A loss stung the Western Mustangs. Their defence has responded with force

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Last month, the Western football team surrendered 43 points to the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks.

That defeat cost the Mustangs the national No. 1 ranking, first place in the Ontario conference and a helpful opening-round playoff bye.

That’s a lot of gut punches in one afternoon.

The goal now, heading into an OUA quarterfinal matchup with McMaster Saturday (1 p.m. at Western Alumni Stadium), is to make sure Sept. 14 wasn’t season defining.

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“We went in on that Sunday morning after (the Laurier game) and watched the film,” long-time Mustangs defensive co-ordinator Paul Gleason said. “We sat down with the kids and graded it. You have to learn from it, become self-aware of what the weaknesses are and what you need to do different.

“It was a classic wake-up call. A good mid-season evaluation of what we do and how we do it.”

Western hammered its final four regular-season opponents – Queen’s, Mac, Toronto and Windsor. The defence rallied to lead the conference in fewest points allowed (129), fewest yards per game against (307.8) and takeaways (19, including 12 interceptions).

“Every year, I talk to the kids when we start training camp that we want to get better every week,” Gleason said. “That’s always the goal. Figure out who’s good at certain things and who isn’t. The idea is to play your best when it matters most.”

That time is now.

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THE ‘D’ CAST: Western went with a four-man defensive line for 90 per cent of the snaps against Windsor last week. They will likely favour the three-man front against McMaster.

“Windsor was averaging over 200 yards a game running,” Gleason said, “so that was the priority. This week, we’re looking at a quarterback (Keagan Hall) who will try to throw it all over the place. We’ll have to mix it up again.”

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In the last meeting at Mac, linebacker Max Nixon made a hit on Hall that led to a Ryan Barthelson interception return touchdown that swung the momentum.

“Max came in as a defensive back and safety,” Gleason said. “He’s probably 25 pounds heavier than when he started here. Max is a hammer out there. He hits people hard and is a physical presence.

“And Barthelson just makes plays. He may not be in the right spot but he’ll turn to you and say, ‘here’s the ball, Coach’.”

Free safety Jackson Findlay is playing at an extremely high level, following a long line of gifted Mustangs at that same spot. The 6-foot-3, 208-pounder from North Vancouver is the CFL’s top-ranked U Sports player.

“Danny (Valente) was special, (Jesse) McNair was and Craig Butler and (Matt) Carapella, too,” Gleason said. “We call so many (audibles) out of our coverage and Jackson co-ordinates it back there. He’s everything you want in a free safety.

“He’s 6-foot-3, 208 pounds. He hit Windsor’s quarterback on a 3rd-and-1 play coming downhill fast. He can flat-out fly.”

On the corners, Kojo Odoom has battled back from knee woes and 5-foot-9 Londoner Jacob Saunders was a standout again this season.

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HALL PASS: Keagan Hall was second in the conference in passing yardage behind Londoner Taylor Elgersma of Laurier. He was the runaway leader in completions (199) and attempts (284) so it’s no secret how the Marauders will try to succeed against Western.

“He’s a really good quarterback and their commitment to the run is not what it used to be,” Gleason said. “He’s their best player so you’re going to use him.”

Hall has been scrambling for yards more in recent games. Mac has been in must-win mode for the past few weeks.

“You’re starting to see him pull it down and he’s willing to take the hits now,” Gleason said. “He’s running more than he had been and it’s hard to account for. We have strategies and we’ll be aware, but it’s that ‘X’ factor.

“He and (Elgersma) are very similar challenges, no question about it.”

But the Western defence looks up to the task.

It’s hard to see anybody putting 43 points up on them again, especially in the playoffs.

rpyette@postmedia.com

OUA FOOTBALL

(Playoff game)

• Western (7-1) vs. McMaster (4-4)
• When: Saturday, 1 p.m. at Western Alumni Stadium.
• The matchup: The Mustangs pounded the Marauders 61-26 Oct. 5 in Hamilton.

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