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This game was not in question right from the start. Despite the good but not great play of the Mustang offence, the game was decided by the defense. They were giving nothing and Guelph got nothing. Guelph, of course, didn't help themselves at all with poor passing and turnovers. One turnover in particular must have really hurt.
With the score 2-0 in favour of Western in the second quarter Guelph was, on the scoreboard at least, still in this game. After yet another ineffective offensive series Gryphon punter Norm Nasser was set to punt at about his own 30 yard line. The snap from center sailed over his head causing him to scramble to pick up the ball. When he finally got there, so did two Mustang defenders (sorry - didn't get their numbers.) Nasser did manage to get his foot on the ball only to have it blocked and downed inside the 10 yard line. The net result was Western's first touchdown of the day - a Fabian Rayne leap over the goal line - and a score of 9-0.
The play was often sloppy although much improved over last week. On more than one occasion quarterback Mike O'Brien managed to throw a perfect strike to a receiver only to have the ball dropped. The receivers did make some good catches however, but it was obvious to all that the passing game remains weak.
But if the passing game is weak, the running game is in fine shape. Both fullback Fabian Rayne and tailback Scott Crawley had good games. Crawley carried 14 times for 131 yards inlcuding a 68 yarder for a touchdown. Rayne also had a good game with two touchdowns including one that went 54 yards.
But when the dust had settled on this game, it had exposed one of the Mustangs most powerful weapons. Punter Mike O'Brien. Discussed earlier throwing perfect passes, it was his punting skills that really stood out. In fact, his four punt singles would have been all the offence that was needed to win this one. Over the course of the game, O'Brien punted 14 times for an average of 51 yards each. This includes the four singles that went for 72, 62, 57 and 67 yards.
Notes
The mustangfootball.com player of the game is Mustang punter Mike O'Brien.
Mustang place kicker Guilio Fricano missed a 37 yard field goal attempt during the game. It's one he usually nails. But London Free Press reporter Steve Coad is being too hard on him by stating that he "continues to struggle." The 10 yard attempt he missed last week was a difficult try. Although I am no expert on kicking, it seems to me that a chip shot from the far hash mark with 12 defenders coming at you from only 10 yards out has got to be a tough one.
Penalties really hurt the offense again this game. On at least two occaisions, long runs were called back because of flags.
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The Good - It's deja vu all over again. The defense.
The Bad - The penalties. The Mustangs can't waste good gains because of flags any more. The easy games are over (except maybe for the Toronto game.)
The Ugly - The referee and his flag. It was my understanding that if an opposing player nails the punter without first making contact with the ball, he is guilty of roughing the kicker. On Saturday, a Guelph player not only made contact with Mike O'Brien, he knocked him down after a punt with no resulting flag. It was made worse due to the fact that not long before, Western was on the wrong end of a very, very questionable roughing the passer call.
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
Individual Statistics
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