Windsor, ON — Brian Garrity was the lone point contributor in a 15-6 Mustangs win over Windsor on Saturday in a defensive battle. The Mustangs' kicker successfully converted five field goals while Windsor was limited to two field goals.

"it was a tough game out there. It was windy conditions, so tough for the kickers and punters. We saw Lidster (Windsor's kicker) and myself miss 2 and 3 each, clearly, it was a tougher game out there, but I'm glad that I was able to kind of pull it together and get the job done for the guys." said Garrity "When we were up only by 3 for a while there, it's obviously a bit nerve-wracking, but I'm happy we got the job done, pulled away a little bit."

While the Mustangs took the win, the coaching staff says there are several matters to address moving forward.

"It was hot, and we knew it was going to be a bit of a tougher one today. They're strong on defence, and they played well on defence. We had some opportunities, but we weren't consistent," said Mustangs Head Coach Greg Marshall. "We'd get the right play call, we got the ball, we miss an open guy, we missed a block, a high snap, we just took turns self-destructing. For you to have the kind of execution that we need to play at a high level, today's effort wasn't going to get it done."

The Mustangs defence limited the Lancers to six points and held them without an offensive touchdown for the third season in a row.

"We knew coming in that it was going to be a hot day. Anytime you come down to Windsor, the sun's just extra, extra hot down here and extra dry. We just prepared for the heat with lots of electrolytes," said Defensive Lineman Max von Mueheldorfer. "I think our focus was not to beat ourselves as a defence. We had a fair amount of changes in our defensive unit this week, so the biggest thing is to keep our gaps sound and systems sound, and we did a good job of that."

GAME RECAP

Western began the game with Ethan Dolby igniting the drive with a 13-yard rush, but it stalled, leading to a punt. Windsor's ensuing possession ended with a missed 36-yard field goal attempt.
Western's offense responded with Evan Hillock completing consecutive passes to Seth Robertson, advancing the team to the Lancer 45. However, a missed 19-yard field goal by Garrity halted the drive. As the quarter closed, Western moved the ball to midfield, but the scoreboard showed Windsor leading 3-0.
The second quarter began with a significant passing play for the Mustangs, as Hillock connected with Robertson for 34 yards, positioning the team deep in Windsor territory. Despite the promising start, Western's drive ended with a turnover on downs, and Windsor capitalized by scoring a field goal to tie the game at 3-3.

Western responded with a methodical offensive series led by Dolby, who accumulated several key rushing yards. This drive culminated in a successful 10-yard field goal by Garrity, allowing Western to regain the lead at 6-3. As the quarter closed, Western's defence held firm, and the team maintained its advantage heading into halftime.
The third quarter commenced with a missed 42-yard field goal attempt by Windsor, allowing Western to regain possession. Jackson MacKay's 29-yard return set up Western's drive, where Hillock connected with Dasani McIntosh for a 13-yard gain, complemented by Dolby's 18-yard rush. The drive was halted, however, and resulted in a punt.
Windsor's subsequent drive advanced to the Western 23-yard line, but another missed field goal from 32 yards kept the score unchanged. Western capitalized on the turnover with Hillock's 19-yard pass to Robertson, though the drive ended with a punt.
A critical turnover occurred late in the quarter when Marcus Robinson forced and recovered a fumble, halting Windsor's progress. Western's possession ended with a 14-yard completion from Hillock to Robertson as the quarter concluded, maintaining a scoreless period for both teams.
The fourth quarter began with Western's Oliver Grittiths executing a strategic punt to the Lancer 1-yard line, quickly setting up a defensive stand following a short return. Windsor's drive gained momentum with a 43-yard rush but was halted by Richard Aduboffour's tackle for a loss, allowing Western to regain possession.

Hillock then propelled Western's offense with a 24-yard completion to Robertson, leading to a successful 35-yard field goal by Garrity, extending Western's lead. Windsor responded with a field goal of their own, but Western capitalized on a subsequent possession. Hillock connected with Robertson again for a significant 37-yard gain, positioning Garrity for a 30-yard field goal to further secure the lead at 12-6.
In the final moments of the game, Garrity added another field goal from 24 yards, solidifying Western's control at 15-6. The defence continued to stifle Windsor's efforts, culminating in a sack by Conner Franzisi. Western closed the game with a confident, outscoring Windsor 9-3 in the fourth quarter.

KEY STATS
K Brian Garrity – 5 field goals made (Longest at 34 yards) 
QB  Evan Hillock – 16 for 25 for 230 passing yards 
WR Seth Robertson - 9 receptions for 180 receiving yards 
LB Jude Buchanan - 10 total tackles 
RB Ethan Dolby –98 rushing yards on 22 attempts 

NEXT GAME
The Mustangs will have a rare Friday night game this week as they head to Toronto to take on the York Lions. The Thanksgiving weekend game starts at 7:00 pm and fans can watch the action on OUA.tv.