Photo credit: globalnews.ca

Western Mustangs Advance to Yates Cup Final

The Western Mustangs have secured their spot in the Yates Cup championship for the ninth consecutive year after a hard-fought 30-19 victory over the Guelph Gryphons on Saturday at Western Alumni Stadium.

A pivotal moment in the game came early in the fourth quarter when Mustang receiver Brayden Misseri showcased his determination by evading three Guelph defenders to score a 36-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Evan Hillock, giving Western a 27-19 lead with 12 minutes remaining.

The Mustangs’ defense proved resilient, restricting the Gryphons to just 80 rushing yards and recording six sacks on Guelph’s quarterback Tristan Aboud. This defensive performance has been critical to their success, particularly as they approach the upcoming championship.

With a Yates Cup record of 5-3 since 2015, the Mustangs look forward to a matchup against the Laurier Golden Hawks, a team they have faced three times in this period, with a 2-1 record in those encounters.

Gryphons’ Tough Fight

In the other semifinal on Saturday, the Laurier Golden Hawks, led by London native Taylor Elgersma, overcame an early deficit to defeat the Queen’s Gaels 29-21, setting up a rematch between the Golden Hawks and the Mustangs for the championship.

In the previous meeting between the Mustangs and Gryphons this season, which did not occur during the regular season, both teams exhibited impressive rushing offenses and defenses, creating an intense contest that felt like a tug of war on the field.

The Mustangs entered the game averaging 227.8 rushing yards per game during the season, while the Gryphons had an average of 214.8 yards. The opening score of the game featured Mustangs running back Keon Edwards, who found the end zone just over three minutes into the first quarter with a three-yard run.

Both squads continued to exchange points, with Guelph scoring off a safety and a rouge while the Mustangs responded with field goals. By the midway point of the second quarter, Western held a narrow 10-6 lead.

Thrilling Back-and-Forth

The offensive battles continued, as the teams traded touchdown passes before halftime. Aboud connected with wide receiver Vyshonne Janusas for a 23-yard touchdown, and shortly after, Hillock found Seth Robertson for a 19-yard score. Bounce back from injury, Robertson’s participation added depth to the Mustangs’ offense.

At halftime, Guelph had rushed for 63 yards, while the Mustangs managed 51 yards. The second half saw Western’s Brian Garrity kick a field goal, while Guelph’s Benjamin Lane added two field goals, leaving the score at 20-19 in favor of the Mustangs going into the final quarter.

Misseri’s remarkable fourth-quarter run solidified Western’s lead, and Garrity capped the scoring with a field goal with just 34 seconds left in the game. Hillock concluded the match having completed 20 of 28 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns, demonstrating his efficiency and poise under pressure.

Keanu Yazbeck led the rushing effort for the Mustangs, contributing 60 yards, while collectively, they managed 97 yards on the ground. The Mustangs will face the Golden Hawks on November 9 in Kitchener-Waterloo, where they will seek to avenge their only regular-season defeat, a loss to Laurier by a score of 43-28 back in September.

Source
globalnews.ca