LONDON, Ontario — A first-half offensive shootout ended with a 55-39 loss to Laurier on Saturday afternoon.
Both sides came out swinging in a game the Golden Hawks needed to win to secure a playoff spot. The Mustangs finished with 428 passing yards and 186 rushing yards, but Laurier totalled 647 yards of offence.
"Offensively, we were super-efficient in scoring points. Defensively, we obviously weren't our best covering down and then in the second half we kind of faltered a bit on offence, and our defence found their stride there late in the 3rd and in 4th." said Mustangs Head Coach Michael Faulds. "Ultimately, I told the guys in the locker room, we have a game next weekend, so you know you've got to pick yourself up, you've got to have positive energy, and we've got to have the best week of practice coming up this week."
The Mustangs generated chunk plays early, including a 77-yard gain in a scoreless opening stretch, and stayed productive through the air for much of the game. The defence also came up with a goal-line stop in the third quarter, denying Laurier a touchdown with Western facing a 45-38 deficit and forcing the possession to end without that touchdown. Those moments fit into a game that featured significant offensive production on both sides.
Laurier produced 647 yards of total offence, including 481 passing yards, while holding the ball for 34:49 compared with Western's 25:11. The Mustangs finished with 23 first downs and had no fumbles, but Laurier intercepted two passes and recorded two sacks. Ben Casselman threw for 428 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 59 yards, and Dasani McIntosh finished with seven catches for 200 yards and a touchdown. Emmett Charles added five receptions for 142 yards and two touchdowns, giving Western multiple downfield receiving options within its passing production.
GAME RECAP
The Mustangs struck for three first-quarter touchdowns, including Ben Casselman's 77-yard touchdown pass to Charles at 4:25. Earlier, Brennan Keba's 45-yard kickoff return and Ethan Dolby's 46-yard run helped set up Jerome Rancourt's 1-yard touchdown, and Casselman later found Charles from 19 yards. Laurier also had two touchdown drives, and Western outscored Laurier 21-14 in the quarter.
Western's offence produced two touchdown drives in the second quarter, with Casselman hitting McIntosh for an 18-yard score and Ethan Dolby adding a 3-yard rushing touchdown.
Laurier countered with 24 points in the quarter, including Will Russell's 20-yard touchdown run with 26 seconds left, as the Mustangs were outscored 24-14 in the quarter.
"In the first half, we had a ton of explosive plays through the air. Emmett Charles was playing great. Everybody was doing their part in the second half. Obviously, they made adjustments like any team is going to, and you know we just lacked explosive plays and came up short." said McIntosh.
The Mustangs were held to four points in the third quarter as Laurier scored 17, with Mateo Pasquini accounting for Western's scoring on a 45-yard field goal and a rouge. Casselman helped Western move into Laurier territory with a 46-yard completion to McIntosh and a 21-yard pass to Charles, but those drives produced only the field goal and single. After a blocked punt gave Laurier a short field, Rory Litt recorded a sack, but Laurier added a late field goal and finished the quarter ahead 55-39.
Western was held scoreless in the fourth quarter despite two sustained possessions into Laurier territory, with Casselman intercepted by Paul Loggale at the Laurier goal line and by Javein Smith at the Laurier 2. Brennan Keba added a 32-yard punt return before the second threat, and the Mustangs moved to the Laurier 16 behind completions to Nik Shewchuk and Charles plus a 14-yard Casselman run. Laurier ran out the final three minutes after the second interception to finish off Western, 55-39.
MUSTANGS KEY STATS
QB Ben Casselman
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- 18-for-28 passing for 428 yards
- 3 touchdown passes
- 59 rushing yards on 6 carries
- 2 interceptions
WR Dasani McIntosh
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- 7 receptions
- 200 receiving yards
- 1 touchdown reception
WR Emmett Charles
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- 5 receptions
- 142 receiving yards
- 2 touchdown receptions
RB Ethan Dolby
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- 90 rushing yards on 12 carries
- 1 rushing touchdown
DB Cyrus McGarrell
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- 12 total tackles
NEXT GAME
The 2026 OUA playoffs are set, and the Mustangs finished as the 2
nd seed with a 6-2 record and will have a rematch against Laurier, which finished as the 7
th seed with a 4-4 record.
The quarterfinal matchup between the Mustangs and Golden Hawks is set for Saturday, October 31. Stay tuned to WesternMustangs.ca for full ticket details.
