Western Mustangs football team returns to the field with a big win – London | The Canadian News

After nearly two years without OUA football, the Western Mustangs took a solid 41-13 victory over McMaster on Saturday at TD Stadium in London, Ontario.

Western running back Keon Edwards reached the end zone three times to lead the Mustangs offensively.

After the game, Western head coach Greg Marshall gave credit to the offensive line and the defensive line.

“We wanted to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. His base defense was going to make it difficult for us to run the ball. That was basically the same defense that we faced in the Yates Cup (2019) when we didn’t run the ball well and it showed how much it has changed, ”said Marshall.

Without OUA football for two years, the experience can be rare and key at the same time, and the Mustangs’ offensive line took advantage of those who returned in the trenches.

“From an athletic standpoint, the line is one of the best I’ve ever trained and is capable of playing at the next level,” Marshall said.

Adding to the running game is fifth-year fullback Daniel Valente, who increased the ability of Western running backs like Edwards and Trey Humes to go outside.

New West quarterback Jackson White found Griffin Campbell and Brett Ellerman for touchdowns in the second half.

White was going against his former team and Marshall pointed out the challenges it can bring, especially after spending so much time between real games.

“As much as you say ‘don’t worry about it, Jacks, it’s just another game,’ there will be nerves. It just needed to settle in and it did, ”Marshall said. “It was exceptionally accurate, especially in the third and fourth quarters.”

Like Marshall, White praised everyone in front of him and the guys who lined up behind him as well.

“Line O and the corridors made work easier today and we are delighted to start this way,” said White. “(The Marauders) were coming fast and we had a hard time getting used to it, but we made it.”

White’s throw to the rear of the end zone from 25 yards to Griffin Campbell in the fourth quarter put the Mustangs up 31-13 and the game out of reach.

The score at the half was 14-7 for Western and the Marauders managed to keep things close in the second half as they cut Western’s lead to four points twice on a pair of field goals.

West kicker Ryan Garrity connected between those scores from 45 yards for his first OUA field goal. Garrity made it memorable, not just because of the distance, but the fact that it hit both posts on the stud and went through it.

Quick starts are vital at the OAU this year. A season that normally begins the last weekend of August has been changed to the third week of September, meaning that teams will only play six regular-season games.

McMaster’s only touchdown came after a fumble on a Mustang punt that the Marauders recovered at the six-yard line west.

Mustangs defensive lineman Deionte Knight helped create a pressure-filled afternoon for Marauders quarterback Andreas Dueck. West linebacker Zach Lindley was another defensive force with an interception, a sack and a couple of quarterback pressures.

The look on Greg Marshall’s face after the game said more than anything about the return of college football.

“It was really good to play again,” admitted Marshall. “The atmosphere was great, the refereeing was outstanding. It was a great soccer afternoon ”.

Next Western will visit the Guelph Gryphons on September 25 to start at 6 p.m. and then return home on October 2 at 1 p.m. against the Laurier Golden Hawks.