The McMaster Marauders football team has been forced to forfeit its first two games of the Ontario University Athletics season over an ineligible player.
In a statement released Friday afternoon by U Sports, the national governing body of university sport in Canada said McMaster “self-disclosed the infraction upon becoming aware of the eligibility violation.”
The forfeiture means McMaster falls to 0-2, tied with Guelph for last place in the OUA.
The Marauders host the 1-1 Ottawa Gee-Gees Saturday at 1 p.m. at Ron Joyce Stadium in Hamilton, in a game you can hear on 900 CHML.
McMaster, which has also lost its No. 10 ranking in the nation, beat York 39-1 in their home opener last week — a result that has been wiped out by the eligibility violation — while Ottawa lost 26-16 to Queens.
Mac quarterback Andrea Dueck leads the OUA in average passing yards per game with 294.5, but the Marauders need to improve their running game.
After two weeks, McMaster is second last (tenth overall) in average yards rushing per game, 98.5. By comparison, Ottawa is ranked sixth with 144 rushing yards per game.
To achieve success on the ground, the Marauders will need to be aware of James Peter. The Ottawa linebacker has tallied 17.5 tackles in this season’s two games, including 15 solo tackles, to lead the OUA in both categories.
McMaster has won seven of their last 10 meetings between the two teams.
-with files from Rick Zamperin