On a perfect day in London, the Gaels prevailed over the Western Mustangs for the first time since 2012, taking the game 41-30.
The Queen’s Football team made the Trek to London on Oct. 3 to take on the Western Mustangs, with the top spot in the OUA on the line. The Mustangs went into the game with a 4-0 record and were ranked third in the U Sports rankings, slightly above the Gaels, also 4-0, who were ranked fourth.
The first quarter began with the defences at the forefront, limiting these highly successful offences. The Mustangs and Gaels began their drives with not a whole lot going for them, exchanging punts.
The Gaels second drive had some promise when they pushed to midfield and were able to connect with a long 61-yard reception courtesy of Logan Walton, ArtSci ’29, but was rescinded due to a chop block penalty. They would be pushed back and forced to settle for a punt.
After a quick two forced by the Gaels defence, the offence would redeem themselves with a few quick plays to get them down the field. They would push into Mustang territory, taking a shot towards the endzone but ultimately settling for a field goal, earning the first points of the game.
The Mustangs would respond with a field goal of their own at the end of the first quarter, making it 3-3 after one.
The second quarter featured two screens, the first to Walton and the second to Jayce Baldwin, ArtSci ’29, who would take it 44 yards deep into Mustang territory. The Mustangs would stop them, forcing another field goal. But after lining up offside, the Gaels had an opportunity for six points. Baldwin would make them pay, punching it in for a rushing touchdown, giving the Gaels a 10-3 lead.
The lead would not last long, as the Mustangs scored a touchdown on the ensuing kickoff, returning it 98 yards to the endzone.
The Gaels offence would be stymied after six plays, giving the Mustangs the momentum as they marched down the field into the Gaels redzone. The Mustangs would get to the Queen’s seven-yard line but throw up gift of an interception to Gaels linebacker James Gillingham, ArtSci ’28, letting Queen’s off the hook.
The interception would energize the Gaels offence, blazing down the field and completing every playapped off by a long throw to Russell Weir, ArtSci ’27, who zigged and zagged his way past the Mustang defender and into the endzone for a touchdown. The touchdown put them up 17-10 late in the second quarter.
After an important two and out, forced by good defence from the Gaels, the offence would have 47 seconds to put more points on the board. It would be Weir again as quarterback Alex Vreeken, Kin ’27, would find Weir up the middle for his second touchdown of the game.
The Mustangs would add a field goal at the end of the half, making the score 24-13.
A third quarter early touchdown by the Mustangs cut the deficit to just four. The Gaels would answer with a field goal, giving them the seven-point lead.
After a stop by the Queen’s defence, the offence couldn’t get anything going. Deep in their own territory, the Gaels conceded a safety, forfeiting two points but starting the Mustangs in their territory.
This strategy proved to be the right one as the Gaels were able to force a sack and then a fumble out of the hands of the Mustang quarterback, which was recovered by the Gaels.
The success didn’t last long though as a pass by Vreeken would be intercepted by the Mustangs who rushed the ball into the Gaels side of the field. The Mustangs would connect on a 38-yard pass, giving them their first lead of the game, 29-27.
As the Gaels looked for a response, they took to the air. Vreeken would find a trio of his receivers, starting with Walton. Then, a 29-yard catch and run from Baldwin would take the team into Western territory. The Gaels would take a shot towards the endzone, targeting Cederic Smith, ArtSci ’27, who didn’t come up with the ball but drew a pass interference penalty to lengthen the drive.
Smith would then get open in the middle of the field and catch a rocket of a pass in the endzone, returning the lead to the Gaels. The offence would stay on the field for a successful two-point conversion giving them a six-point lead.
The Gaels defence wouldn’t give up another touchdown for the rest of the game, while also forcing two interceptions and a fumble. The team would later add two field goals, extending the lead. The Mustangs added a rouge on a punt, making the final score 41-30.
Queen’s held the Mustangs to their lowest point total of the season and gave the program its first victory against Western since 2012.
The Gaels, alone at the top of the OUA, will welcome the Windsor Lancers at Richardson Stadium on Oct. 10 with kickoff at 3 p.m.
Tags
OUA, Queen's football, Western Mustangs. Football
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