LONDON, Ont. - The Western Mustangs clinched a playoff spot putting up 582 total offensive yards in an 64-6 win over the York Lions at TD Waterhouse Stadium on Oct. 8 in front of 3,963 fans.

With the win, Western improves to 5-1 and clinches a post-season berth. York falls to 0-6 and is officially out of playoff contention. Their losing streak extends to 17 straight.

The Western defence limited the Lions to 92 yards of total offence despite missing two starting defensive linemen - Mike Van Praet (London, Ont.) who is out for the season and Alexander Robinson (Vancouver, BC) who is day to day.

FULL STATS

The Mustangs made four goal-line stops in the opening three and a half minutes. 

"Our coaches called our defence 'soft' after the last game and we had to prove them wrong," said defensive end David Lee (London, Ont.). "We had to show our coaches, we had to show the nation that we are not soft and that we're capable. We were on fire."

Chris Greaves (Mississauga, Ont.) took the double-teams in place of Van Praet on the night and was very effective. The Mustangs defence recorded 11 tackles for losses, two interceptions and four sacks along with 52 total tackles. John Surla (Niagara Falls, Ont.) led the way with nine total tackles, while Lee had three tackles for losses, a sack and two solo take-downs.

York quarterback Nick Coutu (St. Catharines, Ont.) was 7/20 for 107 yards and was picked off twice.
The early goal-line stand in reaction to the Bull fumble gave the whole team momentum.

"We managed to stop them and it was a big confidence boost," said Lee. "Queen's is going to be a powerful team and a good test... we'll have to be ready. They're offensive line is very strong."

In only one half of action, Michael Faulds (Eden Mills, Ont.) was 18/26 for 249 yards and ran four times for 10 yards and two touchdowns. He is 97 passing yards shy of  the OUA career passing yards record held by former McMaster Marauder Ben Chapdelaine (9,974) and 123 yards shy of the 10,000 career milestone.

It looked like it would be a close game early as Western survived a scare. Mustangs receiver Zach Bull(Port Colborne, Ont.) fumbled a Faulds pass and York took over in Western territory. It was one of three turnovers on the day and York scored off two of them.

After a great goal-line stance, Western escaped surrendering a touchdown and gave up a 17-yard field goal from former Aussie Rules football player Adam Moretti (Melbourne, Australia) . It was York's first field goal of the season and made it 3-0 Lions.

It would be their only lead of the game.

Two long drives of 75 and 59 yards were capped off by Nathan Riva (LaSalle, Ont.) and Faulds touchdown runs to give Western the 14-3 lead after the first quarter.

Riva's two-yard score was made possibly after some great catch-and-runs from Mike Hegarty (Sarnia, Ont.), Nick Trevail (London, Ont.) and Riva who eluded two tackles for a 42-yard gain to give Western first-and-goal.

From there, it was all Western.

A Faulds fumble on a shovel pass gave York the ball back and briefly put Western under pressure, but they failed to convert.

The Mustangs gave them another shot, turning the ball over on downs, resulting in another York field goal to make it 14-6.

Faulds made it 21-6 with another one-yard scamper late in the second quarter, and then Aaron Handsor(Chatham, Ont.) scored on a 25-yard interception return to make it 28-6 with one minute left in the half.
Donnie Marshall (London, Ont.) came in for the third quarter at quarterback - much to the dismay of Faulds' record-watchers - and Western outscored the Lions 24-0 in the quarter. Marshall finished 8/14 with 130 yards of passing one touchdown and running 7 times for 21 yards and a touchdown.

Marshall's ground score came from five yards out - after a Craig Butler (London, Ont.) interception - on his first play at pivot. 

Other third-quarter scores came on a pair of Lirim Hajrullahu (St. Catharines, Ont.) from 11 and 18 yards - his first two of his career - and Hegarty caught a 22-yard Marshall pass. Western added four points on safeties.

In the fourth, Jerimy Hipperson (St. Catharines, Ont.) ran in a five-yard touchdown for his first of the season and Hajrullahu added another 11-yarder to make it 62-6 Western. The Mustangs added a safety to make the final 64-6.

Next game for the Mustangs is a battle for home-field advantage in the playoffs against the No. 4 ranked Queen's Gaels, Oct. 17 in Kingston. The Mustangs will practice twice on natural grass this week to prepare for the terrain at Richardson Stadium.

"They're a big and physical team," Greaves said. "We have to compete and they are a good team and weare a good team. We will see who comes out on top."

The game can be seen live on national TV on The Score (channel 54 in London on Rogers cable) at 1 p.m.