Sanvido brothers carry Mustangs to opening day win over Warriors (VIDEO)

Western sports info:

For the second season in a row Garret Sanvido (Vancouver, BC) ran for over 100 yards in a season opening victory against the Waterloo Warriors, but this year he wasn’t the only Sanvido on the turf. Rookie receiver Justin Sanvido (Vancouver, BC) was stellar in his CIS debut, catching two touchdown passes to add to Garret’s three rushing touchdowns to help the Mustangs to a 54-10 victory.
“I was pretty nervous coming out but I was pretty pleased with my performance. Although I dropped one or two balls and that can’t happen again,” said Justin Sanvido after the game.
Combined the Sanvido brothers accounted for five of Western’s seven touchdowns and for 305 of the team’s 658 total offensive yards. Garret rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries while Justin caught nine passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns.
Justin was one of quarterback Donnie Marshall’s (London, Ont.) favourite targets on Monday as the fifth-year senior got his final season off to a good start completing 18 of 27 passes for 281 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall was pleased with his team’s first game saying “I thought we were a bit nervous. We dropped some balls, didn’t hit the holes that were there but other than that it was a well-played game offensively, defensively, and special teams.”
“Can we get better? I’m going to watch the film, I know we can get better, but overall I thought it was a good start to the season.”
Despite two strong drives by Waterloo to open the game, neither team was able to score until the Warriors capitalized on a Western fumble, connecting on a 38-yard field goal with just over three minutes remaining in the first quarter.
The Mustangs responded before the end of the frame when Garret Sanvdio found the endzone on a short run to pick up his first major of the day. Only a few minutes later it was Justin Sanvido’s turn as he caught a 46-yard pass from Donnie Marshall to put the Mustangs up by 11.
Garret Sanvido would then add his second TD on the day, this time on a ten yard run, to put Western up 21-3 midway through the second quarter.
With the team out in front the Mustangs turned the offence over to highly-touted rookie quarterback Will Finch (Burlington, Ont.) for his first taste of CIS action. Unfortunately for Finch it wasn’t the start he was looking for as his first pass was picked off by Christian Mahler (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) who returned it 23-yards for the touchdown.
The Mustangs answered back quickly, and again it was the Sanvido brothers finding the endzone. Garret scored his third touchdown of the day on a one yard run with just over two minutes remaining in the half. Justin added another 90 seconds later as he caught a 21-yard pass from Donnie Marshall to make it 35-10 entering half-time.
During the second half the Mustangs would utilize both Marshall and Finch behind centre as well as giving younger players such as Yannick Harou (Gatineau, Que.) and Tyrel Reid (Brampton, Ont.) more opportunities.
Both Harou and Reid made the most of it, with Reid adding a pair of rushing touchdowns to the scoreboard, one to open the half just over four minutes into the third quarter, and one with less than three minutes remaining in the fourth to make it a 54-10 final for the Mustangs.
The Mustangs will host the University of Toronto Varsity Blues on Saturday, September 8 at TD Waterhouse Stadium. Kick-off is set for 1:00 p.m.

Waterloo sports info:

Sanvido’s brother Justin was just as effective through the air with two touchdowns of his own.  Justin’s nine catches was good for 161 yards on the day which included a 46 yard catch early in the second quarter.

Western’s starting quarterback Donnie Marshall (London, Ont.) had a stellar game for the purple going 18-for-25 and 281 yards in the air, throwing for two touchdowns.

To start the game Waterloo was sharp on offense with two promising looking drives up field which resulted in a Warrior field goal thanks to a fumble recovery by rookie linebacker Brandon Corelli (Sault Ste. Marie).  Jake Fiorucci (Niagara Falls) was successful on the 38 yarder.

The Mustangs would respond the next drive with Garret Sanvido punching home his first of three touchdowns on a two yard run with only two seconds left in the first quarter.

Western would put up their second major of the game on a 46 yard catch and run by Justin Sanvido to put the Mustangs up 14-3.

Following a fumble by Nick Anapolsky (Guelph ) of the black and gold, Western would take advantage as Garret Sanvido would run in his second, this time from 10 yards to put his squad up 21-3.

Comfortably out front, Western would turn to their first year back-up quarterback Will Finch (Burlington, Ont.) deep in their own zone.  The move would cost the Mustangs as he would throw up a wild pass that was picked by slotback Christian Mahler (Sault Ste. Marie) and run back for Waterloo’s first major to cut the lead to 21-10.

Before the half was up the dynamic brother duo of Garrett and Justin Sanvido would each add a touchdown of their own to take a commanding 35-10 lead.  Garret would run in an easy one yard score while Justin would make a circus catch deep in the end zone.

Western would continue their offensive pressure early in the second as Tyrel Reid (Brampton, Ont.) would score the first Mustang touchdown by someone other than a Sanvido.  Reid’s major would come on a seven yard dash.

Late in the third quarter Waterloo’s starting quarterback Brian Chris (Waterloo) would go down with what appeared to be an upper body injury giving rookie Jamie Cook (Collingwood) a chance at a few snaps.  Unfortunately for Cook Western would turn up their defensive pressure, pinning the black and gold deep in their zone for most of the third and fourth quarters.

Waterloo would conceive two straight safety’s and Western would add a rouge to take a 47-10 lead late into the final quarter before Reid would add another score, this time on a 11-yard run to secure the 54-10 win for Western.

Waterloo did not roll over and die in the late going of the game as Cook would show off his strong arm finding Anapolsky for a 25 yard strike before adding his own 21 yard run.  For head coach, Joe Paopao it will be important to carry over this type of effort into next week.

The Warriors will host the McMaster Marauders as part of Waterloo’s black and gold game on Saturday, September 8.  Kickoff is set for 1pm at Warrior Field.  Western will host the Toronto Varsity Blues at 1pm.