PRE-GAME: A Homecoming in many ways

Its a homecoming in many ways.

This weekend marks the purple'est 3 days on the Western Mustangs calendar. The Homecoming Weekend brings thousands of Western alumni back home to reconnect with friends and take part in the many events taking place....

... and the main event will bring home the competition.

Former Mustangs quarterback Michael Faulds (2004-2009) is now the Offensive Coordinator for the York Lions, making it appropriate that he return for the Homecoming weekend. Faulds also holds the all-time leading passing record for the CIS after throwing for 10,811 yards as a Mustang.

Western Mustangs football coach Greg Marshall will be celebrating his own Homecoming this Saturday. Among the alumni being recognized are the 1986 Mustangs football squad; a team who collectively and individually dominated on defense, offense, and special teams as they posted a perfect regular season record of 7 wins and zero losses.

Greg Marshall, Chris Marcus, and Mike Kirkley were all members of the ’86 Western Mustangs football team.

But alumni aren't the only ones getting recognition.

Rookie Tyler Varga (Kitchener, Ont.) turned 18 this past Saturday in Waterloo, and added three more touchdowns to bring his season total to 12. The Golden Hawks defense limited Varga to only 88 yards but they couldn’t keep him out of the end zone (no team has managed to do that yet).

The offense was making all of the headlines earlier in the season, but now the defense is stepping up and proving they have some game, too. Last Saturday against Laurier, the defense created five turnovers, with four interceptions and one fumble recovery. Luke Reda and Aaron Handsor led the Mustangs defense with 7 tackles apiece, while Reda, Jamie Symianick, Beau Landry and Sean Blake had one interception each, with Blake’s interception an immediate six points as he returned it 25 yards into the Golden Hawks end zone.

The Mustangs have bested the York Lions ("Yeomen" prior to 2003) 32 straight games, including regular season and playoffs. The last time York beat Western was in 1980 when York won 30-23 on home turf.

To get tickets for Saturday's game, click here.

To watch or listen LIVE, click here.

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