Western Mustangs clinch second seed, lose key starters in blowout win

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A year ago, the Western football team entered the playoffs without their top two running backs. Untimely injuries have returned.

The Mustangs clinched second place in the Ontario conference by crushing Windsor 46-5 Saturday at Western Alumni Stadium, but lost explosive tailback Ethan Dolby and top receiver Seth Robertson early in the regular-season finale.

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Western will face McMaster – who it beat 61-26 in Hamilton two weeks ago – in the first round next Saturday (1 p.m.) at home. But the Mustangs will have to dig more into their offensive depth this time around.

“It looks like Ethan might have broken his fibula,” head coach Greg Marshall said of the St. Thomas Parkside grad. “Similar injury to Keon (Edwards) and Keanu (Yazbeck) last year. It’s too bad because we decided to start him. He earned it and took the starting reps. First play, he hurts (it). He’ll be done for this year.”

Robertson’s seven-game touchdown streak came to an end abruptly and he departed with just two catches. The veteran play-maker is feared to have a high-ankle sprain, which would need a couple of weeks of rehabilitation.

“We have to assess that and see,” Marshall said. “We missed him out there. A lot of what we scheme up is built around getting the ball to Seth. When he’s out, it’s a big hole on offence.

“If it’s (just a regular) sprain, it will be day-to-day.”

The injuries serve to magnify Western’s loss to Wilfrid Laurier last month. That cost the Mustangs the first-place bye – which would have given them an extra week to rest, regroup and give some players more reps.

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RUSH KING: Short-yardage quarterback Jerome Rancourt scored three of Western’s five rushing touchdowns, including a pair of fourth-quarter runs to help put the game away.

Incredibly, that made the 6-foot-5, 248-pounder from Quebec City the rushing TD king in the conference this season. He finished with nine scores – one ahead of Ottawa’s Charles Asselin and McMaster’s Lucas Barresi.

“I don’t plan it, but it just happens,” the civil engineering student said. “Every time the coach gives me the ball, I try to make the most out of every carry.”

The Mustangs struggled to run the ball in the first half, finishing with just 34 ground yards against the Lancers’ stout defence. They bumped that number up to 227 by the final buzzer.

Western also got Yazbeck and Edwards, who will see post-season action for the first time since 2022, more involved in the final two quarters.

“It was always a question of one or two blocks,” Rancourt said. “It wasn’t the whole thing wasn’t working. We just made sure they were sealed and that helped us with the run in the second half.”

BIG PLAY BART: Western linebacker Ryan Barthelson made another game-changing play with his third interception of the season in Lancers territory.

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The Aussie ran it back to the one-yard line to set up Rancourt’s first score for a 17-3 lead.

“We were in a Cover-3 and I just dropped out and made a play on the ball,” he said. “I thought I was gone but I guess I’m not as fast as I thought I was.”

Then, he updated his story.

“I wanted Jerome to get the touchdown,” he joked.

Western hasn’t surrendered a major in two games and limited Toronto and Windsor to a combined 11 points.

“Defence wins championships,” Marshall said. “You need to play solid defence and give your team opportunities. The defence did a really good job limiting the run on first down and forcing them into situations they didn’t want to be in.”

There isn’t a lot of fear. On one play, the 6-foot, 179-pound Barthelson ended up face-to-face with the Lancers 300-pound centre – and shoved him.

“You can’t be scared out there,” he said. “Play to the whistle. I shouldn’t have done the push but it’s good fun getting in the mix and getting up with the big boys. I love it.”

All the time?

“Sometimes, but not really,” he said with a grin. “You have to act comfortable. It’s all good.”

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ON THE SIDELINES: Western led the OUA in offensive points scored (396) and fewest points allowed (129). That’s a great sign heading into the playoffs . . . This was the first game this season the Mustangs didn’t throw a touchdown pass this season . . . Western’s Brian Garrity kicked a season-high 44-yard field goal in the first quarter . . . Rancourt was called on to hold for a Garrity second-half field goal attempt after Robertson was hurt and backup holder Brayden Misseri had to come out after receiving treatment from the trainers. “First time in my career,” Rancourt said. “I was the next guy up, I guess. The last time I practised it was in 2022. They came to me and asked, ‘can you hold?’ I said, ‘Sure.’” Unfortunately, Garrity hit the upright on the missed kick . . . Western surrendered just its second safety this season when pinned deep in its own end zone by a James Parker punt early in the second quarter. Windsor earned 11 safeties through the regular season . . . Play-making rookie Rookie Dasani McIntosh led the Mustangs in receiving yards (75) and rushing yards (17) in the first half . . . Misseri made the most spectacular catch of Western’s season on a leaping 33-yard reception that contributed to a 100-yard scoring drive. The Mustangs capped it with a seven-yard Rancourt run to put the game away . . . Western was a perfect 4-0 on home field and went 3-1 on the road.

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rpyette@postmedia.com

OUA FOOTBALL

Mustangs 46, Lancers 5

Western touchdowns: Jerome Rancourt (3), Keon Edwards, Marcell Phillips

Next: The Mustangs open the playoffs against McMaster next Saturday, 1 p.m. at Western Alumni Stadium.

ROAD TO YATES CUP

(OUA first-round playoff matchups)

Laurier (8-0): Bye to semifinal round.

(2) Western (7-1) vs. (7) McMaster (4-4)

(3) Guelph (6-2) vs. (6) Ottawa (4-4)

(4) Windsor (5-3) vs. (5) Queen’s (5-3)

Game Summary

Saturday at Western Alumni Stadium

Mustangs 46, Lancers 5

First quarter
WES – TD Edwards run 1 (Garrity kick) 4:19
WSR – FG Lidster 16 7:23
WES – FG Garrity 44 11:43
WES – TD Rancourt run 1 (Garrity kick) 12:39

Second quarter
WSR – Safety 1:27
WES – FG Garrity 30 10:01
WES – FG Garrity 36 15:00

Third quarter
WES – Safety 13:05

Fourth quarter
WES – TD Rancourt run 7 (Garrity kick) 3:07
WES – TD Rancourt run 1 (Garrity kick) 10:21
WES – TD Phillips run 26 (Garrity kick) 14:28

Wsr  3 2 0 0–5
Wes 17 6 2 21–46

Individual stats

Rushing: Wsr – Cooke 8-42, Zorn 8-40. Wes – McIntosh 8-72, TD, Rancourt 5-35, 3 TD. Receiving: Wsr – Cunningham 1-23, Bjorgan 1-20. Wes – Misseri 7-94, McIntosh 2-75. Passing: Wsr – Skelton 9-20, 84, 0 TD, 1 Int., Roy 2-5, 16. Wes – Hillock 20-29, 287, 0 TD, 0 Int

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