Queen’s Gaels football is playing for the Yates Cup for the first time since the 2013 season this Saturday at Richardson Stadium.

The Gaels are taking on the rival Western Mustangs Saturday at 1 p.m. at Richardson Stadium in the 113th Yates Cup.

Queen’s last played for a Yates Cup eight years ago, a 51-22 loss to the Mustangs in London. The last time Queen’s hosted a Yates Cup was in 2009, a 43-39 win over the Mustangs on their way to capturing the Vanier Cup.

“That game was an absolute classic and maybe regarded by many as one of the greatest games ever played in our sport,” says Gaels head coach Steve Snyder. “Our team has watched that game in the past, that was a part of our process through the pandemic, and what a tremendous atmosphere.

“Residents of Kingston still talk about it. We’re looking forward to a great atmosphere this weekend at the best venue, Richardson Stadium. A place that is just oozing with the spirit of Canadian university football. I certainly hope our community and Kingston residents, the student body, and our alumni turn out to enjoy a great sporting event, and I think they will.”

The Gaels will enter the Yates Cup as OUA East Division champions. After finishing the regular season with an undefeated 6-0 record, Queen’s defeated the Carleton Ravens in the OUA East Division semifinals and the Ottawa Gee-Gees in the OUA East Division Final to advance to the Yates Cup.

The Gaels and the Mustangs finished at or near the top in several statistical categories in the OUA this season. The Gaels were the second ranked scoring offence in the OUA, averaging 28.7 points per game, behind only the Mustangs’ 44.3 points per game. The Gaels had the stingiest defence in the league, averaging just 7.3 points against per game, ahead of the Mustangs, who finished second overall averaging 11.5 points against per game.

The teams were also the top two units in total defence, with the Gaels finishing second, giving up 288.0 yards per game while the Mustangs led the league, giving up 271.7 points per game.

Saturday's game will also feature the top two running backs in the OUA this season in the Gaels’ Rasheed Tucker and the Mustangs’ Keon Edwards.

Tucker finished the regular season with 114 carries for 697 yards and eight touchdowns, and has added another 48 carries for 359 yards and four touchdowns in the OUA Playoffs. He has also been named the Canadian Football Perspective OUA Offensive Player of the Week four times this season, twice in the regular season and twice in the playoffs.

Edwards finished the regular season with 120 carries for 837 yards and nine touchdowns. In the Mustangs’ two playoff games so far, he has added 26 carries for 140 yards and three touchdowns.

Tickets for the 113th Yates Cup can be purchased online.