The Western Mustangs look to build on their 2010 season that saw them reach the Uteck Bowl. With a solid group of veterans mixed with a promising recruiting class this years edition of the Western football squad has high expectations. Last year despite the transition losing Mustang legend Michael Faulds, Western was able to make a deep run into the playoffs. The transition towards a more balanced attack was smooth. The Mustangs were able to win the Yates Cup in Ottawa over the GeeGees with a last second field goal by kicker Lirim Hajrullahu.
Donnie Marshall returns to the fold as the starting quarterback. Nathan Riva combined with Jerimy Hipperson will provide a 1-2 punch in the backfield. The offense will look again to provide a lot of scoring.Defensively Mike Van Praet leads a stout defensive line with a token of getting after the quarterback. Speedy David Lee returns for a fourth season along side veteran Brent Wheeler. Pawel Kruba leads the talented linebacking corps.
Westernβs boasts the top recruiting class in the nation which will spark excitement throughout the Western faithful. They added talent on both sides of the ball. They were able to add running back Tyler Varga who many considered the top in Canada. Defensively they added one of the top Defensive Lineman in Daryl Waud and linebacker Byron Perez-Archambault from powerhouse Vanier College.The team aims to continue their solid play stemming from last seasonβs playoff run. With veteran quarterback Donnie Marshall having a year under his belt as a starter combined with a large group of veterans returning the prospects are very exciting for this edition of the Western Mustangs.
Quote from head coach:
“we are excited about the prospects for this upcoming season. We return a very experienced group of veterans and have some outstanding recruits, which will make for a competitive training camp. The OUA will be a very balanced conference and we open with Waterloo, McMaster and then Laurier so we need to come out of training camp ready to compete at our best. Our team is balanced, we gained a lot of experience last season that I expect will help us this year.
Head Coach:
– Number of seasons as head coach with team: 5 (including 2011):
– Number of seasons as head coach in CIS: 12 (including 2011):
– Career regular season record with team: 24-8
– Career regular season record in CIS: 66-20-2
– Career overall record with team: 36-12 (reg. season & playoffs only):
– Career overall record in CIS: 89-30-2 (reg. season & playoffs only):
2010 regular season record: 7-1
2010 regular season standings: 2nd in OUA
2010 playoff record: 2-1
2010 playoff finish: Yates Cup Champions. Lost 13-11 in Uteck Bowl to Laval
OFFENCE
Number of returning starters: 9
Key returning players:
Donnie Marshall returns as the starter for the 2nd season. Matt Norman and Greg Wilson anchor the Offensive Line once again. Nathan Riva and Jerimy Hipperson will once again be in the backfield. Tough Slotback Zach Bull will be leading the under rated receiving corps.
Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):
Tyler Varga is the top rated running back in the nation by Canada Football Chat. He committed to Western over full rides from Baylor and Dartmouth. He will contribute immediately in the already talented backfield. James Sifakis a fullback from CEGEP Vanier College will compete for time in the backfield. He played for Marshall at Team World in 2010. Offensive lineman Winston Miles will come in and compete right away for playing time. He suited up for Team World last winter. He previously played at a prep school in Georgia.
Key losses: Josh Buttrill a 2010 OUA All Star at Left Tackle Graduates. Slotbacks Mike Hegarty and Nick Pasic have moved on as well.
DEFENCE
Number of returning starters: 6
Key returning players:
Nose Tackle Mike Van Praet leads a very talented Defensive lline. It will be his 4th season as the starter. Brent Wheeler and David Lee are also back helping anchoring the front line of defense. Pawel Kruba leads a deep group in the linebacking corps while corner Jamie Symianick returns for his 3rd season starting at corner.
Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):
Western recruited a few of arguably the best players in the country. Defensive lineman Daryl Waud out of Sir Allan McNabb in Hamilton will make an immediate impact in the front four. Byron Perez-Archambault the top linebacker in Montreal who played a Vanier College decommitted from Laval to attend Western. Look for him to play immediately. In the secondary Kalvin Johnson who played for Mickey Donovan for Team Ontario in 2010 will compete immediately for playing time.
