The University of Windsor Lancers football team battled the Western Mustangs in a high-scoring affair but ultimately fell 44-37 on Saturday (Sept. 12) afternoon at Alumni Stadium.
GAME FLOW
The Lancers opened the game with a bang, as Kareame Cotton and Colby Ginn connected for a 69-yard touchdown pass on the first play following the opening kickoff, sending Alumni Stadium onto an early frenzy. Western kicker Mateo Pasquini connected on a pair of field goals from 16 and 34 yards to cut the Windsor lead to a single point in the next five minutes, but Windsor was able to hold a steady lead with a pair of touchdowns.
Cotton found Nathan Smith in the endzone for a 16-yard major, and Alex Patrinos netted two field goals to give the Lancers a 14-point lead. Western managed to score before the end of the half to make it a 20-13 game.
The Mustangs tied the game up on a 27-yard touchdown grab by Nik Shewchuk, and the Lancers responded immediately as Cotton went deep to Jalyn Witcher, who maneuvered between two Mustang defenders to make the catch and run all the way to the endzone for an 83-yard score, regaining the Lancer lead.
The Mustangs rebounded with a pair of rushing touchdowns to close out the third quarter, with Ethan Dolby scoring on a 20-yard touchdown run and a 68-yard dash by Jack Kelly, putting the Mustangs with the lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Windsor continued to battle in the final frame, including a 44-yard field goal by Patrinos with five minutes to play, but Western added a field goal from Pasquini and touchdown by Emmett Charles to make it 37-30. The Lancers answered with a late touchdown by Matteo Trifon, a 24-yard reception with just 16 seconds remaining, to cut the final score to a difference of seven points.
STATS
Cotton led the Lancers offensively, completing 18-of-33 passes for 371 yards and four touchdowns. Jalyn Witcher led Windsor's receiving corps with 97 yards and a touchdown on two receptions, including an 83-yard scoring play. Matteo Trifon added five receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown, while Colby Ginn recorded two catches for 69 yards and a touchdown.
On the ground, Tyson Noel Charles paced the Lancers with 98 rushing yards on 14 carries, averaging 7.0 yards per attempt. Defensively, Harrison Daley and Noah Kugler led Windsor with five total tackles apiece, while Dylan Simpson added five tackles and forced a fumble.
For Western, Rancourt threw for 312 yards, Jack Kelly rushed for 151 yards, and Jackson Taylor had 140 yards in the air.
UP NEXT
The Lancers return to action next week as they hit the road against the Waterloo Warriors. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 19 in Waterloo, Ont. The game can be streamed on oua.tv.
