LONDON, Ont. – The No.2-ranked Western Mustangs spoiled the Waterloo Warrior’s return to OUA football action with a record-breaking offensive explosion en route to a decisive 86-22 victory at TD Waterhouse Stadium Monday night in front of a crowd of 10,500.

The 86 points are a Western team record, eclipsing 76 scored at York on Oct. 16, 2010, and are just four shy of the OUA mark of 90 set by Wilfrid Laurier in 1974.

The 108 combined points are only three off the OUA record of 111 set on Oct. 12, 1974, when Ottawa defeated McGill 83-28.

Western’s Lirim Hajrullahu (St. Catharines, Ont.) kicked 11 converts, one more than the former league record of 10 shared by four players including former Mustang Ray Macoritti (vs. Toronto; Sept. 18, 1987).

The Mustangs face a much tougher challenge Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. when they travel to Hamilton to meet the No. 3-ranked McMaster Marauders, who won their 2011 season opener 26-2 over Queen’s Gaels.

Mustangs erupted for 31 points in the first 9:31of the opening quarter. The defense forced a safety touch after only 1:11 of play and 72 seconds later, punter Darryl Wheeler (Hamilton, Ont.) kicked a 72 yard single. HTML BOX SCORE

Rookie Tyler Varga (Cambridge, Ont.) scored his first of three touchdowns on an exciting 39-yard run. Before the half ended Varga found the end zone again on runs of two and 15 yards as Mustangs stormed to a 38-0 lead early in the second quarter. Overall Varga carried six times for 80 yards in an impressive OUA debut. 

“I wanted to go full-speed on every play and I need to give credit to the whole offensive line,” said Varga. “They make it easy and don’t get enough credit.”

Veteran running back Nathan Riva (LaSalle, Ont.) contributed two touchdowns to the Mustangs onslaught on runs of four and 21 yards.

John Leckie (Milton, Ont.) added touchdown runs of 10 and 23 yards. He contributed 115 yards on 12 carries, as Mustangs amassed 499 yards in net rushing on 48 attempts.

Quarterback Donnie Marshall (London, Ont.) combined with younger brother Brian on two spectacular plays: the first a sideline-to-sideline scramble setting up a 28-yard completion and the second a 25-yard touchdown strike late in the second quarter.

“Playing with my brother is all about timing,” said the veteran quarterback. “We have a little more chemistry, but I've practised with our veteran receivers a lot as well. I think the chemistry’s pretty even.”

Donnie Marshall finished with 14 completions in 24 pass attempts, good for 193 yards, while brother Brian had five catches for 78 yards.

Trailing 38-0, Waterloo’s offense connected for three second-quarter touchdowns. Marco Visentin (Kentville, Ont.) put the Warriors on the scoreboard with a one-yard run set up by Eric Roque’s (Sudbury, Ont.) 105-yard kickoff return.

Waterloo quarterback Evan Martin (Kitchener, Ont.) connected with speedy receiver Dustin Zender (Kitchener, Ont.) on pass-and-run touchdowns of 35 and 80 yards. Martin completed 23 of 42 passes for 314 yards but was sacked three times. Zender led all receivers with seven catches, good for 188 yards.

In total the two teams combined for 47 points in the second quarter and the Mustangs went to the locker room sporting a 58-20 lead.

In the third quarter, Donnie Marshall continued his pinpoint passing, connecting with Oladipo Onayemi (Barrie, Ont.). 

After Wheeler conceded a safety touch for Waterloo’s final two points, the Mustangs defense went to work. Linebacker Sean Blake (Hamilton, Ont.) picked off an errant Martin pass and returned the ball 48 yards for a touchdown. 

Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall substituted freely throughout the game, to minimize injuries. Backup runningbacks Garret Sanvido (Vancouver, B.C.) and Kody Campbell (Sarnia, Ont.) added the final touchdowns on 15-and-13-yard runs respectively early in the fourth quarter.

Coach Marshall did not place great significance on the impressive offensive display and the numerous records and near-records. “There’s no joy in the score of the game. We didn’t set out to do it, we’re not proud, but it happens.”

Nonetheless, Marshall pointed to several excellent rookie performances. “Varga ran the ball hard, Daryl Waud (Hamilton, Ont.) is as good a defensive lineman as I’ve seen. Kalvin Johnson (Brampton, Ont.) and Horace Finnikin (Brampton, Ont.) both played very well.”

Lost amid all the offensive thunderbolts were several solid defensive performances on both teams. Blake and Waud led Mustang defenders with 5.5 and 5.0 tackles respectively and defensive end David Lee (London, Ont.) had three quarterback sacks.

Waterloo linebacker Corey Dawson (Cambridge, Ont.) led all players with eight solo and six assisted tackles followed by teammate Reid Nicholson (Grand Haven, Mich.) who contributed six solo tackles and four assists.