In what was the final regular season game for both teams, the Queen’s Gaels extended their win streak to six games as they took on the undefeated No. 1 Western Mustangs. 5815 fans packed their way into Richardson Stadium to give support as the Gaels finished their season on a high note.
The win was the first time since 1973 that the Western Mustangs have been held scoreless and the first time since 1966 that the Gaels shutout their rivals from London. It was the Gaels’ first win over a number one nationally ranked opponent since the 2009 Mitchell Bowl, when they defeated the Laval Rouge-et-Or at home. The win also marks the first time in Gaels history that they defeated a number one team without being nationally ranked.
The Gaels opened the scoring early in the first quarter as Ryan Granberg of Sherwood Park, Alta. ran 88 yards for the first touchdown, putting the Gaels up 7-0 after Dan Village of Abbotsford, B.C. got the extra point.
John Miniaci of Toronto forced a fumble that put the Gaels offense within striking distance. Village kicked a 24 yard field goal through the uprights, putting the Gael lead at 10-0.
Alex Carroll of Victoria, B.C. returned a punt 55 yards to put Village within field goal range once again. He then converted once more for three points, making the score 13-0 Queen’s.
The Mustangs conceded a safety as time ran out in the first quarter to make it 15-0 Gaels.
Village’s third field goal of the game from the 17 yard line was the only score in the second quarter, putting the Gaels lead at 18-0.
The Gaels opened their scoring in the third quarter with a 14 yard field goal, putting the Gaels up 21-0.
Sam Sabourin of Stittsville, Ont. cut down James Sifakis of Montreal with a staggering hit, creating a fumble which Joshua Sultana of Etibicoke, Ont. scooped up and carried into the endzone for the second touchdown of the game. This costly turnover by Western gave the Gaels a 28-0 lead.
Ryan Mitchell of Toronto, Ont. came into the game in the fourth quarter to replace Billy McPhee of Burlington, Ont. and immediately connected with Giovanni Aprile of Toronto with a 30 yard strike. In the resulting play, Village kicked the ball through the endzone for the single point. The single point made the score 29-0 Gaels early in the fourth quarter.
Village kicked another ball through the endzone for another single point late in the fourth quarter, making it 30-0 Gaels.
With 1:09 left in the game, Craig Rushon of Sault Ste Marie, Ont. burst through the tired Mustang’s defensive line and into the endzone to seal the Mustang’s fate once and for all, 37-0 Gaels.
Ryan Granberg became the second player in Gaels history to pass the 1,000 yard mark in a season as his 197 yards gave him 1,068 to finish the season which is the second highest total in Gaels history behind Mike Giffin’s 2007 season. Granberg accomplished this feat despite missing the Gaels game against the Toronto Varsity Blues. This is only the third time in Gaels history that a back has rushed for 1,000 yards as Giffin also rushed for over 1,000 yards in the Gaels 2008 campaign.
With the win, the Gaels finish their season without allowing a rushing touchdown in eight games which sets a team record for fewest touchdowns allowed in a season. The Gaels also held the Mustangs, the top rushing team in the OUA, to 153 yards which puts their season total at 538 yards rushing against. The total is a team record for fewest rushing yards against in an eight game season.
The Gaels now look to continue their winning streak in the postseason with continued momentum and confidence when they return to action in next weekend’s OUA quarter-final game against the Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks at Richardson Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 pm.
Queens Sports Info
The Western Mustangs travelled to Kingston in search of a perfect regular season, but the Queenβs Gaels spoiled the day, winning 37-0. The Mustangs had already locked up top spot in the OUA and a bye to the semi-finals but were looking for an 8-0 record, their first since 1998.
Western decided to rest a number of injured players, giving them an extra week of rest in preparation of the OUA Semi-Final on November 5 at TD Waterhouse Stadium in London, Ont. Regulars Mike Van Praet, Tyler Varga, Donnie Marshall, Brian Marshall, Matt Norman, Zach Bull and Brent Wheeler were all out of the lineup but are expected to dress for playoffs.
The Mustangs offense struggled in the first quarter, but the period would have been much closer if not for an 88-yard rushing touchdown from Queenβs running back Ryan Granberg (Sherwood Park, Alta.). Queenβs added two field goals from Dan Village (Abbotsford, B.C.) and along with a conceded safety on a punt, the Gaels led 15-0 at the end of the first.
