Tale of the Tape: Western Mustangs vs. the Laurier Golden Hawks
All-time head to head:
Western leads 41-23
Last meeting:
Western 34, Laurier 28, (Sept. 24, 2011)
Series Streak: Western has won 6 in a row
Last 10: Western 6-4
Next Games:
Western: @ Ottawa, Oct. 20, 1pm
Laurier: v@ McMaster, Oct 20, 1pm
The Western Mustangs look to get back on the winning track in a pivotal matchup versus long-time rival the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks Saturday, October 13, at 1:00 p.m. at TD Waterhouse Stadium. This game features two 3-3 opponents battling for a playoff spot and a home quarterfinal game. Western looks to rebound from a 42-39 defeat in Guelph where the Mustangs scored 29 unanswered points to rally from a 33-7 deficit, but came up just short, losing on a last minute field goal. Laurier is coming into the matchup on a high note shutting out crosstown rival the Waterloo Warriors 12-0.
Saturday’s game is an opportunity for Western to snap a two game losing streak, it’s first since 2007 in head coach Greg Marshall’s first season at the helm. They will look to once again utilize a strong running game with CIS leading rusher Garret Sanvido. In the pocket expect a healthy Will Finch to be at the helm with Blake Huggins, who came on strong in relief against Guelph, ready to go if needed. This matchup also marks Senior Day where many of the fourth and fifth year players will be honoured pre-game for their time and efforts over their careers as a Mustang. Donnie Marshall, Mike Van Praet, Josh Burley, Greg Willson and others will have their final regular season curtain call at TD Waterhouse Stadium.
Matchups between Western and Laurier over the years have been tough sledding including last season when an undefeated Western team went into Laurier and eked out a 34-28 victory over the winless Golden Hawks. Expect another four quarter battle with the intensity ramped up with a playoff spot on the line. Western is currently riding a six game winning streaks versus the Hawks that dates back to 2006 including two playoff matchups where the kicking game and the foot of assistant coach Darryl Wheeler was one of the deciding factors.
Offensively, Western looks to rebound from a costly six interception performance against the Gryphons. Look for Finch to have a rebound game and continue to spread the ball around to targets Brian Marshall, Matt Uren, Matt Brazier and Justin Sanvido. On the ground look for Garret Sanvido to eclipse the 1000 yard mark and inch closer Tim Tindale’s single season rushing record of 1208 yards in 1991. Sanvido comes into the game with 905 yards and 12 touchdowns, leading the CIS in both categories. He is also inching closer to Tindale’s Western single season record of 16 touchdowns set way back in 1991. For Laurier look for the tandem of freshman Furman University transfer Travis Eman and London native Steve Fantham to spread the ball around to the likes of Felix Odum and Anton Bennett. Whatever offence has the most success balancing the run and the pass will have the upper hand in Saturday’s contest.
Defensively Laurier is led by all everything linebacker fifth-year Vancouver native Mitchell Bosch. Bosch who plays the middle has the ability to play anywhere on the defensive side and is regarded by many as one of the top linebackers in the country. Western will have to find ways to limit his production. For the Mustangs they will look to their front seven and build on the strong performances by Dylan Ainsworth, Daryl Waud and Brent Wheeler from last weekend to apply lots of pressure to the Laurier quarterbacks.
Special teams will look to play a big factor in another chapter of the Mustangs-Golden Hawks rivalry as this is the time of the year when the weather gets awful and the winds gust get more intense. Between these two teams the kicking game always seems to be a factor, especially late in the season. Laurier has lost semi-finals in 2008 and 2010 at the foot of Darryl Wheeler kicking ten field goals in those contests and look for the Golden Hawks to try to erase those memories with a stout kicking game of their own. Both teams this time around possess kickers that can make field goals with great consistency. Laurier’s sophomore kicker Ronnie Pfeffer is coming off a four-for-four performance including nailing two field goals over forty yards and is hitting 73 percent of his field goal attempts. Western’s Lirim Hajrullahu hasn’t been too shabby himself nailing 10/13 field goals, regaining his form from 2010, and his punting is near the top of the CIS averaging just over 40 yards per boot. Look for both squads to try and get a big momentum play this weekend and translate it to a victory.
Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. at TD Waterhouse Stadium. Fans can also watch live on Rogers London and streamed online via Mustang TV at this link: The game will also be broadcast on NewsTalk 1290 CJBK with Tom McConnell and former Mustangs head coach Larry Haylor calling all the action.
