The University of Windsor Lancers football team opened their 2026 season with a 31-26 loss on the road to the McMaster Marauders on Saturday (Aug. 29) night in Hamilton, Ont. at Ron Joyce Stadium.
GAME FLOW
After conceding the game's first points on a McMaster field goal, the Lancers put 17 unanswered points on the board in the first quarter.
In his first start as quarterback since converting from receiver,
Kareame Cotton found
Colby Ginn for a 75-yard touchdown reception and followed it up five minutes later with a short pass for an
Evan Martin major. First year kicker
Alex Patrinos capped off the scoring surge with a 42-yard field goal with three minutes left in the quarter, the first of his OUA career, to give Windsor a 17-3 lead through the first quarter.
McMaster responded in the second quarter, tying the game by halftime via two rushing touchdowns by quarterback Lucas Barresi.
The Marauders added two touchdowns and a field goal in the third frame to take a 30-17 lead, but the Lancers cut the deficit to a single score on Martin's second receiving touchdown of the game and a safety.
McMaster increased the gap to five points on a late rouge. Despite a mad scramble with many lateral passes on the final play of the game, the Lancers were unable to complete the comeback.
STATS
Kareame Cotton threw for 188 yards, completing 13 of 20 passes with two passing touchdowns in his first OUA start at quarterback.
Josh Foulis came on in relief and completed 10 of 15 passes for 133 yards to go with 14 rushing yards.
Evan Martin scored two touchdowns while picking up 56 total yards, all in the air.
Colby Ginn scored the other Lancer touchdown and had 131 receiving yards on six receptions. Cotton led the Lancers in rushing with 73 yards on 10 carries.
Derek Anderson led the Lancer defense with 9.5 total tackles (nine solo, one assisted), followed by
Dylan Simpson with seven solo. Anderson, Simpson,
Ahmad Taylor, and
Braxton Johnson each recorded a sack.
Lucas Barresi rushed for two touchdowns and threw for 168 yards to lead McMaster.
UP NEXT
The Lancers host the Laurier Golden Hawks on Sunday, September 6 for their home opener at Alumni Stadium with kickoff set for 6 p.m. Tickets are available at
golancers.ca/tickets and the game can be streamed online at
oua.tv.