The second quarter was much of the same as the Mustangs and the Gaels failed to sustain any significant drives. Fifth year senior Ian Noble (West Vancouver, B.C.) came in at quarterback for the Mustangs, completing 7 of 11 passes, but also throwing an interception deep in Gaels territory. Noble did have a couple of long runs, rushing for 54 yards in the quarter, but the Western offense could not put any points on the board. Queenβs added one more field goal and took an 18-0 lead into halftime.
The second half started poorly for the Mustangs as Queenβs quarterback Billy McPhee (Burlington, Ont.) connected with Justin Chapdelaine (Abbotsford, B.C.) on a long 74- pass, but Queenβs was only able to put a Village field goal on the board. Queenβs 25, Western 0.
On Westernβs second possession of the second half Noble connected with full back James Sifakis (Montreal, QC), but the Gaels knocked the ball loose and picked it up and ran it into the end zone. The fumble recovery was the final score of the quarter as Queenβs led 28-0 after three quarters.
A missed Village field goal put Queenβs up 29-0 early in the final quarter, followed by another single point later in the quarter. Queenβs put the final touches on the game with a rushing touchdown from the Mustangsβ 1-yard line in the final minutes to make the final score Queenβs 37, Western 0.
The Mustangs traveled to Kingston looking to complete the perfect regular season, however some key injuries, lineup changes and a spirited Queenβs team kept the Stangs from going 8-0 in the regular season.
Noble led the Mustangs in rushing with 127 yards on the ground and threw for another 163 yards, going 21-35 with two interceptions. Granberg led the Gaels with 197 yards rushing , while the Gaels defense completed the season without giving up a rushing touchdown.
Western now has two weeks before their next game as they had already secured top spot in the OUA playoffs and a bye into the Semi-Finals. The Mustangs will be hosting an OUA semi-final on Saturday, November 5 at 1:00 p.m. at TD Waterhouse Stadium in London, Ont.
Western Sports Info
| Western Mustangs vs. Queen’s Gaels at Kingston, ON 10/22/2011 at 1:00 |
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| Western 0 |
Queen’s 37 |
| Western (7-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Queen’s (5-2) | 15 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 37 |
| Kingston, ON | Richardson Stadium |
Box Score Play by PlayDrive Summary
| 1 | 10:36 | Queen’s – R Granberg 88 yd run. (D Village kick is good). Drive: 1 plays, 88 yards in 0:30. |
0 – 7 |
| 1 | 07:16 | Queen’s – D Village 24 yd field goal. Drive: 5 plays, 19 yards in 2:28. |
0 – 10 |
| 1 | 04:51 | Queen’s – D Village 16 yd field goal. Drive: 4 plays, 15 yards in 1:30. |
0 – 13 |
| 1 | 00:01 | Queen’s – Team safety | 0 – 15 |
| 2 | 02:56 | Queen’s – D Village 17 yd field goal. Drive: 9 plays, 67 yards in 3:35. |
0 – 18 |
| 3 | 12:53 | Queen’s – D Village 14 yd field goal. Drive: 5 plays, 86 yards in 2:07. |
0 – 21 |
| 3 | 08:06 | Queen’s – J Sultana 11 yd fumble return. (D Village kick is good). | 0 – 28 |
| 4 | 13:19 | Queen’s – D Village rouge point. | 0 – 29 |
| 4 | 02:42 | Queen’s – D Village rouge point. | 0 – 30 |
| 4 | 01:09 | Queen’s – C Rushon 1 yd run. (D Village kick is good). Drive: 5 plays, 58 yards in 0:59. |
0 – 37 |
| 18 | FIRST DOWNS | 20 |
| 11 7 0 |
Passing Rushing Penalty |
10 10 0 |
| 225 | NET YARDS PASSING | 297 |
| 23-43 5.2 4 for 33 2 |
Completions-Attempts Net yards per pass play Sacked:Number-Yards Had intercepted |
16-27 11.0 0 for 0 0 |
| 153 | NET YARDS RUSHING | 258 |
| 26 5.9 |
Rushing Attempts Average gain per rush |
41 6.3 |
| 10 for 395 | PUNTS: Number-Yards | 10 for 357 |
| 39.5 | Average | 35.7 |
| 145 | TOTAL RETURN YARDS | 163 |
