Nixon and Huskies to provide pre-season test for Mustangs

LONDON, Ont. – Attached please find a detailed game notes package for tonight’s exhibition game between the Western Mustangs and Saskatchewan Huskies (9 p.m. EST kickoff). A brief synopsis is also pasted below.

Fans can listen to the game live at http://www.ck750.com for audio or follow with live stats at http://huskies.usask.ca

Western opens the regular season on Wednesday Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. at TD Waterhouse Stadium against the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks. Over 6,000 tickets have been sold for the game. Visit http://www.westernmustangs.ca and click on the TICKETS TAB to order tickets today.


Today’s Matchup

Western Mustangs (2009: 6-2 regular season, 2-1 playoffs, 8-3 overall) @ Saskatchewan Huskies (2009: 7-1)
TV: None
RADIO: CK750 AM (Saskatchewan)
WEB: http://www.ck750.com (audio)
LIVE STATS: huskies.usask.ca

TALE OF THE TAPE
All-Time Head-To-Head: Western vs. Saskatchewan

OVERALL RECORD 3-1 for Western (all playoffs)

RECENT MEETINGS
Nov-16-1974: Western 41 Saskatchewan 17 (JW Little Stadium, London, National Semifinal)*
Nov-18-1989: Western 35 Saskatchewan 10 (Toronto, SkyDome, Vanier Cup)**
Nov-19-1994: Western 50 Saskatchewan 40 OT (Toronto, SkyDome, Vanier Cup)**
Nov-21-1998: Saskatchewan 33 Western 17 (Saskatoon, Sask., National Semifinal)
* – Western coached by Frank Cosentino (1-0 all-time versus Huskies)
** – Western coached by Larry Haylor (2-1 all-time versus Huskies)

WESTERN HOME RECORD VS SASK 1-0
WESTERN ROAD RECORD @ SASK 0-1
WESTERN NEUTRAL SITE RECORD VS SASK 2-0

STREAKS
Both teams are coming off 2009 playoff losses
– Saskatchewan lost 39-38 to Calgary in the Canada West Hardy Cup final in their last game
– Western lost 43-39 to Queen’s in the OUA Yates Cup final
– Calgary and Queen’s advanced to the Vanier Cup, won by Queen’s

Last Meeting: Saskatchewan won 33-17, their only win over the Mustangs, in the 1998 national semifinal
Huskies to Watch: QB Laurence Nixon enters his final year of eligibility. In 2009, Nixon finished completing 157 of 251 passes for 1,933 yards and five touchdowns. He has played in the East-West Bowl for the last two years… Fifth-year receiver Travis Gorski looks to make an impact in 2010. In 2008, the Medicine Hat native was the team’s MVP. In 2009, he led the Huskies with 467 yards on 43 receptions… After injury in training camp in 2009, tailback Jeff Hassler made his first appearance in the Canada West with a bang against UBC. The Edmonton native ended the season with five touchdowns and 367 yards in just four regular season games… All-Star on the offensive line and 2010 CFL draftee, Patrick Neufeld will become the leader to protect the quarterback.
Key Huskies Recruits: TB Dexter Janke, QB Jahlani Gilbert-Knorren and REC Mitch Stevens

ABOUT WESTERN
Last Game: Lost to Queen’s 43-39 in 2009 Yates Cup after winning two playoff games (over Wilfrid Laurier 26-16 on Nov. 7, 2009, in OUA semifinal at Waterloo, Ont., and 37-18 over Guelph a week before in OUA quarter-final).
Mustangs Regular Season Wins in 2009: Over Wilfrid Laurier, Ottawa, Guelph, Windsor, Toronto and York
Mustangs Playoff Wins in 2009: Over Guelph, Wilfrid Laurier
Mustangs Regular Season Losses in 2009: To Queen’s (27-26) and McMaster (42-35)
Mustangs Playoff Losses in 2009: To Queen’s (43-39 in Yates Cup)
On Road: 4-2 in 2009 (3-1 regular season, 1-1 in playoffs)
At Home: 4-1 in 2009 (3-1 regular season, 1-0 in playoffs)
ABOUT WESTERN (cont’d..)
Head Coach: Greg Marshall (4th Season)
– Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2010): 4
– Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2010): 11 (seven with McMaster)
– Career regular season record with team: 17-7
– Career regular season record in CIS: 59-19-2
– Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs only): 25-10
– Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only): 78-28-2

First Quarter Drought: Do not be surprised if Saskatchewan leads early. Western has been outscored 84-57 in the first quarter in 2009 entering the Yates Cup.

Third Quarter Success: Making adjustments at the half and using their excellent fitness, thanks to full-time strength and conditioning coach Jeff Watson, the Mustangs have outscored their opponents 147-34 in 2009 in the third quarter, including a 17-0 shutout over Wilfrid Laurier in the Nov. 7 semifinal.

Kicking for a Spot: Sophomore kicker/punter Lirim Hajrullahu looks to compete for a starting spot with vet Darryl Wheeler who is in London resting for the opener Sept. 1 vs. Wilfrid Laurier

Riva Rut:
Running backs Kenny Eansor, Ben Roberts, John Leckie and rookie Garret Sanvido will all look to impress and compete for time with feature-back Nathan Riva sidelined with a hamstring injury and still in London

A Family Affair: Quarterback Donnie Marshall, eldest son of head coach Greg Marshall, will start at pivot, while rookie slotback Brian Marshall, the middle song of Greg and Donnie’s brother, will play significant action as he looks to land a spot on the 2010 roster. Starting slotback Mike Hegarty is away at a wedding, while another 2009 slotback Jesse Bellamy is now a graduate student assistant with the Mustangs. Nick Pasic, a reliable receiver inside, is expected to have an all-star season with Western. He aspires to attend med school at Western.

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