LONDON, Ont. - The last time the Mustangs went up against the Marauders, the game resulted in an OUA playoff elimination for the purple and white. With the loss still fresh in the memory of the Western athletes, the Mustangs held nothing back as they cruised to a 24-0 victory over the McMaster on September 19 at Alumni Field.
 
With the win the Mustangs hold a 3-0 record, while McMaster sits at 2-1.
 
Mark Denton topped the scoresheet with seven points, from one try and two successful converts. Also putting up points were Connor Offutt, Michael Major, and Mike Turnbull, who each contributed a try to the purple and white effort.
 
"I think there were some flashbacks to last year," said head coach David Knowles "when MAC beat us in the playoff game when we had beaten them by one-point the game before. I think there was some hesitation there, in terms of what we would be getting into. Once we found our legs the confidence grew, and I think the result speaks for itself."
 
The first half began with a series of near misses on both ends of the field, with Western and McMaster's efforts being foiled just feet away from the in-goal area. The teams took turns making gains, yet neither were able to take it all the way.
 
It wasn't until the 16-minute mark that the Mustangs were able to break the pattern, when Offurt planted the ball deep past the maroon in-goal line. Major followed up almost exactly ten minutes later with a try of his own, giving Denton the opportunity to put the ball directly through the uprights for an additional two points.
 
Turnbull closed off the half with the third try of the evening, bringing the score to 17-0.
 
Returning to the field, Western wasted no time in adding to the scoreboard. With just over 42 minutes on the clock Denton landed a try right in the middle of the in-goal area, allowing for him to score an easy convert.
 
While no points were added to the board in the last 38 minutes, there was plenty of action on the field. The Mustangs played a tough and gritty defence, on the prowl for any chance to shut down a maroon offensive play.
 
According to Denton, it was the focus on defence that carried the purple and white though the game.
 
"We were really hard on defence, and we kept the pressure up," he reported after the game. "As the saying goes, bend don't break. We never broke […] We were animalistic, we were panthers out there."
 
By the time the final whistle blew, the Mustangs had captured their second win of the season, 24-0.
 
The Mustangs are set to take the field again on October 3, against Queen's. The game, scheduled to begin at 3 p.m., will be hosted by Western at Alumni Field.