Box Score Hamilton, ON – The Mustangs hit the road Saturday afternoon for their second away game of the season, ultimately returning home with a 47-14 win against McMaster.
 
Coming off a dominant win last week and sporting their road whites, the Mustangs continued to spread around the offense and put forth another statement performance in the OUA, this time against the Marauders.
 
Quarterback Evan Hillock was 21 for 25 with 332 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Keon Edwards had 107 yards on 16 carries with one touchdown. Receiver Griffin Campbell had four receptions for 96 yards and one touchdown.
 
"[McMaster] was well prepared and made some plays and we didn't convert on a couple early, but I thought in the second quarter we took control of the game," said head coach Greg Marshall on the win. "I was most pleased with how well our defense played. McMaster can throw the football, they were going to test us and mix it up and play an offense we haven't seen a lot of, so our defense kept getting the ball back to us and giving our offense lots of chances, and we started to move."
 
Despite a shaky start from the Mustangs, they went up 2-0 early on as the hosts conceded a safety on their first possession.
 
With just under two minutes remaining in the quarter, quarterback Evan Hillock found Griffin Campbell for a 62-yard touchdown that elicited a big celebration from the team.
 
"It looked like one on one on the field. I cheated my split out a little bit so I had some extra room on the end breaker," said Campbell. "Evan put the ball a little bit behind me. I always trust where he puts the ball so I turned outside, had a bunch of room, got some great blocks and away we went."
 
The touchdown was followed by a spirited celebration, in part to it being Campbell's birthday.
 
"I think everyone in the back of their mind knew it was my birthday," said the newly 24-year-old. "The offense was hoping I got one today." 
 
"It sparked things," said Marshall on Campbell's touchdown. "It was really great for Griffin. He just took a short pass and put it away. That was a big play that sparked us."
 
Finding their groove, the purple and white added to their lead early in the second quarter as Hillock completed an 18-yard pass to Justin Nickson who was alone in the end zone for a touchdown and a now 16-0 lead.
   
A Brian Garrity 38-yard yard field goal would extend the lead even more, putting Western in the driver's seat.  
 
A dominant effort from Western's offensive line allowed Edouard Wanadi to get his first touchdown of the game, while Keon Edwards added one of his own shortly before the end of the first half to make it 33-0.
 
"It feels good but it's better when we all do it," said Edwards on his fifth straight game surpassing 100 yards. "I don't really look at my stats too much, I try not to. But honestly it's just doing what the team needs."
 
The first half was a dominant showing, with quarterback Hillock leading the way. Hamilton native Hillock was 18-20 for 282 yards in the first half alone, who didn't let the pressure of returning to play in front of family and friends get to him.
 
"Evan was sharp. I was a little worried he'd be a bit excited [to be playing in Hamilton] but that's Evan, he has got an even keel," said Marshall. "He knew it was a big game coming back and playing in front of family and friends, but he came out and did a really nice job today."
 
The offense was rounded out by a full team effort, something which remains important to the team as a whole.
 
"We're trying to define who we are as an offense and I think today was a great push toward where we want to be," said Campbell. "It's extremely important [to spread out the offense]. We all trust each other, we all trust Evan and Evan trusts all of us. We all do our part to make sure the offense as a whole is scoring points."
 
"I love seeing the whole team and offense as a whole working as one to put the points on the board," added Edwards.
 
A big run and pass would set the Mustangs up well in the second half, with quarterback Jackson White checking in on the third down for Hillock. White used his size and rushed for 1-yard for the touchdown, getting in on the scoring. Garrity added a field goal shortly after.
 
It wouldn't be all Mustangs however, as a spectacular 34-yard pass handed the Marauders their first touchdown of the game in the third quarter. The hosts added another one near the end of the half as well.
 
Another field goal and a single would close things out for Western, who return home with a 47-14 victory and with their unbeaten streak extended.
 
It's a short week ahead for the Mustangs, who next play on Friday against the University of Toronto.
 
"It's a little different [playing on a Friday] but I feel like most years we always have one Friday game," said Campbell. "Hopefully everybody is feeling healthy, and we are ready to get after it."
 
"It feels good, but we are onto the next game," added Toronto-native Edwards. "It'll be my first time playing [in Toronto] in five years, so it's going to feel good to be back home."
 
"Both teams took a lot of injuries out there, today was a physical game," concluded Marshall. "We'll just try to get some therapy and get back at it. So, probably just two days of practice so not to accelerate anything."

With the win Western improves to 5-0 on the season, maintaining their number one ranking, while McMaster drops to 1-4.
 
The Mustangs are on the road again next week as they prepare to travel to Toronto on Friday, October 7, to face-off against the Varsity Blues at 7 pm. The action can be viewed on OUA.tv