WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The Western Mustangs scored on their first eight possessions of the game and didn't look back, cruising to a a record-breaking 81-3 win over the Acadia Axemen on Saturday afternoon in the Uteck Bowl.
 
"We played well. We were consistent right off the get-go and I thought our guys were flying around," said Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall. "We did the same things we've been doing all season. We did right from the start of the game, and Acadia looked a little tired. They came off a short week and that's unfortunate but we had to come out and play our game."
 
"They were so good today, but they've been good for us all year. I think the thing about our team is that they've gotten better and gotten more confident each and every week, today was the culmination. Hopefully not the end culmination, we've got another week to go."
 
With the win, the Mustangs will now head to the 53rd Vanier Cup and will face the Laval Rouge et Or for the national championship.
 
Western controlled things right from the opening kickoff, scoring on each and every one of their drives in the first half, save one that ended with the final whistle of the opening 30 minutes.
 
Cedric Joseph continued his phenomenal post-season by racking up 100 yards and three touchdowns. The Champlain College product now has 10 touchdowns in three playoff contests, matching the 10 rushing touchdowns he tallied during the regular season to lead the OUA.
 
"I've got to give it up to my o-line yet again," said Joseph. "They had an exceptional day on the ground today, really dominating performance by them, they really controlled the line of scrimmage and made my job a lot easier."
 
Trey Humes had a breakout performance with one touchdown and 172 yards on 15 carries, averaging 11.5 yards per attempt. Yannick Harou also played a major role in the Mustangs ground game, recording 98 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries.
 
Quarterback Chris Merchant had virtually a perfect day on Saturday, completing 10 of 11 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns. He was also a contributor to the Mustangs ground game, registering 54 yards on only six carries with two majors. He was recognized for his efforts by being named the game MVP.
 
Harry McMaster led the Mustangs receiving corps with five catches and 135 yards, including a highlight-reel 73-yard touchdown reception early in the second quarter.
 
While the offence's eye-popping numbers may steal the headlines, Western's defence was just as impressive on Saturday. The purple and white limited the Axemen to just 61 yards of offence and two first downs in the opening half, even preventing Acadia from crossing over to the Western side of the field.
 
Fraser Sopik led the purple and white defence in the win, totaling eight tackles including two for a loss. Along with holding the Acadia offence to only three points, the Mustangs caused three turnovers with Bleska Kambamba picking off two passes, while Mackenzie Ferguson intercepted another and took it back 30 yards for a touchdown.   
 
Just like they have all season the Mustangs picked up points on the opening drive, with Merchant throwing a 23-yard pass to Ellerman to put the Mustangs up 7-0 less than three minutes into the game.
 
Joseph found the end zone on the Mustangs next two possessions, scoring from four and eight yards out to make it 21-0 for Western. Merchant would add another seven points to the board with a 14-yard run to close out the first quarter.
 
The Mustangs offence continued to roll in the second frame, with Joseph picking up his third touchdown of the day on a three-yard run before McMaster extended the lead a little over 90 seconds later with a 73-yard touchdown catch from Merchant.
 
Western's ground game would go on to round out the scoring in the frame with a five-yard run from Harou and a seven-yard run from Merchant giving the Mustangs a 57-0 lead at the half.
 
Things would continue to roll in the second half, with Western adding touchdowns from Humes, Ferguson, and Harou to cruise to a 81-3 win.
 
After a dominant victory that saw them establish a record for most points scored in a national semifinal, the Mustangs will now turn their attention to the Vanier Cup. Not only will Western be competing for a national championship, but it's a game that has special meaning for a number of players on the Western roster.
 
"It's amazing. Personally, my dad he played university ball at Bishop's and he unfortunately never got a chance to go to the Vanier so this is a real blessing for me to be on a national stage, compete against the best, and represent my family," said Joseph about the opportunity. 
 
Game time for the 53rd Vanier Cup is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 25 at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton. Fans can tune in to all the action live on Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet Now, and Radio Western 94.9 FM.

Tickets for the game can be purchased online here, with prices starting at $25.