257 yards.
The Marauders started out the 2010 campaign with last second wins over the defending Yates Cup and Vanier Cup champions, the Queen’s Gaels 23-18, and followed that up with another win over the Laurier Golden Hawks, 26-24, to finish 2-0 at the completion of the Labour Day weekend. Despite the hot start the Marauders sustained a number of injuries, primarily on defence, and the win streak would end as they would fall to the eventual Yates Cup Champion Western Mustangs in week three. The Marauders would find themselves on the other end of a close game in week four falling on the road to a strong Ottawa squad, 43-35. From there on out McMaster would sweep the remainder of their conference schedule. The Marauders would advance to the semi-finals after a decisive win over the Queen’s Gaels, 40-19, in an OUA quarter-final for the second time in the 2010 season, but would fall to the Mustangs 34-28 in the OUA semi-final.
QUOTE FROM HEAD COACH:
“The Marauders have a tremendous amount of talent returning at the skill positions on offence and defence. Our linebackers, defensive backs, running backs, quarterbacks and receivers are a senior group and they can flat out make plays. The questions for us for 2011 are at the line of scrimmage. Our offensive line and defensive line has had some turnover and some graduation at those spots and how we fill those spots will dictate how we do.”
Head Coach: Stefan Ptaszek
– Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2011): 6th year
– Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2011): 6th year
– Career regular season record with team: 27-13 (68%)
– Career regular season record in CIS: 27-13 (68%)
– Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs only): 29-18 (62%)
– Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only): 29-18 (62%)
2010 regular season record: 6-2
2010 regular season standings: 3rd in OUA
2010 playoff record: 1-1
2010 playoff finish: Lost 34-28 to Western in conference semi-final
OFFENCE
Number of returning starters: 6
Key returning players:
QB Kyle Quinlan
Quinlan returns for his fourth season with the Marauders and his third in the starting quarterback role. He was McMaster’s offensive MVP and an OUA Second-Team All-Star in 2010. He set a new school record passing for 19 touchdowns in a season and he had the best passing efficiency in the OUA at 166.1. Quinlan also currently holds the school record for highest completion percentage at 0.596. He threw for a combined 2018 yards last season completing 127 passes on 209 attempts with only 6 interceptions to average 252.2 yds/g. His 252.2 average was good for second in the OUA behind 2010 CIS Hec Crighton Trophy winner Brad Sinopoli. Quinlan ranked seventh in the Nation among passers. Quinlan also showed he was a threat scrambling out of the backfield finishing second on the team and ninth in the conference in rushing with 479 yards on 60 attempts averaging 59.9 yards per game. He was second in the OUA in total offence, again behind Sinopoli, with a combined total of 2497 yards good for an average of 312.1 per game.
REC Michael DiCroce
A 2010 OUA first-team all-star, DiCroce caught 23 balls for 416 yards averaging 18.1 yards per reception last season despite only appearing in four regular season games. He averaged 104 yards receiving per game ranking him third in the CIS, and also returned six kick offs for 145 yards including a 101 yard return. DiCroce also returned 11 punts for 107 yards. In all he led the Marauders in all-purpose yards with 695.
RB Joey Nemet
Nemet finished as McMaster’s top running back last season with six touchdowns and ran for 572 yards. He was third in the OUA averaging 81.7 yards per game. Nemet also ranked ninth in the OUA in all purpose yards averaging 97.1 per game; he caught nine passes for 108 yards. Nemet has been an OUA Second-Team All-Star twice (2008, 2010), ranks third in school records for most rushes in a career with 426, just 33 behind the number two spot, and is 46 rushes away from setting a new school record. Nemet also ranks fifth all-time in Marauder history for rushing yards in a career with 2325, only 312 yards away from the second spot; he trails McMaster career rushing leader Jesse Lumsden by 1813. His 15 career rushing touchdowns also rank him sixth all-time in school history. Nemet returns for a fifth season with the opportunity to set new school rushing records.
REC Matthew Peressini
Primarily lining up in the slot, Peressini recorded 36 receptions for 577 yards in 2010. His 577 yards ranked him 10th in the CIS and fifth in the OUA in receiving yardage. Peressini also caught five touchdown passes to increase his career total to 11, tying him for seventh all-time in school history. Peressini averaged 72 yards a game last season and enters his final season for the Marauders.
OL Jason Medeiros
Jason Medeiros enters his fourth season with the Marauders. The offensive lineman will be an integral leader as part of the offensive line this season. This summer Medeiros played for Canada’s Senior Men’s football team in the International Federation of American Football World Championships. Medeiros was selected as the 2008 McMaster Rookie of the Year.
