The storied rivalry between the Queen’s Gaels and Western Mustangs renews September 15th at 1:00 p.m. in a game with national implications as the teams are currently ranked sixth and fifth respectively in the CIS Top Ten rankings. The game, which will be broadcast nationally on the Score, features two teams that are loaded with talent and both intend to play deep into the playoffs.

Last year`s game was one to forget as the Mustangs were defeated 37-0 in a game that saw many Western starters rest and recuperate as Western already clinched first place in the OUA. This season’s matchup features some new faces on both sides of the ball for but should once again reignite the old Big Four rivalry. The two squads are frequent playoff opponents and Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall will be looking for his first win at Richardson stadium since the OUA quarterfinals in 2007. Something to watch for in this year’s game is new defensive coordinator Dennis McPhee lining his troops up against his nephew, Queen’s quarterback Billy McPhee, in what has the makings to be an interesting matchup.

Western brings a talented front seven to go along with Donnie Marshall and a fast paced offence that exploded right out of the gate, averaging 637 yards per game over the first two weeks, the best in the nation. Western has shown great balance running and passing the ball in the victories over Waterloo and Toronto. The offensive line, revamped after the losses of matt Norman and Brendan Dunn to the CFL, has set a physical presence at the line of scrimmage. New left guard former defensive tackled Mike Van Praet and left tackle Shane Bergman who stands in at 6’7 and 350 pounds have more than held their own thus far in the OUA.

The defense led by new defensive coordinator Dennis McPhee showed its capacity to put pressure on the quarterback racking up 12 sacks over the first two games, while also keeping teams to an average of 219 yards per game, again the best in the CIS through two weeks. Look for a battle at the line of scrimmage where the likes of Daryl Waud, Brent Wheeler, Ricky Osei- Kusi and company aim to give quarterback Billy McPhee a long stressful day in the backfield. The veteran front seven complimented with the likes of Pawel Kruba and All-Canadian Beau Landry have thus far made a big imprint to being one of the best defenses the OUA and CIS have to offer.

Two London products are in the Gael line up. Former CCH quarterback Austin Geddes is a back up to Bill McPhee and London South Product Dillon Wamsley is Queen’s starting kicker. Wamlsey was named OUA special teams player of the week for both week one and week two.

This game begins a 3 game stint that features three OUA playoff teams from 2011. The game will also have playoff implications and the winner at Richardson stadium will most likely have an inside track of clinching a home playoff game.  The two teams have a history that goes back to the 1900’s where Western, Queens. McGill and the University of Toronto regularly squared off against each other with the Yates Cup on the line.

Both squads are coming off disappointing finishes in 2011 look to rise to the top in the OUA but it won’t be easy as parity seems to be the trend in 2012 with many teams capable of knocking each other off on any given day. This game features two of the top teams going head to head in a physical battle and will be one that kicks off the heart of the schedule for Western. With many close battles in recent memory that have gone down to the wire, look for more off the same between Western and Queens on Saturday September 15^th.

Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. at Richardson Stadium in Kingston. Fans across Canada can watch live on the Score television network, stream the game online via thescore.com, or listen live via 1290 AM CJBK Radio where Tom McConnell and Larry Haylor will be calling all the action.