OUA football returns for ninth season on The Score

HAMILTON, Ont. – The 2010 schedule includes two Homecoming games, including a rematch of the 2009 Yates Cup between the defending Vanier Cup champion Queen’s Gaels and the Western Mustangs on Saturday Oct. 2.

The rematch is one of three Western games featured on The Score, as the Mustangs kickoff the ninth season of the University Rush on The Score by hosting the McMaster Marauders.

McMaster, with its explosive offence, will look to defeat Western for the second straight season on national television at TD Waterhouse Stadium in London, Ont., on Sept. 11.

Reigning CIS scoring leader Nathan Riva of Lasalle, Ont., has other plans, hoping to help the Mustangs avenge their 2009 Homecoming loss. He is coming off a solid season, scoring 15 regular season touchdowns to lead the nation, which helped Western to advance to its third consecutive Yates Cup in 2009.

The Guelph Gryphons, without Justin Dunk at quarterback and featuring new head coach Stu Lang, host back-to-back University Rush games, facing Queen’s on Sept. 18 and then Western on Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. in their annual Homecoming game.

The following week, Western will host the Gaels in the Yates Cup rematch. The Gaels, featuring returning receiver Devan Sheahan (Kingston, Ont.) and running back Jimmy Therrien (Montreal), will look to return to Quebec in November to defend the Vanier Cup without the services of Danny Brannagan at quarterback. Western begins the post Michael Faulds era with Donnie Marshall, son of head coach Greg Marshall, at the pivot position.

On Oct. 16, Dillon Heap and the Laurier Golden Hawks hope to upend the Gaels at Alumni Stadium in Waterloo, Ont.
The Week 8 game on Oct. 23 will feature a key game with playoff implications.
“As a strong supporter of university athletics, The Score looks forward to being a part of another exciting year of Ontario University Athletics,” says Greg Sansone, vice president of television with Score Media Inc.

Other teams to watch in 2010 include the Ottawa Gee-Gees, featuring quarterback Brad Sinopoli of Peterborough, Ont., the Windsor Lancers, with Sam Malian entering his third season at quarterback, York Lions, featuring new head coach Warren Craney, and Toronto Varsity Blues, led by senior quarterback Andrew Gillis of Markham, Ont.

“OUA football student-athletes are showcased across the country every Saturday in the fall,” said Ward Dilse, executive director for OUA. “Our ever-growing fan base can see these dedicated and talented student-athletes weekly and can follow their progress through their careers.”

The Score will broadcast six regular season and four playoff games in all, including the 103rd Yates Cup Presented by Pioneer Petroleums in High Definition (HD) on Nov. 13. The OUA is also pleased to announce that both semifinal games will also be broadcast in HD on Nov. 6.
Play-by-play announcer Tim Micallef – the 2009 OUA Media Award winner and 2010 CIS Fred Sgambati Media Award winner – returns for a ninth season calling games on Saturdays and will be joined by former OUA and CFL star Mike Morreale who is back in the booth for his third season.

“The fact we are closing in on a decade of OUA football coverage on The Score is a testament to just how much University Rush has grown,” Micallef says. “I’m extremely proud to be a part of that by returning for my ninth season in the broadcast booth.”
“Season eight finished with one of the best games I’ve ever called, and I’m jacked to pick up where we left off.”

2010 University Rush Schedule
Saturday Sept. 11 – McMaster at Western, 1 p.m.
Saturday Sept. 18 – Queen’s at Guelph, 1 p.m.
Saturday Sept. 25 – Western at Guelph, 1 p.m.
Saturday Oct. 2 – Queen’s at Western, 1 p.m.
Saturday Oct. 16 – Queen’s at Laurier, 1 p.m.
Saturday Oct. 23 – TBA
Saturday Oct. 30 – OUA Quarter-Final, 1 p.m.
Saturday Nov. 6 – OUA Semifinals (HD), 1 and 4:30 p.m.
Saturday Nov. 13 – 103rd Yates Cup (HD), 1 p.m.
Source:
OUA