OL Matt Sewell
Lineman Matt Sewell enters his third season with the Marauders. Now one of the more experienced players on a young O-line Sewell will continue to be an important part of the Marauder pass and run blocking game. Sewell was a second team OUA all-star in 2010 and the 2009 McMaster Rookie of the Year.
Key recruits:
REC Max Cameron
Cameron, a receiver comes to McMaster from Sir Winston Churchill HS (St. Catharines). The rookie played for Team Ontario at the Canada Cup, leading the team to a 2-1 finish. Cameron played for Team Ontario West in 2010. He also played in the Ontario Varsity Football League with the Niagara Spears.
REC Andrin Masotti
Masotti enters his rookie year from Cardinal Newman (Hamilton) at the receiver position. He played in the Ontario Football Conference with the Hamilton Wentworth Panthers. Masotti won MVP for his high school team and the Panthers in 2010, also winning special teams MVP with the Panthers.
RB Chris Pezzetta
Running back Pezzetta from Notre Dame (Burlington) begins his CIS career after coming off back-to-back Golden Horseshoe Bowls with Notre Dame (2009, 2010). Pezzetta earned the Bowl MVP honours in the 2010 season, scoring two TD’s in the Bowl finals and leading the defence with 10 tackles at the Championships. The running back was named City TV’s Athlete of the Week last November after winning the Championship at the Rogers Centre.
OL Sean Smith
An offensive lineman Smith is from St. Joseph’s (Cornwall) and played for the Cornwall Wildcats in the Ontario Varsity Football League. Smith won the Sportsmanship Award for his high school in his senior year. He also played for Team Ontario East in 2010.
OL Tom Sterling
Offensive linemen Tom Sterling from Assumption (Burlington) was named a Golden Horseshoe All-Star and played in the GTA All-Stars game in April 2011. He was also a member of a strong Burlington Stampeders program.
Key losses:
OL Justin Glover
Glover named two-time CIS First-Team All-Canadian and two-time OUA First-Team All-Star on the O-line was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders before being released this summer. Glover was also a member of Canada’s Senior Men’s National team that competed this summer in Austria.
OL Michael Hoy
Michael Hoy was named an OUA Second-Team All-Star twice in his career, both in 2010 and 2008.
REC Kevin D’Hollander
Receiver D’Hollander was a major factor in the Marauder offence in his career at McMaster and was named an OUA Second-Team All-Star in 2008.
RB Jordan Kozina
Running back Kozina is within the top ten in school records for rushing in seven different categories including most rushes in a single season (ranked fifth with 158, 2005), most yards rushing in a single season (ranked fifth with 1191, 2005), most rushes in a career (ranked fifth with 374), and most rushing yards in a career (ranked third with 2439).
DEFENCE
Number of returning starters: 10
Key returning players:
LB Ryan Chmielewski
Chmielewski was named an OUA first-team all-star at linebacker for the second consecutive year in 2010. He totalled 41 tackles last season, 37 solo and 8 assisted. He recorded 3.5 sacks and also had 3 interceptions. He currently holds the school records for most solo tackles in a single season with 44 (in 2009) and most solo tackles in a career with 147. He was the OUA and McMaster Rookie of the Year in 2007. Chmielewski enters his last year of eligibility with the Marauders.
LB Ben D’Aguilar
Linebacker Ben D’Aguilar returns for his third season with the Marauders. Playing in only five games during the 2010 regular season, he recorded 15 solo tackles and assisted on another 6 for a total of 18. He also had 3.5 sacks. D’Aguilar was named the Mark Timpany Trophy recipient as the MVP of the 2010 McMaster Homecoming game.
DL Roberto Filice
Defensive lineman Filice enters his fourth season and was named an OUA Second-Team All-Star last season for the first time in his career. He recorded 13 solo tackles on the defensive line for the Marauders, recovered two fumbles for a gain of 15 yards. He also had an interception and a sack in the seven conference games that he appeared in.
DL Scott Caterine
A second-team OUA all-star in 2010, Caterine finished with 23 total tackles 20 of which were solo tackles. He also had 3.5 sacks in 2010.
DB Joey Cupido
Cupido was named an OUA Second-Team All-Star at defensive back last season and will return for his second year of football eligibility. He made 24 solo tackles good for fourth best on the team last season. Cupido also had an interception and a sack in 2010. In his first year at McMaster Cupido competed as a member of the McMaster men’s lacrosse team in addition to practicing with the football team.
