Sportsp 24 SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email [email protected] • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011 Babic’s contributions key in McMaster’s Vanier Cup win

By Herb Garbutt tying performance, deflecting the OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF credit to Quinlan. “I was just doing my job,” he It is already being billed as the said. “Kyle was throwing the ball best Vanier Cup game ever. exactly where it needed to be. I McMaster’s wild 41-38 double was just glad to be a part of it.” overtime victory over the Laval McMaster coach Stefan Ptaszek Rouge et Or last week took univer- said it would be wrong to discount sity football fans on a wild roller Babic’s contribution, though. coaster ride. And Oakville’s Rob “He’s a guy who’s done it the Babic was right in the middle of traditional way,” Ptaszek said. “He the action Friday in Vancouver. didn’t dress his first year, got a “I’ve been in a couple of cham- couple (of games) the second year pionship games, but nothing like and worked his way up to be one of that,” said the McMaster wide our best football players. And he receiver, whose team built a 23-0 really elbow-greased his way to get halftime lead, trailed 24-23 in the there.” fourth quarter, regained the lead, In addition to his dozen catches lost the lead again and then for 135 yards, Babic also performed watched its potential game-win- his usual special teams duties, ning field goal sail wide on the adding another 69 return yards on final play of regulation. three kickoff and two punt It looked as though Babic had returns. helped McMaster win its first With just five players graduat- national university championship ing, McMaster should have a good in the fourth quarter. With less chance to defend its title. And it than two minutes to play, McMaster PHOTO COURTESY OF MCMASTER UNIVERSITY could be one in which Oakville players make an even bigger con- faced 2nd-and-14 in its own end RELIABLE HANDS: McMaster Marauders receiver Robert Babic (with ball) tries to elude a Laval Rouge et Or tackler tribution, with freshman receivers when Babic caught a 17-yard pass during last Friday’s Vanier Cup national university football final in Vancouver. Babic made a Vanier Cup record-tying 12 Brandon Clarke and Trevor Reid from Kyle Quinlan. It was Babic’s receptions to help the Marauders to a dramatic 41-38 double-overtime win. Vanier Cup record-tying 12th and running back Stephen Kofi- reception of the game. Sure enough, after the teams with the team, ranked second eight passes in the opening half as Akuffo potentially stepping into Four plays later, with just three traded touchdowns in overtime, among the Marauders receiving McMaster built what seemed like b i gger roles. seconds remaining, McMaster the McMaster defence came up corps with 36 catches in the regu- an insurmountable lead. Babic and For now, after basking in the vic- lined up for a game-winning field with a big stop to give its kicker lar season, and third in yards with his teammates knew otherwise. tory celebrations on the McMaster goal. But the another opportu- 414. But he became an increas- “We knew they campus, the attempt missed “I've been in a couple nity. This time, ingly frequent target of Quinlan in weren’t going to “(Robert Babic) worked his Marauders are badly to the left. of championship games, Crapigna split the the post-season. fold and let us way up to be one of our just savouring “It was a weird but nothing like that.” uprights. After catching four passes, take the ‘W’, but I best football players. And this one. feeling,” Babic said, “It was such a including a touchdown, in didn’t think it “We should feeling of relief,” McMaster’s 41-19 victory in the would be that he really elbow-greased his have a pretty “but we knew we McMaster Marauders receiver Babic said. “It was Yates Cup, Babic had seven recep- quick,” Babic way to get there.” similar team. We could hang with Robert Babic, reflecting on such a huge victo- tions in the Marauders 45-21 win said, referring to should be pretty (Laval). I wasn’t last week’s Vanier Cup that worried. I ry for our team over Acadia in the Uteck Bowl. His how Laval scored McMaster coach Stefan Ptaszek solid and I’m knew if we got and our school, second-quarter touchdown tied 14 points in the looking forward another chance, Tyler (Crapigna, the city and for all the past the game after McMaster had fall- first five minutes of the second to it,” Babic said, “but right now McMaster’s kicker) wouldn’t Marauders.” en behind 14-0. half. we’re just going to relish this vic- miss.” Babic, now in his third year At the Vanier Cup, Babic caught Babic downplayed his record- tory.” Westlake, Canada after another sledge hockey gold Greg Westlake and his Canadian teammates are on track in the opening game of the tournament. The final will be to challenge for their fourth World Sledge Hockey Challenge broadcast on TSN2 at 6 p.m. Saturday. championship in the tournament’s five-event history. Against the U.S., the Canadian captain assisted on Anthony Westlake (pictured left) set up two goals, including Brad Gale’s goal to open the scoring at 5:37 mark of the first period. Bowden’s game winner, to lead Canada to a 3-1 win over the The U.S. tied the game with a shorthanded goal late in the United States Wednesday and give Canada a perfect 3-0 period but Westlake and Bowden teamed up to restore record in round-robin play at the tournament in Calgary. Canada’s lead with 1:20 remaining in the second period. By finishing first in pool play, Canada earned a semifinal Canada’s other round-robin win came over Norway, 5-2. matchup with Japan Thursday (results were not available at Westlake had two goals and three assists in Canada’s press time). Westlake scored twice in an 8-0 win over Japan three preliminary-round games.