Continuing his stellar 2023 campaign in which he’s averaging 147 yards per game, Amlicar Polk ripped off a massive run on the game’s opening drive, going 59 yards for a touchdown to put the Gee-Gee’s up 7-0.
On Sept. 23, the Gee-Gees travelled to London looking to spoil Western’s homecoming against the Mustangs high-powered offence. This was a rematch of last year’s meeting, which saw the Mustangs win 38-18. This would also be the first OUA start for Gee-Gee’s QB Josh Janssen, filling in for the injured Ben Maracle and Ryan Licandro.
Continuing his stellar 2023 campaign in which he’s averaging 147 yards per game, Amlicar Polk ripped off a massive run on the game’s opening drive, going 59 yards for a touchdown to put the Gee-Gee’s up 7-0. This would highlight a 140-yard, 2 touchdown day where he averaged 8.2 yards per carry.
After trading punts, the Mustangs drove efficiently down the field and tied the game on a seven-yard touchdown to Savaugh Magnaye-Jones. The Gee-Gee’s responded on the opening play of the next drive as Janssen rolled out to his right and hit first-year wide receiver Robin Collioud, who scrambled upfield for a 24-yard gain.
Two plays later, Janssen hit Nicholas Gendron over the middle for 11-yards and then went back to Collioud for another 17 yards. After a short run from Polk and an incompletion, Campbell Fair knocked through a 41-yard field goal to make it 10-7 and end the first quarter.
The Gee-Gees struggled to get anything going on offence as the second quarter kicked off. They punted twice as the Mustangs took the lead after backup QB Jerome Rancourt took a bootleg run 22 yards to the endzone.
Janssen and the offence finally showed some life after Western turned the ball over on downs, driving the ball down to the Mustang’s 24-yard line. However, just as points seemed to be on the table, Janssen’s end zone pass was intercepted by Western Safety Chris Cameron-Kogler.
At halftime, the score was 14-10, and the game was essentially even, with both teams flashing brilliance and making mistakes. However, as the second half opened, momentum shifted to the Mustangs, and they unleashed a stampede upon the Gee-Gee’s defence.
The Mustangs would convert all five of their second-half drives into touchdowns. They rushed for 207 yards and threw for another 190 in the second half. The Gee-Gee’s were able to add another touchdown, and Janssen made arguably his most impressive throw of the day, a 26-yard throw into double coverage caught by Gendron. This would prove to be the only highlight for an offence that was held to only 168 total yards in the half.
Josh Janssen finished 19 of 24 for 213 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. Despite the offence’s sluggishness in the second half, Janssen consistently made his throws in the short and medium passing game and looked comfortable in the pocket. He added another 14 yards on the ground.
Kerwin Guiste led the offence in receiving yards with four catches for 54 yards. On defence, Max Charbonneau once again led the team in tackles, and Anas Faid had the team’s only sack.
The Gee-Gee’s return to Ottawa next week for the annual Panda Game against Carleton. Game time is 12 PM at TD Place. You can get tickets here.
