Yes, Western and Queen’s are about to link up in the Yates Cup. No, it’s not 2009. In fact, this year’s edition of the OUA’s championship game will bear very little resemblance to its 2009 counterpart.
The 102nd Yates Cup was headlined by, at the time, the top two passers in U SPORTS football history.
Queen’s signal-caller Danny Brannagan and Western’s Michael Faulds put on one of the greatest showings in Canadian football history, and combined for 1,024 passing yards in a game that will forever be immortalized.
Now, this game won’t be featuring the leagues leading passers, or catering to a rivalry that’s been brewing for years. However, the 113th Yates Cup is loaded with storylines and potential ramifications that could make this game just as, if not, more important than the 102nd Yates Cup when we look back at the history of the OUA 10 - 15 years from now.
So, let’s move on from the past and enjoy the present for what it is. Here are all the storylines surrounding the 113th Yates Cup.
Queen’s Can Verify The OUA East
When the schedule makers created the OUA East, they weren’t shy about their intentions. While the OUA West featured five of the country’s top powerhouses, the East was comprised of five teams who’ve been struggling to find their footing for years, and in some cases, decades. Because of this, it’s no surprise that the OUA East has been the target of scrutiny since its inception, and has taken on the identity of the “weaker” division.
It was always a given that the winner of this division would carry an imaginary asterisk beside their name in the minds of Canadian football fans until they defeated the top team in the OUA West.
Queen’s has an opportunity to not only remove the imaginary asterisk that clouds the division, but also put all OUA East disrespect to an end.
A victory by the Queen’s Gaels in the 113th Yates Cup can verify the legitimacy of the OUA East, and even create a legitimate argument for maintaining divisions in the OUA going forward.
Queen’s Can Verify Their Record
Has there ever been a more controversial undefeated team than the 2021 Queen’s Gaels?
The creation of the OUA East may have played a role in opening the door for the Gaels to have their first undefeated season since 2008, but, as mentioned, it came at the expense of avoiding conference powerhouses such as Waterloo, Laurier, McMaster, and Western. Because of this, the legitimacy of Queen’s 6-0 record has fallen subject to questions and criticisms by fans and pundits from coast to coast.
Despite having one of the nation’s leading rushers, a ball-hawking secondary, and one of the most feared defensive lines in the nation, what can’t be denied is that the Gaels have never matched up against an opponent of Western’s caliber.
Fact: in a season where they’ve been perfect, the Queen’s Gaels still await their greatest challenge in the Western Mustangs.
A Gaels loss will spark “I told you so’s” from season-long doubters.
But, a Gaels win would present much-needed verification for what has statistically been one of the greatest seasons in program history.
Nations Top RBs Meet For The First Time
As mentioned, the 113th Yates Cup won’t feature the same quarterback star power as it did in 2009, but this year’s instalment of the game certainly will provide a ground game duel that fans have been craving for all season.
Rasheed Tucker and Keon Edwards have both put together memorable campaigns and enter the game as the nation’s top ball carriers.
Tucker was an offensive workhorse for the Gaels this season, rushing for 697 yards (2nd in U SPORTS), and eight touchdowns (2nd in U SPORTS) on 114 carries (2nd in U SPORTS).
Edwards was the nation’s leading rusher in 2021. The Toronto, ON native ran for 838 yards (1st in U SPORTS), and nine touchdowns (1st in U SPORTS) on 120 carries (1st in U SPORTS).
Tre Ford took home his second OUA MVP this past week, but it must be acknowledged that for majority of the season, the MVP conversation was focused on these two running backs and for good reason. It’s not Faulds and Brannagan, but don’t be surprised if Tucker and Edwards engineer a duel of their own in this game.
Conferences Top Defences Meet For The First Time
Entering this matchup, the Gaels and the Mustangs aren’t short of any star power on the defensive side of the ball either.
Queen’s may no longer have Shomari Williams terrorizing quarterbacks as he did in 2009, but, they do have Anthony Federico, whose been one of the nation’s premier lineman in 2021. Federico had seven sacks (2nd in U SPORTS) this season along with 21.5 total tackles, making him a unanimous candidate for OUA Lineman of the Year.
When you look at Western’s defence you’ll find the actual OUA Lineman of the Year winner in Deionte Knight. Knight was the driving force behind Western’s run-stopping front seven, recording 19.0 tackles and 7.5 sacks (1st in U SPORTS) in 2021.
Both teams also boast some of the nation’s top secondaries.
Gaels freshman defensive back Ashton Miller-Melancon led the nation in interceptions (4), but came up short in the OUA Rookie of the Year battle to Western quarterback Evan Hillock.
Western’s Daniel Valente solidified himself as one of the OUA’s most versatile defensive backs this season, recording 27.0 total tackles, two interceptions, and even finding himself in the backfield for a sack.
Winner Has a Good Chance of Appearing In The Vanier Cup
The winner of this years Yates Cup will host the winners of the Loney Bowl (AUS Championship) in the Mitchell Bowl for the opportunity to advance to the 56th Vanier Cup.
It’s been 14 years since a team from the AUS has advanced to the Vanier Cup. The last team to do it was Saint Mary’s in 2007.
Since 2007, OUA teams have outscored AUS teams when facing off in national semifinals by a margin of 178-48.
The last time the AUS and OUA met up in the national semifinal, the Western Mustangs embarrassed the undefeated Acadia Axemen to the tune of a 81-3 onslaught.
Of course, it’s never appropriate to completely write off a conference champion. Rest assured, though, that the odds are in favour of the Yates Cup champions to have a legitimate shot at winning a national championship in 2021.
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