London, ON – The Mustangs played host to the Windsor Lancers Saturday afternoon for their last regular season home game of the season, taking home a 50-18 win in what ended as one of their toughest games of the year.
Western Alumni Stadium embraced an Oktoberfest theme for the windy yet sunny match, with the game remaining close until the fourth quarter where Western put up 25 points.
Quarterback Evan Hillock was 17 for 25 with 299 yards and 2 touchdowns. Running back Keon Edwards had 144 rushing yards on 20 carries and 1 touchdown. Edouard Wanadi followed with 53 yards and 2 touchdowns. Defensive lineman Bruce Maas led with 9 tackles and 2.5 sacks, while Daniel Valente Jr. grabbed his fifth interception of the year.
"In three down football you have to be productive in first down and sometimes we weren't," said head coach Greg Marshall. "We made good plays on defense, and that was a consistent thing throughout the entire game. Defensively we got the ball back to us and let us muddle around a little bit."
"We could probably be better," added Hillock. "We still scored 50 but we left some stuff out there. The second quarter was tough, but give credit to Windsor they are a tough team. I'm proud of our guys. Our O-line and whole offense fought all day long."
The top-ranked Mustangs improve to 7-0 on the season, while Windsor drops to 3-4.
A hot offensive start for Western died down in the second quarter, as the Lancer defense forced fumbles and turnovers.
The first touchdown of the game was courtesy of the Mustangs less than two minutes into the game, started off by a strong punt return play by Brayden Misseri and a penalty that set up the 'Stangs on the four-yard line. On the first-hand off of the game, Keon Edwards secured his eighth touchdown of the season and put the first six points of the game on the board.
On Windsor's next possession, Western forced the first of two safety's this quarter to put them up by 9. The Lancers would utilize their running game to make good of their next possession, getting their first points on the board from a field goal.
A 33-yard pass from quarterback Evan Hillock to Seth Robertson followed by a 31-yard pass set up Western at the 5-yard line, with Edouard Wanadi eventually converting the touchdown. The quarter ended 18-3.
Bruce Maas forced and recovered a fumble early in the second, before Western turned it over themselves on their next play from a fumble.
"That was a lot of fun," said Maas on his play. "I just came off the edge, and they weren't really blocking me and I saw the quarterback had the ball and so I tried to get that ball on the ground and then thought might as well grab it too."
"A lot of the plays we make on defense are when they mess up or when they don't block you," added Maas. "But it's up to you to make that play. If you get that opportunity you have to make them pay."
"For effort and toughness and intelligence he's right there [with Deionte Knight]," said Marshall on Maas. "That's a kid where we recruited him out of high school, and he didn't play for four years. To play at the level he is playing at is amazing. Soren Hallschmid at defensive tackle is the same animal. He didn't play last year and is now anchoring a very good defense. That's a real credit to those two kids. They are good character kids who never miss workouts, who never complain about playing time and have stuck with it."
Near the end of the half, Western took the safety for a first-half final score of 18-5.
"I have a few words to describe that half," said Marshall. "We were flat. Give Windsor credit, they did a really good job of mixing it up and making it unpredictable."
A 32-yard field goal following a 40-yard pass competition had the Lancer's getting on the board first to start the second half. The visitors would follow it up with a 39-yard field goal moments later, cutting Western's lead to seven with an 18-11 score.
With under two minutes in the quarter, Robertson produced an incredible one-handed catch from 42-yards out from Hillock to set Western up at the 10-yard line.
"We saw that that play was probably going to be open," said Hillock. "It was into the wind, so I didn't want to underthrow it. I threw it and saw him come down with the one hand and it was crazy. Great catch and a great player."
A Hillock pass intended for Savaughn Magnaye-Jones flew threw his hands and deflected to find Robertson yet again, for a purple and white touchdown as they looked to regain the momentum.
After a few mishaps earlier in the game, Robertson proved he is not one to let that get to him with his strong performance, even earning praise from his head coach.
"Seth did a good job catching the football," said Marshall. "Seth doesn't get too rattled, so after his dropped punts it's not like the next one he's going to be worrying about dropping it again. That's not Seth. He's forgotten about those drops already."
A series of penalties put the Lancers at first and goal, which they converted for their first touchdown of the game in what was the last play of the quarter.
With the fourth quarter starting as a one score game, Western made sure to close it out in familiar fashion with firing offense. Edwards started by rushing for 25-yards. While the drive didn't result in scoring, a roughing the kicker penalty returned possession to the purple and white.
Soon after and under pressure, Hillock ran 14-yards to the corner of the endzone for his second rushing touchdown of the year.
"It was a pass play and I didn't see anything open so I just tried to take a run in," said Hillock. "I wasn't trying to get hit, just tried to sneak past the orange pylon and got in."
"It was a boost for us," commented Marshall on the play. "I hold my breath when Evan takes off with the football. But he did a good job. We laughed about it. He made a couple guys miss, broke a tackle there. It was a big play."
A team safety shortly after extended the 'Stangs' lead to 34-18 as they looked to comfortably close out the game.
A Hillock and Magnaye-Jones connection helped to do just that halfway through the quarter with a 39-yard touchdown, as the momentum began to swing towards the purple and white once again.
With under four minutes to go, Daniel Valente Jr. secured his fifth interception of the season with a return of 42-yards. Wanadi followed it up by rushing 23-yards for another Western touchdown.
The Lancers took another safety to close out the game for a final 50-18 scoreline.
"Things opened up in the second half. That's a good lesson for us, and our coaches too," said Marshall. "We have to keep control and catch the football more consistently than we are, but I think that also there's a time when you just can't say we are going to run the football if they are committed to stopping the run. You have to take what the defense gives you."
The Mustangs will close out the regular season next weekend on the road to Ottawa, who boast a 6-1 record. The winner will take home first-place and a first-round playoff bye.
"It's a playoff game and that's our mentality," said Hillock. "They're a good team and have had a good year. We have to go to their place, and it's a long road trip. We have to lock in this week and the playoffs start right now."
"This is the first playoff game of the season," added Maas. "If we win, we secure first place and get a first-round bye, so it's a must win situation for us. The first-round bye is really important to this team."
"I think their quarterback is getting some confidence," said Marshall on the Ottawa team. "He's getting better and has a strong arm. They have a big running back and are very athletic on defense. They are a well-coached team. It'll be a very good challenge."
And of course, the road-trip to the nation's capital will provide good opportunity for team bonding as the playoffs approach.
"It's a long bus ride [to Ottawa] and we get to stay overnight," said Maas. "The longer the bus ride, the more fun on the way back. It brings the guys a lot closer together when we have these moments on the bus having some fun and singing songs. It's a good time."
The Mustangs will conclude the regular season on the road next weekend on October 22nd in a high stakes game against Ottawa. Kick-off is set for 12pm with the action being available to watch on OUA.tv
