LONDON, Ont. – Despite kickoff being delayed by more than two hours due to lightning, Monday's home opener didn't disappoint as the Western Mustangs won an overtime thriller over the Guelph Gryphons by a 41-34 score at TD Stadium.
It was a wild game at TD Stadium that, along with weather delays, featured multiple lead changes and eventually needed extra time to decide a winner.
Stevenson Bone provided the final points of the evening, diving in from the one yard line to put the Mustangs up, while the defence shut down the Gryphons on their first overtime possession to secure the win.
Chris Merchant led the Mustangs offence in the victory, topping the charts of the Mustangs both in the air and on the ground. The Calgary native completed 27 of 41 passes for 378 yards, all career highs, with one touchdown and one interception, while also rushing for 92 yards and two majors.
Malik Besseghieur was Merchant's favourite target in the win, catching nine passes for 69 yards, while
Brett Ellerman and
Harry McMaster led the Mustangs receiving corps with 105 and 94 yards respectively.
James Roberts countered with a strong game of his own for the Gryphons, connecting on 20 of 28 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns. Zeph Fraser hauled in eight catches for 143 yards to lead the Gryphons in both categories, and was followed by Jacob Scarfone with six receptions for 99 yards.
Things started out strong for the Mustangs, capping off their first drive with a 26-yard field goal from
Marc Liegghio, but the Gryphons tied things up with a field goal of their towards the end of the first quarter.
The Gryphons controlled the play in the second, recording another field goal from Ferraro to take the lead before James Roberts connected with Fraser to put Guelph up by 10. A nine-yard field goal from Liegghio closed out the half on a positive note for the home side to cut the Guelph lead to 16-6.
Western came out strong in the second half with Merchant picking up the Mustangs first major of the day on a six-yard touchdown run less than three minutes into the quarter. Another rushing touchdown from Merchant, this one from 14 yards out, along with two conceded safeties from the Gryphons put Western up 24-16 heading into the final quarter.
Just as Western started off the third quarter with a quick score the Gryphons did the same in the fourth, capping off a 93-yard drive with a 21-yard pass from Roberts to Fraser before successfully adding a two point convert to tie things up at 24-24.
The Gryphons didn't wait long before striking again as Johnny Augustine rattled off an 81-yard touchdown run less than three minutes later to put the visiting side up 31-24.
Both kickers traded field goals to keep things seven points apart before Merchant found Besseghieur on a four-yard pass to tie the game at 31-31 and eventually send the game to overtime.
In the extra frame the Mustangs took possession first and didn't waste time, scoring on their first drive on a one-yard run from Bone to take the lead. Western's defence then secured the win by forcing the Gryphons to go three-and-out to make it a 41-34 victory for the Mustangs.
Next up for the Mustangs is a matchup with the rival McMaster Marauders on Saturday, September 9. Game time is set for 1 p.m., and fans can tune in live on OUA.tv and CHRW Radio 94.9 FM, or on Newstalk 1290 CJBK with Tom McConnell and legendary Mustangs coach Larry Haylor calling all the action.
