November 20, 2021
Banner Season: Edwards, team defence carry Mustangs to convincing shutout victory in 113th Yates Cup
Kingston, Ont. - An unstoppable ground game and an impenetrable defence combined to help Western add another chapter to their phenomenal football legacy, as the Mustangs overpower the Queen's Gaels to secure the 29-0 victory in the 113th Yates Cup.
The vaunted Western defence went to work quickly to start the team off on the right foot. After an unsuccessful opening drive from their offence, Nicolas Theriault made the first big play of the game courtesy of a strip sack against Gaels' quarterback James Keenan. The recently named Lineman of the Year, Deionte Knight, pounced on the early turnover to set the Mustangs up with prime field position.
A nice catch-and-run from veteran Brett Ellerman, one of his three receptions in the game, kept the drive alive on third down and set up what turned out to be a familiar scene on the day, as Keon Edwards punched in the game's opening points with a five-yard touchdown run.
Western continued to take advantage of the Gaels' shaky start from there, as a strong mix of the run and passing game helped them march down the field once again. And once again, the drive was capped off by the Mustangs' first team all-star running back, this time taking advantage of a gaping hole to stroll into the end zone from 24 yards out.
Queen's was looking to respond on the ensuing drive, and while a productive kickoff return from Noah Gross and a slippery run from Keenan help the home side gain some ground, their second turnover of the opening quarter - another fumble that was collected by Western safety Daniel Valente Jr. - ensured they were left off the scoreboard heading into the second frame.
Bouncing back to kick off the quarter, however, Queen's rookie Keegan Vanek got the better of fellow first-year, Evan Hillock, as the OUA rookie of the year tossed his first interception of the game. Even with the turnover, the Gaels were left with unfavourable field position that led to them conceding a safety and giving their foes a 16-0 lead.
Allowing just 7.3 points per game through the regular season, the league leaders in point prevention made it back-to-back interceptions of Hillock on the next Mustangs drive. This time, having flushed the Western pivot out of the pocket, it was Stephane Fast that took down the errant pass in the end zone to prevent the visitors from extending their lead.
With a league-best offence in tow, however, it was only a matter of time before the London squad navigated their way back into the end zone, and it was Edwards that produced their points yet again. With his longest run of the game, coming from 36 yards out, the Toronto, Ont. product earned the opening half trifecta of touchdowns and capped off his first 30 minutes of play with 13 carries and 117 yards.
Western kicker Brian Garrity would add a 37-yard field goal with 25 seconds to play in the half to help his side take a 26-0 lead into the break.
Hoping to turn their fortunes around in the second half, Queen's found themselves with a terrific opportunity early thanks to a short punt and a no-yards penalty. One third down conversion from all-star Rasheed Tucker, who was kept largely in check for the game with just 60 yards on the ground, kept the drive alive, but a dropped pass on the subsequent third down meant the Gaels came away empty.
The hosts were presented with another short field later in the quarter. Nolan Bedard forced the Western punt thanks a backfield takedown, before a mishap on the ensuing kick left Queen's with one of their best chances to break the goose egg. Yet another third down conversion, this one coming courtesy of a Keenan quarterback sneak, followed by a roughing the passer penalty gave the Tricolour their second trip to the red zone.
With another third down looming, Queen's turned to their oft-reliable kicker Nick Liberatore to split the uprights, but his attempt from 20-yards out went off the post to keep the Gaels scoreless.
Trapped deep in their own end thereafter, Edwards next reeled in his lone reception of the day, which he broke free for a 33-yard catch and run. Another 32-yard scamper later in the drive brought the team to within the Gaels' five-yard line and although the Mustangs couldn't punch it in from there, Garrity's second of the game, this time from just 14 yards out, extended the lead to 29-0.
An electrifying return from Bedard that saw the Queen's linebacker take the proceeding kickoff back 76 yards got the Richardson Stadium crowd on their feet, but even the Gaels' biggest play of the day wasn't enough to spark the offence in the dying minutes of 113th edition of the OUA football finale. The drive would end in a turnover on downs, their fourth such result of the game, and with Hillock taking a knee in the victory formation not long after, it was all smiles for the 2021 champion Mustangs.
With his team ready to hoist the Yates Cup once again, Greg Marshall credited the team's resiliency for their convincing championship victory. "These last couple years have been tough, but the guys stuck with it."
All told, Edwards led the way for the Mustangs with 21 carries, 190 all-purpose yards, and three touchdowns, en route to earning the Dalt White Player of the Game honours. Said the second-year running back about the win, "We [Western] worked hard for this moment. I love this moment."
Edwards' backfield running mate, Trey Humes, also chipped in with 76 yards on 19 carries, as part of a scintillating ground game that racked up 257 total yards against the OUA's stingiest run defence.
Hillock, meanwhile, bounced back from his two first-half interceptions to finish the game 14-for-20 with 193 yards passing, while the OUA's top receiver, Savaughn Magnaye-Jones, topped the Mustangs' pass-catching contingent with a game-high 45 yards on four catches.
As much as the offensive game shone for the now 33-time Yates Cup champions, their defence showed just how impressive they can be as well against a potent Queen's attack.
Led by the likes of Riley MacLeod, Austin Fordham-Miller, and Zach Lindley - all of whom combined for 20 tackles on the game - Western kept Queen's on their toes at every turn, not only keeping Tucker in check, but holding the East Division champions as a whole to just 203 yards of offence. A collection of uncharacteristic missteps and untimely penalties along the way didn't help matters for the Gaels, but it would have taken an almost perfect game of football to upend a Mustangs team that proved to be the province's best on the conference's biggest stage.
Finished Marshall, "Every team is different. This team is really special."
