McMaster Marauders quarterback Andreas Dueck found Waterloo Warriors receiver James Basalyga with a 14-yard touchdown pass with 3:33 left in the fourth quarter to take the lead in what ended as an 11-8 Team West victory over Team East in the 2022 U Sports East-West Bowl at Ron Joyce Stadium in Hamilton on Saturday afternoon.
After taking a 9-8 lead, Dueck called his own number on a two-point conversion to secure the victory for Team West.
Returning after a two-year hiatus, McMaster played host as the top U Sports prospects eligible for the 2023 CFL Draft took to the field in the 18th edition of the East-West Bowl.
The event featured a week-long schedule, including the players combine that put both rosters of athletes to the test in front of CFL scouts.
The week also involved a CFL Draft night watch party, as well as developmental and professional opportunities for the local community with a coaches clinic and CFL free agent camp.
Over 1,000 fans made their way to Ron Joyce Stadium on a warm, but fairly windy day that had quite the effect on a game that included numerous fumbles.
Much of the scoring took place in the fourth quarter, as Team West headed into the final frame with a narrow 3-1 lead in the low-scoring affair, following a rouge and safety prior.
Running back Adam Williams of the Toronto Varsity Blues scored the first touchdown of the game at 10:33 in the final frame after punching in a one-yard rush to push the score to 8-3 in favour of Team East, before Dueck’s late-game heroics turned the tide for Team West.
The victory gives Team West their fifth consecutive win at the bowl game, improving their overall record to 12-6 since the event began in 2003.
Both sidelines were helmed by legendary coaches, with the East led by Gary Jeffries, 10-year former head coach with the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, and the West led by Brian Towriss, 34-year former head coach of the Saskatchewan Huskies, in what would be a rematch of the 41st Vanier Cup.
Going back to 2005, Jeffries’ Golden Hawks defeated Towriss and the Huskies 24-23.
