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24 Sp Sports SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011 Babic's contributions key in McMaster's Vanier Cup win tying performance, deflecting the credit to Quinlan. OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF "I was just doing my job," he said. "Kyle was throwing the ball It is already being billed as the exactly where it needed to be. I best Vanier Cup game ever. was just glad to be a part of it." McMaster's wild 41-38 double McMaster coach Stefan Ptaszek overtime victory over the Laval said it would be wrong to discount Rouge et Or last week took univerBabic's contribution, though. sity football fans on a wild roller "He's a guy who's done it the coaster ride. And Oakville's Rob traditional way," Ptaszek said. "He Babic was right in the middle of didn't dress his first year, got a the action Friday in Vancouver. couple (of games) the second year "I've been in a couple of chamand worked his way up to be one of f pionship games, but nothing like our best football players. And he that," said the McMaster wide really elbow-greased his way to get receiver, whose team built a 23-0 there." halftime lead, trailed 24-23 in the In addition to his dozen catches fourth quarter, regained the lead, for 135 yards, Babic also performed lost the lead again and then his usual special teams duties, watched its potential game-winadding another 69 return yards on ning field goal sail wide on the three kickoff and two punt final play of regulation. returns. It looked as though Babic had With just five players graduathelped McMaster win its first ing, McMaster should have a good national university championship chance to defend its title. And it in the fourth quarter. With less could be one in which Oakville than two minutes to play, McMaster PHOTO COURTESY OF MCMASTER UNIVERSITY players make an even bigger confaced 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. and running back Stephen KofiVanier Cup record-tying 12th Akuffo potentially stepping into Sure enough, after the teams with the team, ranked second eight passes in the opening half as reception of the game. b i g g e r roles. traded touchdowns in overtime, among the Marauders receiving McMaster built what seemed like Four plays later, with just three For now, after basking in the victhe McMaster defence came up corps with 36 catches in the reguan insurmountable lead. Babic and seconds remaining, McMaster tory celebrations on the McMaster with a big stop to give its kicker lar season, and third in yards with his teammates knew otherwise. lined up for a game-winning field campus, the another opportu- 414. But he became an increas"We knew they goal. But the Marauders are nity. This time, ingly frequent target of Quinlan in weren't going to "I've been in a couple "(Robert Babic) worked his attempt missed just savouring Crapigna split the the post-season. fold and let us badly to the left. of championship games, way up to be one of our this one. uprights. After catching four passes, take the `W', but I "It was a weird but nothing like that." best football players. And "We should "It was such a including a touchdown, in didn't think it feeling," Babic said, he really elbow-greased his have a pretty feeling of relief," McMaster's 41-19 victory in the would be that "but we knew we McMaster Marauders receiver way to get there." similar team. We Babic said. "It was Yates Cup, Babic had seven recepquick," Babic could hang with Robert Babic, reflecting on should be pretty such a huge victotions in the Marauders 45-21 win said, referring to (Laval). I wasn't last week's Vanier Cup McMaster coach Stefan Ptaszek solid and I'm ry for our team over Acadia in the Uteck Bowl. His how Laval scored that worried. I looking forward and our school, second-quarter touchdown tied 14 points in the knew if we got 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 we're just going to relish this vicen behind 14-0. half. McMaster's kicker) wouldn't Marauders." tory." Babic, now in his third year At the Vanier Cup, Babic caught Babic downplayed his recordmiss." By Herb Garbutt Westlake, Canada after f another sledge hockey gold Greg Westlake and his Canadian teammates are on track to challenge for their fourth World Sledge Hockey Challenge championship in the tournament's five-event history. Westlake (pictured left) set up two goals, including Brad Bowden's game winner, to lead Canada to a 3-1 win over the United States Wednesday and give Canada a perfect 3-0 record in round-robin play at the tournament in Calgary. By finishing first in pool play, Canada earned a semifinal matchup with Japan Thursday (results were not available at press time). Westlake scored twice in an 8-0 win over Japan in the opening game of the tournament. The final will be broadcast on TSN2 at 6 p.m. Saturday. Against the U.S., the Canadian captain assisted on Anthony Gale's goal to open the scoring at 5:37 mark of the first period. The U.S. tied the game with a shorthanded goal late in the period but Westlake and Bowden teamed up to restore Canada's lead with 1:20 remaining in the second period. Canada's other round-robin win came over Norway, 5-2. Westlake had two goals and three assists in Canada's three preliminary-round games.