This special Mustangs group will next go on the U SPORTS Mitchell Bowl next Saturday, November 27, where they will welcome the AUS champions, St. Francis Xavier X-Men, to Western Alumni Stadium, with a spot in the 2021 Vanier Cup national championship game on the line.
The vaunted Western defence went to work quickly to start the team off on the right foot. After an unsuccessful opening drive from their offence, Nicolas Theriault made the first big play of the game courtesy of a strip sack against Gaels' quarterback James Keenan. The recently named Lineman of the Year, Deionte Knight, pounced on the early turnover to set the Mustangs up with prime field position.
A nice catch-and-run from veteran Brett Ellerman, one of his three receptions in the game, kept the drive alive on third down and set up what turned out to be a familiar scene on the day, as Keon Edwards punched in the game's opening points with a five-yard touchdown run.
Western continued to take advantage of the Gaels' shaky start from there, as a strong mix of the run and passing game helped them march down the field once again. And once again, the drive was capped off by the Mustangs' first team all-star running back, this time taking advantage of a gaping hole to stroll into the end zone from 24 yards out.
Queen's was looking to respond on the ensuing drive, and while a productive kickoff return from Noah Gross and a slippery run from Keenan help the home side gain some ground, their second turnover of the opening quarter - another fumble that was collected by Western safety Daniel Valente Jr. - ensured they were left off the scoreboard heading into the second frame.
Bouncing back to kick off the quarter, however, Queen's rookie Keegan Vanek got the better of fellow first-year, Evan Hillock, as the OUA rookie of the year tossed his first interception of the game. Even with the turnover, the Gaels were left with unfavourable field position that led to them conceding a safety and giving their foes a 16-0 lead.
Allowing just 7.3 points per game through the regular season, the league leaders in point prevention made it back-to-back interceptions of Hillock on the next Mustangs drive. This time, having flushed the Western pivot out of the pocket, it was Stephane Fast that took down the errant pass in the end zone to prevent the visitors from extending their lead.
With a league-best offence in tow, however, it was only a matter of time before the London squad navigated their way back into the end zone, and it was Edwards that produced their points yet again. With his longest run of the game, coming from 36 yards out, the Toronto, Ont. product earned the opening half trifecta of touchdowns and capped off his first 30 minutes of play with 13 carries and 117 yards.
Western kicker Brian Garrity would add a 37-yard field goal with 25 seconds to play in the half to help his side take a 26-0 lead into the break.
Hoping to turn their fortunes around in the second half, Queen's found themselves with a terrific opportunity early thanks to a short punt and a no-yards penalty. One third down conversion from all-star Rasheed Tucker, who was kept largely in check for the game with just 60 yards on the ground, kept the drive alive, but a dropped pass on the subsequent third down meant the Gaels came away empty.
The hosts were presented with another short field later in the quarter. Nolan Bedard forced the Western punt thanks a backfield takedown, before a mishap on the ensuing kick left Queen's with one of their best chances to break the goose egg. Yet another third down conversion, this one coming courtesy of a Keenan quarterback sneak, followed by a roughing the passer penalty gave the Tricolour their second trip to the red zone.
With another third down looming, Queen's turned to their oft-reliable kicker Nick Liberatore to split the uprights, but his attempt from 20-yards out went off the post to keep the Gaels scoreless.
Trapped deep in their own end thereafter, Edwards next reeled in his lone reception of the day, which he broke free for a 33-yard catch and run. Another 32-yard scamper later in the drive brought the team to within the Gaels' five-yard line and although the Mustangs couldn't punch it in from there, Garrity's second of the game, this time from just 14 yards out, extended the lead to 29-0.
An electrifying return from Bedard that saw the Queen's linebacker take the proceeding kickoff back 76 yards got the Richardson Stadium crowd on their feet, but even the Gaels' biggest play of the day wasn't enough to spark the offence in the dying minutes of 113th edition of the OUA football finale. The drive would end in a turnover on downs, their fourth such result of the game, and with Hillock taking a knee in the victory formation not long after, it was all smiles for the 2021 champion Mustangs.
With his team ready to hoist the Yates Cup once again, Greg Marshall credited the team's resiliency for their convincing championship victory. "These last couple years have been tough, but the guys stuck with it."
All told, Edwards led the way for the Mustangs with 21 carries, 190 all-purpose yards, and three touchdowns, en route to earning the Dalt White Player of the Game honours. Said the second-year running back about the win, "We [Western] worked hard for this moment. I love this moment."
Edwards' backfield running mate, Trey Humes, also chipped in with 76 yards on 19 carries, as part of a scintillating ground game that racked up 257 total yards against the OUA's stingiest run defence.
Hillock, meanwhile, bounced back from his two first-half interceptions to finish the game 14-for-20 with 193 yards passing, while the OUA's top receiver, Savaughn Magnaye-Jones, topped the Mustangs' pass-catching contingent with a game-high 45 yards on four catches.
As much as the offensive game shone for the now 33-time Yates Cup champions, their defence showed just how impressive they can be as well against a potent Queen's attack.
Led by the likes of Riley MacLeod, Austin Fordham-Miller, and Zach Lindley - all of whom combined for 20 tackles on the game - Western kept Queen's on their toes at every turn, not only keeping Tucker in check, but holding the East Division champions as a whole to just 203 yards of offence. A collection of uncharacteristic missteps and untimely penalties along the way didn't help matters for the Gaels, but it would have taken an almost perfect game of football to upend a Mustangs team that proved to be the province's best on the conference's biggest stage.
Finished Marshall, "Every team is different. This team is really special."
This special Mustangs group will next go on the U SPORTS Mitchell Bowl next Saturday, November 27, where they will welcome the AUS champions, St. Francis Xavier X-Men, to Western Alumni Stadium, with a spot in the 2021 Vanier Cup national championship game on the line.
