Western Mustangs beat Queen’s for bounce-back homecoming win

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They’re back.

The Western football team moved past the pain of their disheartening Laurier defeat by squashing Queen’s 39-14 at Mustangs Homecoming on Saturday at Alumni Stadium.

“The (loss) really flipped a switch within the guys,” said running back Keanu Yazbeck, who accounted for 72 of Western’s 197 ground yards and a determined late touchdown run. “We’ve played for three years being the team that was hunted in the (Ontario conference). Now, we kind of felt like the lions.

“As much as the loss wasn’t fun, the mentality change in the locker room was a positive.”

After a quiet 2-0 first-quarter edge, Western (4-1) exploded for 18 second-quarter points. They only gave up two touchdowns in the final minute of both halves and were in control from pillar to post.

“Our guys did a great job,” Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall said. “We’ve got to run the ball and stop the run. We have to play well on special teams and we did that. That’s playoff football.”

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DEFENCE BETTER: Western prepared all week for Queen’s quarterback Alex Vreeken. But he was unable to play due to injury and Gaels coach Steve Snyder said it’s still to be determined how much time he will miss.

Instead, Anthony Lio was under centre for the Tricolour and the Mustangs didn’t know that until two hours before kickoff.

“Curveball,” Marshall said. “We were looking at film from when Lio played one game last year. Russell Weir played last year but was moved to receiver. (Western assistant) Adam Grandy coached Lio with Team Ontario and we recruited him a bit. So we knew what we had to take away.”

Lio threw the two major scores, but was limited to 10-of-17 passing and 86 yards. Tailback Jared Chisari bulldozed for 120 ground yards but the Mustangs kept the star rusher from impacting the game in a big way.

“Their running back had been having a great year and we just had to stop it,” Western defensive tackle Max von Muehldorfer said. “From that – and those little hitch passes – we knew that would be their bread and butter.

“We knew if we can stop those, we can stop their offence.”

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The 43 points surrendered to Laurier was a wake-up call for defensive co-ordinator Paul Gleason’s crew. The program hadn’t allowed that many in a single game in eight years.

“We had to look ourselves in the mirror here and realize we’re not given anything here on the football field,” von Mueldorfer said. “Being a Western Mustang means a lot. This was a great momentum swing for us mentally and team morale-wise.”

ON THE SIDELINE: Western quarterback Evan Hillock got rolling after another tough start – 2-6 for 35 yards and an interception in the first quarter. The veteran passer threw two picks, though one was clearly because receiver Dasani McIntosh slipped. But it’s a worrying trend. The Mustangs have turned over the ball in the air in three straight games . . . That said, Hillock found seven different targets. “You want to try to spread the ball out so you’re not predictable,” Marshall said. “The key is don’t pre-determine where you’re going with the football. See what they align. There were some balls where Evan did a good job of taking what was there.” . . . Queen’s knew what it was getting into this weekend. “The bye makes a difference,” head coach Steve Snyder, the London native, said of Western’s two-week break. “We had come out of a few battles and they were able to freshen up. Tough matchup.” . . . The Mustangs ended up getting the ball first in both halves. Snyder elected to play for the wind at the Gaels’ backs late. “We were expecting it to be bad,” he said. “It didn’t turn out as bad as we thought. We feel confident to play with the wind in the long quarters. It didn’t pay off. I don’t think it made a difference in the game.” . . . Both Keon Edwards and Yazbeck, who fumbled the opening carry against Laurier, scored touchdowns. That’s a great sign. So was the contribution of fellow running back Ethan Dolby . . . The Yazbeck nine-yard score was highlight-reel stuff. He was in a scrum with three or four Queen’s tacklers and managed to escape and score. “It didn’t look like anything was there,” Marshall said. “That’s the trademark of our running backs. They keep their feet moving and don’t go down easy.” . . . Western only scored two points in a dreary first half two weeks ago against Laurier. This time, the Mustangs opened the scoring thanks to a safety off a botched Queen’s snap. Punter Matt Driver was forced to boot through the Gaels’ end zone and out of danger . . . Brian Garrity missed a 45-yard field goal in the second quarter but the Gaels couldn’t get the ball out of the end zone for a rouge. Queen’s then took the ball at the 38-yard line because the rule states on missed field goals over 35 yards that result in a single, the offensive team takes over at the line of scrimmage. If it’s a miss under 35 yards, then the ball is taken at the 35 . . . Gaels receiver Logan Walton hauled in a touchdown pass with 11 seconds left in the first half, then celebrated with an incredible backflip worthy of a Western cheerleader.

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rpyette@postmedia.com

OUA FOOTBALL

Mustangs 39, Gaels 14

Western touchdowns: Jerome Rancourt, Keon Edwards, Seth Robertson, Keanu Yazbeck
Queen’s touchdowns: Logan Walton, Nathan Falconi
Next: The Mustangs are in Hamilton to face McMaster next Saturday at 1 p.m.

Game Summary

Saturday at Western Alumni Stadium
Mustangs 39, Gaels 14

First quarter
WES – Safety 4:56

Second quarter
WES – FG Garrity 13 1:26
WES – TD Rancourt run 1 (Garrity kick) 4:50
WES – TD Edwards run 7 (Garrity kick) 12:29
WES – Single Garrity 14:19
QUE – TD Walton 31 pass from Lio (Mullan kick) 14:49

Third quarter
WES – Safety 6:16
WES – FG Garrity 8:45
WES – TD Robertson 4 pass from Hillock (Garrity kick) 14:27

Fourth quarter
WES – TD Yazbeck run 9 (Garrity kick) 9:05
QUE – TD Falconi 17 pass from Lio (Mullan kick) 14:22

Que 0 7 0 7–14
Wes 2 18 12 7–39

Individual stats
Rushing: Que – Chisari 15-120, Lio 3-14. Wes – Yazbeck 8-72, TD, Edwards 14-72, TD. Receiving: Que – Falconi 5-43, TD, Walton 1-29, TD. Wes – Jamal II 4-63, McIntosh 3-58. Passing: Que – Lio 10-17, 86 yards, 2 TD, 0 Int. Wes – Hillock 18-25, 264, 1 TD, 2 Int

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