Western's Troy Thompson runs the ball during the first half of the OUA matchup between the Western Mustangs and the Laurier Golden Hawks at Alumni Stadium in London, Ont. on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. The top-ranked Western Mustangs are back in the Yates Cup for the eighth straight year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Geoff Robins
LONDON, Ont. – The top-ranked Western Mustangs are back in the Yates Cup for the eighth straight year.
Western defeated the Queen’s Gaels 47-20 on Saturday to book its ticket into the Ontario University Athletics football championship game.
Evan Hillock went 19-of-30 passing for 308 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the semifinal victory. Savaughn Magnaye-Jones had 10 receptions for 128 yards and one touchdown.
Entering the second half only up 19-17, the reigning two-time Yates Cup champion Mustangs outscored the Gaels 28-3 in the final two quarters to remain undefeated on the year.
Western will next face the No. 3 Laurier Golden Hawks, who defeated the Windsor Lancers 21-14 in the other semifinal.
The Mustangs (8-0) and Golden Hawks (7-1) finished atop the OUA standings, with Western pulling out a 33-30 win in the two sides’ lone matchup in the regular-season finale on Oct. 21.
In the RSEQ conference, reigning Vanier Cup champion Laval Rouge et Or outlasted the Concordia Stingers 34-27 in double overtime to advance into the Dunsmore Cup final.
The fourth-ranked Rouge et Or will matchup against second-ranked Montreal Carabins, who defeated the Sherbrooke Vert et Or 54-3 in the other semifinal.
In the Atlantic University Sport conference action, the St. Francis Xavier X-Men ended the Saint Mary’s Huskies season with a 36-20 victory.
The X-Men will next meet the Bishop’s Gaiters in the Loney Bowl title game. The Gaiters advanced to the AUS final with a 34-15 win over the Mount Allison Mounties.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2023.
