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Western still perfect after game with Laurier

September 29, 2011
By Ryan Stern

By the fourth quarter of games this season the Mustangs have lost their opponents in the rearview mirror, but Saturday’s matchup against the Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks brought a new challenge—a close game. After outscoring their opponents by an average of 39.7 points through three games, the Mustangs had yet to be truly challenged, but as the Mustangs hit the road for the second time this year they knew they were going to encounter a challenge.

“Our expectation is always to go out and compete and we knew we had to come out and play much better than we played the two previous weeks” Golden Hawks coach Gary Jeffries said. “We had one of the best teams in the country coming in and so we worked like heck all week in preparation.”

The Mustangs brought their offensive firepower to University Stadium but Laurier was up for the challenge. Expectations were high as the Mustangs continued their road to defending their Yates Cup championship, and though trouble may have been lurking, the Mustangs escaped Waterloo with a narrow 34-28 victory.

“We expect to win, but we expect to win every week and that is how we prepare. We expect to win and we expect to play well and those are two of the things that we think are important,” Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall said. “We beat Laurier but we didn’t play as well as we needed to play, so there are a couple things that you want from the game. Obviously winning is the first thing but then you want consistency in your play, you want to play well.

Jumping out to a quick 7-0 lead on a 63-yard punt return by Gold Hawks wide receiver Dillon Heap the Mustangs stormed back with two touchdowns from inside the six-yard line by rookie rushing sensation Tyler Varga. Varga’s 12th touchdown of the year puts him tops on the Canadian Interuniversity Sports leader board for rushing touchdowns and on pace to topple the all time record of 21 by CIS legend Jesse Lumsden.

“We have been kind of a ball control, put the ball inside then bang it in and Tyler is very effective at running the ball, he comes downhill hard.” Marshall said.

Not to be overshadowed by the Mustangs offense, Dillon Heap was a model of productivity, albeit in a losing effort. Heaps hauled in seven passes for 176 yards and a score while also contributing on special teams with the aforementioned punt return touchdown.

“I don’t think it was anything the Mustangs didn’t do, that’s just a special athlete. When he gets an opportunity to make plays he just does,” Jefferies said. “Just a good player making plays”.

All in all, the difference in this game was the Mustangs decided advantage in the turnover column. Forcing five turnovers while giving up none, the Mustangs were able to give their offense ample opportunities to put the game away.

“Turnovers were pivotal in the outcome of this game,” Mustangs linebacker Luke Reda said. “Our defence had a pick, a forced fumble and recovery, and a [interception for a touchdown] in quick succession that really turned the game around for us.  As a defense we know our offence can produce and on Saturday we gave them the opportunity to do so through our turnovers.”

Stout run defense led by Reda and his team-leading seven tackles—including one tackle for loss—allowed the Mustangs to alter Laurier game plan. The Golden Hawks inability to run forced them to the air leading to quarterback Shane Kelly’s four interception day.

“We don’t want to throw it 50 times a game and that is what we have evolved into and we have to run the football more than what we have been” Jefferies said. “It looks like it is always on the quarterback, but that is not always necessarily the case. A couple things are definitely fixable”

After a key victory on their journey for Vanier Cup redemption, the Mustangs host perennial Ontario University Athletics cellar dweller the York Lions. The game is the central focus of Western’s homecoming celebration and the Mustangs’ fans will surely be in store for some more offensive fireworks.

“We are pretty focused on what we do during the week and it is my responsibility to make sure we remain focus and to make sure the practices are effective,” coach Marshall said. “ We don’t want to look too far past York because we have a game to play and we need to play better and more consistent on offence, defence and special teams.”

 

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