Double trouble! Running backs give Western Mustangs another shot at Vanier Cup

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There was already a bond forged between Western’s top two running backs.

Then, Keon Edwards and Keanu Yazbeck broke their ankles late last season. Their kinship only grew stronger through shared experience with the crutches, protective boots and doctors’ visits.

“We went through the whole recovery stage the same way,” Edwards, the veteran from Toronto, said. “It was our right ankles, the same spot and everything. We were close and kept each other up and motivated throughout the entire process.”

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In their Ontario university football return this past Sunday at Ottawa, Edwards rushed for 104 yards on 14 attempts. Yazbeck, from the Montreal suburb of Kirkland, Que., added 103 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries to torch the Gee-Gees.

They were consistent and reliable amidst the chaos that usually defines a season-opening game. Next, they will face the Waterloo Warriors in their home opener Sunday, 7 p.m. at Western Alumni Stadium.

“That was big having those two guys back,” Western head coach Greg Marshall said. “It was just kind of a freak thing that happened to lose them in the final two games last season. The kids who played – Troy Thompson and Ethan Dolby – did a good job in the playoffs for us. But they don’t have the same experience Keon and Keanu do.

“They know what they’re doing and, in the huddle, they calm guys down.”

Could they have made the difference in the 29-3 loss to the eventual Vanier Cup champion Montreal Carabins last November?

No doubt.

“Honestly, I don’t like to speak back on those things,” Edwards said, “but I think, at that point in the year, we were probably two of the best backs (in the country). If we had that opportunity, yeah, sure.

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“But for me, right now, I had a long offseason. Just to be back out there with the guys felt amazing.”

Marshall pushed hard for Edwards, the 2022 Larry Haylor award-winner as OUA football MVP, to gain entry into teachers’ college at Western. That gave him more incentive to stay for a final season and be reunited with Yazbeck.

“They are certainly game-changers,” Marshall said. “They both do different things. Keon can bang it in there and has some good moves. Keanu has breakaway speed. It’s good having that one-two punch. That’s been the history of our running backs here. There’s nobody who says I’ve got to get my carries. Both got 100 yards. Guys run unselfish and it’s been that way for a long time.

“We run the ball a lot so it’s good to keep our guys fresh and not let them get worn down.”

Edwards wants to use this last chance to give back to the Mustangs program he’s been a part of for more than a half-decade.

“I’d probably say I do want to win and that would be the best way to go out,” he said, “but honestly, it’s just to have the best time with these guys. Hopefully, that will open more doors at the end. I can personally say the (Ottawa) game wasn’t our best. As the weeks come, I feel we’ll truly find ourselves. I think we do have the pieces and it’s how we’re able to use them that will determine how far we go.”

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ON THE SIDELINES: Ben Cottrell, another Western running back, scored an early special-teams touchdown and Marshall was hungry to get him some more touches against Ottawa. Unfortunately, the five-foot-11, 217-pounder from Rockwood, Ont., suffered a knee injury during his opportunity. “I wanted Keon, Keanu, back and forth, then get Ben in,” the coach said. “He’s big, physical and can fly. It makes me sick to think that, on that play, I was bugging to get Ben in there and he’s hurt. It doesn’t look good. There wasn’t a lot of swelling but the doctors did think he hurt his (anterior cruciate ligament). He’s young and he’ll rebound, but it could be (multiple weeks).” . . . The Mustangs’ usage of quarterback Jerome Rancourt in short-yardage situations was worth the price of admission in Ottawa. The six-foot-five, 248-pound engineering student from Quebec City is already a valuable offensive weapon, especially in the red zone. “It takes pressure off the run when he comes in,” Marshall said. “He had a good camp. He played well for us last year and he can run and be physical. We have to win games. I know Evan (Hillock) wants to stay in there, but it’s a different skill set than Evan has. Evan can throw the ball but it’s good to have Jerome coming in and do what he does.” . . . Hillock is in the process of finding chemistry with the rest of the receivers. Last year, he had his old Hamilton high-school teammate Savaughn Magnaye-Jones as a go-to option. “We were a little off (in the air),” Marshall said. “Give credit to Ottawa’s back end. Two or three of those guys will be CFL prospects. We just missed on a couple. There were a few in the red zone where it’s time to put Jerome in, run it and go for more heavy. We have an experienced team and did no live work in training camp. All of sudden, it’s real, there’s a rush and it takes some time. Evan will be fine. We have a couple of new receivers and have to work on that timing.” . . . Who’s going to challenge Western, riding a 21-game unbeaten streak in the OUA regular season, this time around? Laurier, of course, with reigning top player Taylor Elgersma at quarterback. The Mustangs-Golden Hawks meet Sept. 14 in Waterloo. Queen’s (Sept. 28) and Windsor (Oct. 19) are the must-see home games in London. The goal, of course, is first place and a bye to the provincial semifinals . . . Western Alumni Stadium will unveil its much-anticipated new video board at home games this season. That should add to the fan experience. “We’ve been waiting for a couple of years (on it),” Marshall said. “It’s going to look good. We’ve had that same scoreboard for a long time. This really finishes off our field and we’re looking forward to it.”

rpyette@postmedia.com

HOME OPENER

Western (1-0) vs. Waterloo (0-1)

When: Sunday, 7 p.m. at Western Alumni Stadium

The matchup: The Mustangs beat Waterloo 66-3 in their last meeting at home Sept. 24, 2022. The Warriors dropped their opener 31-29 to Toronto this past weekend.

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