London, ON – The Mustangs picked up a 46-5 win over Windsor Saturday afternoon to secure the #2 seed in the OUA playoffs.
Western limited the Lancers to only 191 yards of total offence in the win while posting 510 yards of offence themselves.
"I told our team going into the game, we've got to treat this game like a playoff game and, you know, defence wins championships," said Mustangs Head Coach Greg Marshall "You gotta play solid defence and give your offence opportunities and our defence did a great job of limiting their run game and forcing them into situations they didn't want to be in,"
QB Jérôme Rancourt scored three touchdowns in the game, pushing his total for the season to nine.
"Every time the coaches give me the ball I try to make the most out of it, that's just my mindset," said Rancourt " I think we showed what Mustangs playoff football looks like today and we need to keep that going,"
GAME RECAP
The Mustangs got points on the field less than 5 minutes into the game. After Brayden Misseri got a 17 yard catch and run that took Western to the goal line, Keon Edwards took the handoff into the endzone to give Western the 7-0 lead.
Both teams would trade field goals to push the score to 10-3. With 2:30 left in the opening quarter, Ryan Barthelson intercepted a Windsor pass and took the ball back to the Windsor goal line. On the next play Jérôme Rancourt would take the ball in from the 1-yard line and give Western a 17-3 lead.
"We were in a cover three and I just dropped out and made a play on the ball, I thought I was gone, I guess I'm not as fast as I thought I was. But I wanted Jérôme to get the touchdown there" Barthelson said jokingly.
Garrity got two more field goals including one as time expired in the 2
nd quarter and Western held a 23-5 lead.
The 3
rd quarter saw both sides battle but the only points score was a Windsor conceded safety and Western held the 25-5 lead.
Three minutes into the 4
th quarter Brayden Misseri would make a highlight reel catch on a 33-yard completion and later in the drive Jerome Rancourt would finish with a 7-yard run for the touchdown and Western took a 32-5 lead.
"When teams try to add an extra guy in the box on us and try and defend against the run in the red zone, Jérôme neutralizes that because he can read that play and pull it and he gives us lots of options in that spot," said Marshall
KEY STATS
QB Jérôme Rancourt – 6 rushes for 53 yards & 3 TDs
RB Keon Edwards – 11 rushes for 26 yards & 1 TD
RB Marcel Phillips – 4 rushes for 40 yards & 1 TD
QB Evan Hillock – 20 for 29 for 287 yards
WR Brayden Misseri – 7 receptions for 94 yards
K Brian Garrity – 3 for 4 on FG
LB Ryan Barthelson – 1 INT & 7 tackles
NEXT GAME
The OUA Playoff gets underway next Saturday and the Mustangs finish as the #2 seed which will mean they will host the quarterfinal next weekend against McMaster. Game time is set for 1:00 at Western Alumni Stadium. Go to
WesternMustangs.ca/tickets to make sure you're there to support the Mustangs in their pursuit of the Yates Cup.
