Mustangs in search of post-season form, first-round bye and spot in semifinals


LONDON, Ont. – The Western Mustangs football team hopes to secure a first-round bye and the right to host an OUA semifinal with a win over the York Lions on Oct. 16.

When the Mustangs (5-1, No. 3 in the CIS) visit York on Oct. 16 at 1 p.m. at York Stadium Western head coach Greg Marshall says his squad will need to respect their opponent and not take them lightly in order to get into playoff shape and fine-tune their systems.

Marshall said there “certainly” is extra incentive to win against the Lions, knowing the playoff picture could be clearer for them with a win.

“The first-round bye is important to us,” Marshall said. “Going into this game, we want to get better as a team and work on our execution.”

Western would clinch a home playoff game in the OUA semifinals with a win, but will need another win over Toronto and an Ottawa Gee-Gees loss on Oct. 23 against Guelph to clinch first place.

Marshall noted the game-plan will include working Nathan Riva back into the offensive scheme – this is just his second start of the season – and throwing the ball with more consistency. He said he was pleased with the improved passing game in the Homecoming win over Queen’s.

“There are lots of things we need to do to get better as we prepare for the playoffs,” he said. “We’re going to play hard and we need to win this football game.”

If Western has shown any signs of poor play, it’s been on the road this season.

A lacklustre performance at Windsor, needing a late touchdown to beat Guelph and allowing the Gee-Gees to come from behind in the nation’s capital, Western has looked mediocre away from TD Waterhouse Stadium.

Coming off a bye week, during which Western scrimmaged Waterloo, the game at York will be a chance to right the road-ship.

“Our players are ready to get back and play again. Having a week off, its rare in the regular season. The rest probably came at a good time,” Marshall said. “We played against some pretty good teams over a short period of time without a break for almost two months.”

“It was a good break,” he added. “The guys had good practices on Tuesday and again (Wednesday) night. We’re healthy, knock on wood, and we’re eager to play York on Saturday.”
Marshall and the coaching staff have worked hard this week to stress the importance of focus for a game that, on paper, should not be close. The only time York has ever defeated Western was 30 years ago in a 30-23 Western loss.

“I think our players have played enough football to know you have to play hard every single play in order to be good and get better,” Marshall said. “It’s important for us at this point in the season to get better each week.”

“We have to focus and we have to play hard every play.”

Marshall will see a familiar friend on the Lions’ sideline with offensive coordinator Michael Faulds.

“We know one thing that Warren and Michael and (defensive coordinator Eric) Laflamme will have them prepared. If we take them for granted and do not bring everything on every play, mistakes will happen and injuries will happen.”

Faulds, who became the CIS single-season and career passing yards leader at Western last year, is just one year removed from the Mustangs.

The Hec Crighton nominee is now the offensive coordinator at York, close to St. Andrews where he finished his high school career.

“It’ll be good. I’m really proud of Michael and what a great leader and player he was on our team,” Marshall said. “It’s a great opportunity for Michael to work for Warren. I have a lot of respect for what he’s done and what he will do at York.”

“And some plays we saw on film looked a little familiar so that looked good too,” Marshall added with a laugh.

Craney has been very pleased with the addition of Faulds to the coaching staff.

“He’s a great kid and he’s really respectful of where he came from,” Craney said.

Faulds will have a little bit more to work with this week as Lions’ junior quarterback Nick Coutu will return this week according to Lions first-year head coach Warren Craney, while senior running back Jacob Appiah is questionable.

Western will look to make some offensive improvements of their own. While the running game is No. 2 in the nation, the passing game is putting up just 200 yards per game. Marshall will look at address this in the final two weeks of the regular season.

“I think we had to rely a little bit more on throwing the football against Queen’s,” Marshall said. “We have to be able to open it up and make sure our offence is balanced.”

One this is for sure, Marshall is pleased with the consistent play of his defence.

“Our defence is playing very, very well, as are our special teams. We need more consistency on our offence,” Marshall said. “(Our team) They are young. They just want to play football. They’ve been off a week and are chomping at the bit.”

Oct. 16: Western Mustangs (5-1, 2nd place, No. 3 in CIS) at York Lions (0-6, 9th place), 1 p.m., York Stadium

By Andy Watson

TALE OF THE TAPE
Last Meeting: Oct. 8, 2009 – Western won 64-6
Last 10 Meetings: Western has won the last 10 meetings, and the last 31 meetings
All-Time Head to Head: 35-1 in favour of Western (Mustangs only loss in 1980, 30-23)

STATS PACK
Western
Games Yds Rush Pass Pts
6 423.3 223.7 199.7 206

Overall (Pct.) 5-1 (.833)
Conference (Pct.) 5-1 (.833)
Streak Won 4
Home 3-0
Away 2-1
Neutral 0-0

Last Six Games
Sep 1 vs. Laurier 46-1 Win
Sep 6 at Ottawa 19-20 Loss
Sep 11 vs. McMaster 50-19 Win
Sep 18 at Windsor 30-15 Win
Sep 25 at Guelph 15-8 Win
Oct 2 vs. Queen’s 46-10 Win

Team Stats
Scoring (points per game)
YORK – 10
WESTERN – 34 (4th CIS)
SPREAD – 24

Defence (points against per game)
YORK – 48
WESTERN – 12
SPREAD – 36 points

Total Offence (yards per game)
YORK – 231
WESTERN – 472 (8th CIS)

Passing (yards per game)
YORK – 185
WESTERN – 200 (17th CIS)

Rushing (yards per game)
YORK – 46
WESTERN – 223 (2nd CIS)

Other Western Stats
1st downs per game
23.8 (7th in CIS)

3rd down %
65% (4th in CIS)

Defensive INTs
9 (7th in CIS)

Fumbles recovered
8 (2nd in CIS)

Tackles
423 (2nd in CIS)

Sacks
23 (1st in CIS)

Penalties
57 (11th in CIS)

Penalty yards
528 (13th in CIS)

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