| 9 for 81 4 for 64 0 for 0 |
Punt Returns:No-Yards Kickof Returns:No-Yards Int. Returns:No-Yards |
10 for 151 1 for 2 2 for 10 |
| 9 for 82 | PENALTIES: Number-Yards | 7 for 55 |
| 2-2 | FUMBLES: Number-Lost | 0-0 |
| 0 for 0 | SACKS: Number-Yards | 4 for 33 |
| 0 for 0 | INTERCEPTIONS: Number-Yards | 2 for 10 |
| 25:21 | TIME OF POSSESSION | 34:40 |
Western |
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| 6 | A Handsor | 5 | 1 | 5.5 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 36 | Ni Riva | 5 | 1 | 5.5 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 5 | B Landry | 5 | 0 | 5 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 12 | P Kruba | 4 | 1 | 4.5 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 21 | K Johnson | 4 | 0 | 4 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| TM | TEAM | 4 | 0 | 4 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 25 | S Blake | 3 | 1 | 3.5 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 39 | L Reda | 2 | 3 | 3.5 | – | 1 – 6 | – | – | ||||
| 42 | R Hennessey | 2 | 2 | 3 | – | 1 – 3 | – | – | ||||
| 99 | D Waud | 1 | 4 | 3 | – | 0.5 – 1 | – | – | ||||
| 35 | D. Lee | 2 | 1 | 2.5 | – | 2.5 – 8 | – | – | ||||
| 37 | J Symianick | 2 | 0 | 2 | – | 1 – 4 | – | – | ||||
| 24 | M Babic | 1 | 1 | 1.5 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 72 | D Hansen | 1 | 1 | 1.5 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 97 | R Osei-Kusi | 1 | 1 | 1.5 | – | 1 – 1 | – | – | ||||
| 4 | D Wheeler | 1 | 0 | 1 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 8 | M Spence | 1 | 0 | 1 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 9 | B Rossong | 1 | 0 | 1 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 10 | J McCrory | 1 | 0 | 1 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 33 | J Sifakis | 1 | 0 | 1 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 58 | E Armitage | 1 | 0 | 1 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 40 | A Nikouline | 0 | 1 | 0.5 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| TOTALS | 48 | 18 | 57 | 0 – 0 | 7 – 23 | – | – | |||||
| 20 | M Webster | 8 | 1 | 8.5 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 44 | S Sabourin | 6 | 2 | 7 | 1 – 3 | 2.5 – 7 | – | – | ||||
| 91 | O Ukwuoma | 5 | 1 | 5.5 | 2.5 – 27 | 3.5 – 29 | 1 | – | – | |||
| 24 | T Chase-Dunawa | 4 | 1 | 4.5 | – | – | – | 1-0 | ||||
| 48 | F Pankewich | 4 | 1 | 4.5 | – | – | 1-0 | – | 1 | |||
| 47 | T Festeryga | 4 | 0 | 4 | – | 1 – 2 | – | – | ||||
| 19 | J Sultana | 2 | 3 | 3.5 | – | – | 1-11 | – | ||||
| 21 | A Lue | 1 | 4 | 3 | – | – | – | 1-10 | 1 | |||
| 96 | D Wiggan | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0.5 – 3 | 1 – 4 | – | – | ||||
| 93 | W Moodie | 2 | 0 | 2 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 98 | J Miniaci | 2 | 0 | 2 | – | – | 1 | – | – | |||
| 14 | J Baronaitis | 1 | 1 | 1.5 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 26 | B D’Andrea | 1 | 1 | 1.5 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 46 | R Farrell | 1 | 1 | 1.5 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 49 | G Mohtadi | 1 | 1 | 1.5 | – | 1 – 1 | – | – | ||||
| 3 | J Chapdelaine | 1 | 0 | 1 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 28 | A Dowd | 1 | 0 | 1 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 33 | N Nucci | 1 | 0 | 1 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 42 | A Marino | 1 | 0 | 1 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 99 | M Mardini | 1 | 0 | 1 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| TM | Team | 1 | 0 | 1 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 92 | D Di carlo | 0 | 1 | 0.5 | – | – | – | – | ||||
| TOTALS | 49 | 22 | 60 | 4 – 33 | 9 – 43 | 2 | 2-11 | 2-10 | 2 |
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