LONDON, ON – The Western Mustangs opened their 2026-27 season at home against the Guelph Gryphons on Sunday afternoon, falling 57-28 in a high-scoring matchup at Mustangs Field.

Guelph, the defending national champions, controlled much of the opening half, but Western continued to battle and found opportunities of their own. The Mustangs got on the board early and stayed within reach as Guelph built its lead, with Western trailing 14-31 at halftime.

The Gryphons continued to apply pressure coming out of the break, extending their advantage through the second half. Western responded with another try in the 54th minute to bring the score to 19-43, before adding another try late in the match. A successful kick from #12 helped bring the Mustangs to 28 points.

Despite the final score, Western head coach Ian McLeod said the team showed strong character throughout the matchup against one of the country's top programs.

"Good character, I thought," McLeod said. "We're defending national champions over there. It's a real tough pass to draw against, but it's a great measuring stick to see."

The Mustangs continued to compete through the final minutes, with Western adding a try in the 78th minute before Guelph ultimately secured the 57-28 victory.

Looking ahead, McLeod said the biggest area of focus will be on tightening up defensively. "We definitely have to make better decisions on the defensive side of the ball," he said. "We have to make sure we're making our tackles."

McLeod also emphasized the value of opening the season against a nationally competitive opponent, saying the experience can help the group build moving forward. "I think it's a great character builder for these guys," he said. "If we fix this, this and this, we'll be right in that case."