August 24, 2008
MUSTANGS FALL TO LAVAL IN PRE-SEASON FOOTBALL
First-string players build 9-7 lead at half, but Laval recovers in second half against back-ups and Mustangs vying for spot on final roster
STE. FOY, Quebec – It may not have been the result he was looking for, but head coach Greg Marshall was able to get a look at how his players would match up against the top football school in Quebec.
The Western Mustangs began defence of the Yates Cup championship with a 37-9 pre-season road loss at Laval's PEPS Stadium on Aug. 24.
It was the second straight year the Laval squad has defeated Western in exhibition play. In 2007, the Rouge et Or won 20-2.
Western held a lead of 9-7 at the half - built by the first-string unit of players with quarterback Michael Faulds (Eden Mills, Ont.) leading the way going 12/26 for 172 yards and one touchdown. But Laval pulled away with many Western newcomers, auditioning for spots on the full roster, taking the field in the second half.
London native Matt Carapella scored the only Mustangs touchdown in the second quarter, pulling in a 23-yard Faulds pass. Mathieu Bouvette, a freshman receiver, led Laval with five catches for 115 yards and two TDs.
In the first quarter, Laval pivot César-Roberto Sanchez marched his squad down the field in a penalty-filled drive toward the endzone but they failed to score with several dropped passes.
Western made many errors early on. The first two points were scored by the Rogue and Or off a safety, and they followed that with an 18-yard field goal to make the score 5-0 Laval after the first quarter.
The visiting Mustangs eventually took advantage of Laval's early mistakes. In the second quarter, the Mustangs launched a slow but successful drive toward the endzone, scoring their only touchdown of the day when Carapella took in a 23-yard Faulds pass to take a 7-5 lead with 11 minutes left in the quarter.
Another Laval safety tited the score at 7, but Western scored on a safety late in the second quarter to take a 9-7 lead into the half.
Glen Constantin's Laval squad found new life in the third quarter, as quarterback Benoît Groulx threw a 23-yard touchdown pass toward receiver Bouvette to make it 14-9 for Laval, a lead they would never relinquish.
Running back Maxime Béland ran for two gains of 17 and 23 yards before the duo of Bouvette and Groulx connected again for their second major of the day to make the score 21-9 entering the fourth quarter.
In the fourth, Laval's Bruno Prud'homme came into the game and immediately capitalized on a Mustangs turnover, connecting with receiver Guillaume Blais-Normand for another Laval major to build a 27-9 lead.
After a Jonathan Laliberté interception, Laval and Prud'homme advanced the ball to the Mustangs 21-yard-line where Laval kicked a field goal to make the score 30-9.
A Mathieu Veillette fumble recovery for a touchdown allowed the Red and Or to score again to make the final 37-9.
The Mustangs open the regular season at home on Monday Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. against the Ottawa Gee-Gees at TD Waterhouse Stadium.
Head coach Greg Marshall, his staff and about 85 players made the trip, departing on Friday Aug. 22 for Quebec City for the match up today, Sunday Aug. 24, at 1 p.m. at PEPS Stadium in Ste. Foy, Quebec.
Source: Andy Watson, Mustangs Athletics
STE. FOY, Quebec – It may not have been the result he was looking for, but head coach Greg Marshall was able to get a look at how his players would match up against the top football school in Quebec.
The Western Mustangs began defence of the Yates Cup championship with a 37-9 pre-season road loss at Laval's PEPS Stadium on Aug. 24.
It was the second straight year the Laval squad has defeated Western in exhibition play. In 2007, the Rouge et Or won 20-2.
Western held a lead of 9-7 at the half - built by the first-string unit of players with quarterback Michael Faulds (Eden Mills, Ont.) leading the way going 12/26 for 172 yards and one touchdown. But Laval pulled away with many Western newcomers, auditioning for spots on the full roster, taking the field in the second half.
London native Matt Carapella scored the only Mustangs touchdown in the second quarter, pulling in a 23-yard Faulds pass. Mathieu Bouvette, a freshman receiver, led Laval with five catches for 115 yards and two TDs.
In the first quarter, Laval pivot César-Roberto Sanchez marched his squad down the field in a penalty-filled drive toward the endzone but they failed to score with several dropped passes.
Western made many errors early on. The first two points were scored by the Rogue and Or off a safety, and they followed that with an 18-yard field goal to make the score 5-0 Laval after the first quarter.
The visiting Mustangs eventually took advantage of Laval's early mistakes. In the second quarter, the Mustangs launched a slow but successful drive toward the endzone, scoring their only touchdown of the day when Carapella took in a 23-yard Faulds pass to take a 7-5 lead with 11 minutes left in the quarter.
Another Laval safety tited the score at 7, but Western scored on a safety late in the second quarter to take a 9-7 lead into the half.
Glen Constantin's Laval squad found new life in the third quarter, as quarterback Benoît Groulx threw a 23-yard touchdown pass toward receiver Bouvette to make it 14-9 for Laval, a lead they would never relinquish.
Running back Maxime Béland ran for two gains of 17 and 23 yards before the duo of Bouvette and Groulx connected again for their second major of the day to make the score 21-9 entering the fourth quarter.
In the fourth, Laval's Bruno Prud'homme came into the game and immediately capitalized on a Mustangs turnover, connecting with receiver Guillaume Blais-Normand for another Laval major to build a 27-9 lead.
After a Jonathan Laliberté interception, Laval and Prud'homme advanced the ball to the Mustangs 21-yard-line where Laval kicked a field goal to make the score 30-9.
A Mathieu Veillette fumble recovery for a touchdown allowed the Red and Or to score again to make the final 37-9.
The Mustangs open the regular season at home on Monday Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. against the Ottawa Gee-Gees at TD Waterhouse Stadium.
Head coach Greg Marshall, his staff and about 85 players made the trip, departing on Friday Aug. 22 for Quebec City for the match up today, Sunday Aug. 24, at 1 p.m. at PEPS Stadium in Ste. Foy, Quebec.
Source: Andy Watson, Mustangs Athletics