Key losses: Western loses a few players to graduation and to the CFL. Gone are defensive end Alexander Robinson. Middle linebacker John Surla and multi positional star Craig Butler.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Key returning players: Kicker Lirim Hajrullahu, Punter Darryl Wheeler
Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers): Nick Riva brother of Nathan Riva and former St. Fx player will compete and compete right away in the secondary. As well former X-Men Wide Receiver Peter Giankopolous will made an impact on offense.
Key losses: Linebacker/ long snapper Jon Surla. Defensive back/ punt returner Craig Butler
CLICK HERE for a preview of all CIS teams
Incoming recruiting class:
Western Ontario 35
Peter Gray – LB – Centennial / Team Ontario / Cambridge Lions (Guelph) Signed
Trevor Lass – DB – Waterloo-Oxford / Team Ontario / Twin City Predators (Plattsville) Signed
DJ Lalama – LB – St. Paul’s / Team Manitoba (Winnipeg) Signed VIDEO
Renato Rossi – LB – Bishop Ryan / Hamilton Ironmen – OVFL (Hamilton) Signed
Preston Huggins – LB/FB – Regina Mundi College HS, London Falcons – OVFL – (London) Signed
Ben Risen – OL – Forest Hill / Metro Wildcats (Toronto) Signed
Winston Miles – OL Forest Hill / North Georgia Prep / Team World (Toronto) Signed
Josh Beach – REC – Ajax / Dolphins (Ajax, ON) Signed
James Sifakis – RB – Vanier / Team Canada (Montreal) Signed
Eric Richards – DB – Villanova / Metro Wildcats (Toronto) Signed
Blake Huggins 5’10 180 – QB – John Paul II, London Falcons (OVFL) (London, ON) Signed
Tyler Varga – RB – Cameron Heights / Lions / Team Ontario West (Kitchener, ON) Signed
Kalvin Johnson – DB/RET – St. Marguertte / Bulldogs / Team Ontario (Brampton) Signed
Ricky Osei-Kusi – DL – St. Marguertte / Bulldogs / Team Ontario West (Brampton) Signed
Rahul Madan – REC – MacDonald (Toronto) Signed
Nathan Caranci – OL – Catholic Central (London) Signed
Horace Finnikin – DB – St. Marcellinus / Brampton Bulldogs (Brampton) Signed
Daryl Waud – DL – Sir Allan MacNabb / Team Ontario West (Hamilton) Signed
Pabek Gany – DB – Cameron Heights (Kitchener) Signed
Chuck Wall – QB – Sir Allan MacNabb (Hamilton) Signed
Kane McEwen 6’3 285 – OL – Saunders / London Falcons / Team Ontario West (London, ON) Signed
Christiaan Collarile – REC – St. Marcellinous (Mississauga, ON) Signed
Alex Todd – DE – Waterloo-Oxford / Twin City Predators (New Hamburg, ON) Signed
Jeremy Buckley – SB/RB – Lorne Park (Mississauga, ON) Signed
Alex Kurowski – OL Catholic Central / Team Ontario (London) Signed
Damian Cameron – REC – Richview / Eagles (Etobicoke, ON) Signed
Matt Brazier 6’0 185 – REC – Saunders / London Falcons / Team Ontario West (London, ON) Signed
Tyrel Reid – DB – St. Marguertte / Bulldogs (Brampton, ON) Signed
Ben Jordan 6’1 215 – LB – Robert Bateman / Burlington Stampeders (Burlington, ON) Verbal
Ryan Northfield – DL – Simon Fraser University / St. Francis Xavier (Mississauga, ON) Verbal
Byron Perez-Archambault – LB – Vanier (Montreal) Verbal orig Laval
Nick Riva – DB – St. Francis Xavier University (Lasalle, ON) Verbal
Peter Giannikopoulos – REC – St. Francis Xavier University (Everett, Mass, USA)
Grant McAdam – OL – Victor Valley College (California JUCO) / Toronto Northern (Toronto) Verbal
Josh Woodman – REC – Chatham Ursuline College / Chatham Cougars (Chatham, ON) Verbal
CLICK HERE for all CIS teams incoming recruits
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