Box Score LONDON, Ontario — The Mustangs are headed to the OUA semi-finals, avenging the loss a week ago to Laurier, this time beating the Golden Hawks 58-41.

QB Ben Casselman had one of his best performances of the year, completing 21 of 30 passes for 405 yards and two touchdowns. He added four rushes on the ground for 38 yards and a touchdown in the win.

"I think we really leaned into our running attack a bit more. We had the opportunity to look back at all the film this week from last game, so it was the same team, same film, and really dive into that," said Casselman. "The offensive line played a great game, we were able to pound the ball and then open up the pass later."
The Mustangs ground game was also on display, rushing for 274 yards and scoring five times in the win.

"I told the guys I was so proud. A week ago, right now, you know, we had the loss, and we knew we had them as an opponent again. Credit to our coaching staff putting in outstanding work on the game plan, and our players truly believing." said Head Coach Michael Faulds. "I told them it was actually less about the physical, more the mental, because we were in a bit of a drought versus that opponent. We really worked on that this week, and the guys believed every single play that we were the better team."

GAME RECAP
The Mustangs answered the Golden Hawks' opening touchdown with two scoring drives, getting a 13-yard field goal from Matteo Pasquini and a 1-yard touchdown run from Jerome Rancourt in the first quarter. Casselman helped move Western with completions of 33, 22 and 14 yards to Dasani McIntosh, and the Mustangs' defence gave the offence a short field when Dylan Tharby and Marcus Robinson stopped Will Russell for a 1-yard loss on third down. Western added one more late threat as Casselman hit Nik Shewchuk for 31 yards before Jack Kelly ran 48 yards to the Golden Hawks' 12.

"You know, we've seen it on film, the way they run it, so we kind of were prepping all week, and it's just the way we saw it," said Tharby of the 3^rd down stop. "I just reacted and made the play and when I got up, I honestly, I didn't know how to celebrate. I was all over the place, but definitely a lot of emotions came in and you know I felt it like for me and for the team, it definitely felt like a huge momentum shifter."
 
 
A 24-point second quarter included two takeaways in Golden Hawks territory leading to touchdowns. Pasquini opened the quarter with a 13-yard field goal, Nathan Summers' interception set up Ethan Dolby's 2-yard touchdown run, and Casselman later scored on an 11-yard rush. Tharby forced a fumble that Rory Litt recovered before Casselman found McIntosh for a 19-yard touchdown, and the Golden Hawks' late score left Western with a 24-7 scoring edge in the quarter.
 
After the break, Western answered the Golden Hawks' opening touchdown with a 96-yard drive, as Casselman hit McIntosh for 18 yards and Kelly for 46 before finding Jackson Taylor for an 11-yard touchdown. Nathan Summers then broke up a pass and sacked Will Russell on the Golden Hawks' next series, and Western turned the ensuing possession into a 17-yard Kelly touchdown run. The Golden Hawks scored on the final play, leaving the third quarter even at 14-14 for the segment.

In the fourth quarter, Western answered the Golden Hawks' late touchdown with a six-play possession from the Golden Hawks' 54, capped by Geoff Clubine's 2-yard touchdown run with 30 seconds remaining. Dolby carried five times on the drive, including gains of 33 and 10 yards to move Western to the 2. Earlier, Pasquini made a 17-yard field goal after Casselman completions to Emmett Charles and Shewchuk.
 
Western Top Performers
 
QB Ben Casselman
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- 21-for-30 passing for 405 yards
- 2 touchdown passes
- 38 rushing yards
- 1 rushing touchdown
 
WR Dasani McIntosh
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- 9 receptions
- 171 receiving yards
- 1 receiving touchdown
 
RB Ethan Dolby
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- 155 rushing yards on 18 carries
- 1 rushing touchdown
- 2 receptions for 18 yards
 
K Mateo Pasquini
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- 3-for-3 on field goals
- Longest field goal of 17 yards
- 7-for-7 on PATs
 
LB Nathan Summers
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- 8 tackles
- 1 interception

NEXT GAME
The Mustangs will take on the Windsor Lancers in the OUA semi-final next Saturday afternoon. Game time is set for 1:00 pm.

"It was our 2nd game of the year, right? They're a very talented team. They're obviously well coached. Their quarterback had a lights-out year throwing and running the football. They've got some great running backs and a defence that flies around." said Faulds on playing Windsor next week. "We haven't watched film on them for about 7 or 8 weeks, so it'll be getting acclimated to them. There's no Halloween for us coaches. We're back to the film room and getting prepped for them."

Stay tuned to WesternMustangs.ca/tickets for full ticketing details.