LONDON, Ont. - The Mustangs and Marauders matched up Sunday night in OUA action in what was a battle from start to finish. No. 2 ranked Western snuck past McMaster in the second half to escape with a 34-22 victory.

The Mustangs broke the deadlock just three and a half minutes into the first quarter to take an early 3-0 lead. Five minutes later, Keagan Hall connected with Jacob Patten for a 10-yard reception and a touchdown to get the Marauders on the board to end a 75-yard drive and make the score 7-3 in favour of the visitors at the end of the first quarter. 

The next 15 minutes saw quick series from each side. Western recorded its second field goal early on in the quarter but McMaster responded with a drive that ended in a 26-yard field goal by Michael Horvat to retake the lead. The home team found the end zone on a 1-yard run in the final minute of the half for their first major of the day to go up 13-10. Horvat hit a season-long 49-yard field goal to draw even. At the half, the score stood at 13-13.

McMaster had the first possession of the second half, resulting in a 30-yard field goal by Horvat to go up 16-13. Western scored touchdowns on the next two ensuing drives to make the score 27-16 in favour of the home team. The Marauders responded with their fourth field goal of the contest but the Mustangs maintained the lead headed into the fourth and final quarter.

Horvat tallied his fifth field goal from 42-yards at the 12:38 mark of the fourth quarter to close out the scoring for the Marauders. Hall was picked off in the final minute of the game which the Mustangs returned for a touchdown to make the final 34-22 in favour of Western.

Offense was on display throughout the entirety of the contest with the two combining for 860 yards of total offense and 56 first downs.

For the Marauders, Hall completed 36 of 55 attempts for 359 yards, recorded one touchdown and one interception in the contest. Brayden Kelly was the game's leading rusher with 44 yards on the ground. Mathieu Gale led all receivers for the Marauders with 107 yards, including a long of 17 yards.

Evan Hillock took all snaps for the Mustangs, going 26 for 39 on pass attempts, including two touchdowns. Keon Edwards had 23 yards on the ground while Mohsen Jamal and Savaughn Magnaye-Jones combined for 17 catches and 296 yards. The Mustangs' defense recorded one sack for a loss of 15 yards.

The Marauders fall to 0-2 on the season while the Mustangs move to 2-0. 

Next Up 

The Marauders return home to Ron Joyce Stadium next Saturday September 9 to face the York Lions. Game time is set for 1pm and tickets are available at www.marauders.ca/tickets.