Key recruits:
DB Nick Shortill
Defensive back Shortill from King City was chosen as the top senior football player in York Region in 2010. The defensive back was the York Region MVP and All-Star and was named the Toronto Star Athlete of the Week in November after catching three TD passes in a win over Toronto champion Richview in a Metro Bowl semi-final.
LB Aram Eisho
Eisho has been named the outstanding defensive player in Canadian junior football for the last three seasons, as a member of the CJFL Hamilton Hurricanes. He has the potential to be another in a long history of great linebackers on the Marauder defence.
Key losses:
DB Byron Metcalfe
Metcalfe, a 2010 team captain on defence, was named an OUA Second-Team All-Star in 2009. He had the second most tackles on the Marauder defence last season with a total of 27.5, 26 of which were solo tackles. He also led the Marauders in interceptions with 4 last season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Key returning players:
K/P Tyler Crapigna
Starting kicker Crapigna enters his second year after recovering from a broken leg he suffered at the conclusion of the game on October 8, 2010 against Guelph. Despite the injury in his rookie season, he punted for 1637 yards averaging 33 yards per punt. Crapigna also connected on 8 of 12 field goals, two of which were over 40 yards long. He was also a perfect 22 of 22 in point after attempts. Crapigna also averaged 54 yards on 20 kickoffs for 1098 yards in 2010.
Key losses:
WR/RET Brian Dowd
Dowd returned 14 punts for 154 yards last season for the Marauders. He also returned 7 kicks for 128 yards averaging 18.3 yards per return and graduates after four years with the team.
Source: Cameron Dunlop, McMaster Sports Info
INCOMING RECRUITING CLASS
McMaster 27
Sean Smith – OL – St. Joseph’s / Wildcats / Team Ontario (St. Andrew’s West, ON) SIGNED
Nick Shortill – DB – King City – York region MVP (King City, ON) Signed
Aram Eisho – LB – Hamilton Hurricanes 3 time CJFL defensive player of year (Hamilton, ON) Signed
Spencer Brown – LB – St. Joe’s / Riders / Team Ontario (Ottawa, ON) Verbal
Addison Marks – OL – MM Robinson / Stampeders (Burlington, ON) Verbal
Chris Pezzetta – LB/RB – Notre Dame / Stampeders (Burlington, ON) Verbal
Tom Sterling – OL – Assumption / Stampeders (Burlington, ON) Verbal
Josh Smith – REC – St. Andrews College (Aurora, ON) Verbal
Kasean Davis – RB – St. Francis Xavier HS / Mississauga Warriors (Mississauga, ON) Verbal
Nick Wilson – OL- Medway / London Falcons (London) Verbal
Nick Andre – LB – Clarke Road / London Falcons (London, ON) Verbal
Mike Smith – LB – Sir Allan MacNab (Hamilton, ON) Verbal
Michael Topolinski – DB – Upper Canada College (Toronto, ON) Verbal VIDEO
Andrin Masotti – REC – Cardinal Newman / Wentworth Panthers (Hamilton, ON) Verbal
Trevor Reid – SB – St. Thomas Aquinas / Burlington Stampeders (Oakville, ON) Verbal
Mark Rutledge – REC – Sir Allan MacNab (Hamilton, ON) Verbal
Max Mezzabotta – REC / DB – Notre Dame / Burlington Stampeders (Burlington, ON) Verbal
Aaron Clarke – QB – Lorne Park / Mississauga Warriors (Mississauga, ON) Verbal
Ted Peters – K – St. Aloysius Gonzaga / Brampton Bears (Brampton, ON) Verbal
Kevin Alenik – DE – Cornwall Wildcats / Holy Trinity (Cornwall, ON) Verbal
Tyler Goldsworthy – OL/DL – SMU transfer (Bowmanville, ON) Verbal
Max Cameron – REC – Sir Winston Churchill / Team Ontario West (St. Catharines, ON) Verbal
Matt Barker – DB – Herman (Windsor, ON) Verbal
Brendan Fitzpatrick – DB -Cardinal Newman (Hamilton, ON) Verbal
Spencer Gatten – REC – Waterloo-Oxford / Twin Cities (Waterloo, ON) Verbal
Joe Richardson – LB – Waterdown District (Waterdown, ON) Verbal
Brandon Clarke – REC – Holy Trinity (Oakville, ON) Verbal
CLICK HERE for all CIS teams recruiting classes
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