GEES LEVEL THE SCORE EARLY, BUT WESTERN DOMINATES SECOND HALF
On Sept. 6, the Gee-Gees faced the Mustangs on the road at the Western Alumni Stadium. Both teams were going into the game riding a 2-0 record. In spite of their OUA standings being equivalent, the Mustangs stood with the notoriety of being last year’s Yates Cup finalists. The week prior, against the Gryphons, Mustangs’ running-backs Ethan Dolby and Jack Kelly further asserted the team’s ground game with runs of 84 and 62 yards.
Trailing 35-15 at halftime, the Gee-Gees couldn’t mount a comeback, falling 55-29 to the formidable Mustangs. Nevertheless, last season, the Gees fell 38-11 to the same team, making this year’s performance a marked improvement. Despite the loss, the result highlights the program’s progress and underscores the standout efforts of quarterback Joshua Janssen, who kept the offense moving despite turnovers, and kicker Zachary Copeland, who contributed long-range kickoffs.
The opening quarter set the tone for a fast-paced clash. Western struck first after Copeland’s 70-yard kickoff was fielded at the 5-yard line by receiver Roman Campanaro, who returned it 88 yards to set up a 27-yard touchdown pass from Evan Hillock to Dasani McIntosh. Brian Garrity’s extra point gave Western a 7-0 lead.
The Gees responded quickly with a kickoff return by Maxim Piché that sparked a balanced drive, with Charles Asselin gaining 12 yards and Thomas Frizzarin catching a 13-yard pass. Asselin then exploded for 22 yards, but the drive stalled, forcing a punt.
Ottawa finally gained momentum when Dolby fumbled, with Daniel Briere recovering the ball. Janssen then found Robin Collioud for a 12-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7-7. The remainder of the quarter saw both teams trade punts and short drives, keeping the contest tightly contested.
In the second quarter, the Gee-Gees began at their own 32-yard line, then moved to the 47 after a roughing-the-kicker penalty. Janssen connected with Tristan Thibault for 18 yards, followed by a three-play drive led by Hillock to Seth Robertson in the end zone, giving Western a 14-8 lead.
The Gees answered with a pass to Emyl Gregoire and a 15-yard strike to Noah Avery before Thomas Frizzarin scored on an 18-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 21-15. Western regained control with strong kickoff returns by Campanaro and precise passing, including a 48-yard catch by Misseri, moving efficiently into the red zone. Both teams traded punts for the remainder of the quarter, leaving Western ahead 35-15 at halftime.
Western maintained their momentum into the third quarter, pinning Ottawa after Garrity’s kickoff and a 29-yard return by Charles Asselin. But the Gee-Gees remained determined, as Janssen quickly answered with a 38-yard touchdown pass to Gregoire, cutting the deficit to 22 points.
Following this, the Mustangs stood their ground with a 66-yard touchdown run by Ethan Dolby and short-yardage scores from Jack Kelly and Dolby, extending the lead to 42-22. The Gee-Gees countered with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Janssen to Thibault, but Garrity’s field goal made it 45-29 as Western continued to pressure Ottawa with big gains from McIntosh and Dolby.
The final quarter was back-and-forth, but Western’s early dominance held. The Gees struggled with turnovers, including a fumble recovered by Conner Franzisi, while Hillock and Dolby continued to exploit the defense. Garrity added a field goal to make it 55-29. Ottawa’s comeback attempts were stifled, closing out with Copeland’s 62-yard field goal attempt that fell short.
In a battle that many anticipated would be one-sided, the Gee-Gees held their own against the Mustangs more strongly than in previous seasons, giving a promising sign as they hit the road to face the Guelph Gryphons the next Saturday.
