In a game billed as an early Yates Cup preview, it was the Western Mustangs pulling away from the McMaster Marauders with a 48-21 win at Ron Joyce Stadium in Hamilton, Ont. Rookie standout running back Tyler Varga (Kitchener, Ont.) led the way for the Mustangs with four touchdowns on the day, for a total of seven rushing touchdowns on the season.

The Mustangs racked up an impressive 551 total yards of offense, with 321 yards on the ground and 235 in the air. Varga lead the way with four touchdowns, while quarterback Donnie Marshall (London, Ont.) finished 14 for 23 and 235 yards passing.  The Marauders compiled 474 total yards of offense, but the Mustangs defense that gave up 22 points last week against Waterloo pulled together to keep the Marauders out of the end zone time and time again, including an impressive goal line stand late in the first half.

Coming in to the game the Mustangs were ranked No. 2 in the CIS and the Marauders No. 3. The Marauders opened the scoring early in the first quarter on a Kyle Quinlan (South Woodslee, Ont.) pass to Matthew Peressini (Ancaster, Ont.), but the Mustangs responded  with a scoring drive of their own when Nathan Riva (LaSalle, Ont.) ran it in from nine yards out. The key play on the scoring drive was a 51-yard pass from Donnie Marshall to Andrew Thibaudeau (Kitchener, Ont.).

The turning point of the first quarter was a Beau Landry (Kitchener, Ont.) sack of Quinlan inside Mustangs territory, which forced a fumble that was recovered by Mike Spence (Burlington, Ont.). The first quarter finished in a 7-7 draw.

The Mustang offense took control in the second quarter, marching the length of the field from their own three yard line early in the quarter and capped it off when Varga went in untouched to lead 14-7, a lead the Mustangs would not relinquish. Varga added a second touchdown and the Mustang defence stopped the Marauder ground attack three times on the goal line with two minutes left in the half as the Mustangs went into halftime up 21-7.

The Marauders opened the scoring again in the second half to close within seven points just five minutes into the quarter. The Mustangs responded six minutes later when Donnie Marshall found his brother Brian Marshall (London, Ont.) 47 yards down field. Varga leapt into the end zone three plays later to put Western up by 14.

With 2:44 left in the third quarter, Defensive tackle Daryl Waud (Hamilton, Ont.) picked off Quinlan and returned it 33 yards for his first ever touchdown as the Mustangs began to pull away, taking a 34-14 lead into the final quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Varga added his fourth touchdown of the game and Riva scored his second touchdown of the game with 2:28 remaining to cap off the scoring.

Next Saturday at TD Waterhouse Stadium in London, Ont., the Mustangs will face the Ottawa Gee-Gees (2-0) in a rematch of last year’s Yates Cup Final, won by the Mustangs 26-25.