The Queen's football team (3-3) will head out on the road for a huge matchup with the McMaster Marauders (3-2) on Friday morning. Game time is set for an early 11am and can be seen live on OUA.tv.

With just two games remaining for the Gaels, they are currently in a three-way tie for the final playoff spot in the OUA with Waterloo and Guelph. With defending Yates Cup finalist, Laurier, also just a 0.5-game behind the Gaels every remaining game is a must-win for Queen's.

MCMASTER PREVIEW
The Marauders have had their early season struggles offensively as they rank 10^th in points per game (18.2) and 9^th in yards per game (352.6). But this isn't anything new for McMaster as they had these same issues in the 2017 season yet finished with a 6-2 record. What makes them a powerhouse is their defensive capabilities.

For the second straight week the Gaels will face a top-two defence as McMaster ranks second in both points allowed per game (20) and yards allowed per game (344.8). They are led by linebackers Nate Edwards and Eric Blake who are dominant forces in both the pass rush and defensive coverage. Much like Western, their strength is limiting you to two-and-outs and forcing turnovers as the Marauders rank fourth in the OUA with nine turnovers, five interceptions and four fumble recoveries. However, the Marauders don't put as much pressure on quarterbacks as they may like as they are among the middle of the pack when it comes to sacks (9).

The Gaels offence has been strong against top-ranked defences this season as just last week they put up 452 yards and 23 points against a Western squad who averages just over 300 yards allowed per game and just over 12 points allowed per game. If that is any indication of how the Gaels offence is trending they should fare well against a defence who doesn't put much pressure on quarterbacks.

The McMaster offence has run through second year quarterback Andreas Dueck through recent weeks after former starter Jackson White struggled to start the season. In his two starts this season, Dueck has picked up wins over Toronto and No.8 Laurier while averaging 253.5 passing yards with four interceptions and three interceptions.

"I told the players this week "What are you going to have to do to win a championship? You're likely going to have to win a tough game on the road." The bottom line is this is a tremendous opportunity for our team," said head coach Pat Sheahan.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
WR Matteo Del Brocco – Queen's: In his fifth and final year with the Gaels, Del Brocco is having a year he'll never forget. Against Western, Del Brocco had a career-high 141 yards receiving and is on pace to break both his season touchdown and yards career-highs. Once seen as a red zone threat earlier this season, Del Brocco's big game against Western proved that he has become one of Nate Hobbs' favourite and trusted targets at any point throughout the game.

DL Cam Lawson – Queen's: Lawson has turned into the pass rushing monster we expected from the 2017 OUA second team all-star. He picked up a pair of sacks on Western's Chris Merchant while having a season-high six tackles. If he can cause chaos on McMaster's offensive front, the Marauders' struggling offence may continue to have its problems.

RB Jordan Lyons – McMaster: After a strong season as the Marauders' lead back in 2017, Lyons ranks fourth in rushing yards (467) through five games. He is one of the more dynamic running backs in the OUA and is always a threat to have big games against tough defences. He posted over 100 yards against No.5 Ottawa and No.8 Laurier.

DL Enoch Penney-Laryea – McMaster: What a rookie season it has been for Penney-Laryea as he has four of his team's nine sacks in just three games played. When he's healthy and on the field he looks like one of the most dominant defensive lineman in the OUA. The question for the Gaels is whether or not they have to worry about #22 putting pressure on Nate Hobbs.

LAST TIME THEY MET
These two teams met in the OUA quarterfinals last year in Hamilton in a low-scoring and hard-hitting game. The Marauders pulled out a 12-9 in a game that had just one touchdown. The Gaels kicked a field goal to bring the score to within three with the entire fourth quarter remaining, however the Marauders held their ground and kept the Gaels off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game.

The Gaels are looking for revenge in a game that has huge playoff implications for both squads.