Knights finding the net; Mustang showdown ahead; Beefs in final

Gameday in 5: A look to the week ahead — and a recap of the week that was (Oct. 10-15) — for London’s teams and athletes.

The Western Mustangs remained undefeated (7-0) with a big 66-24 home win over the University of Toronto on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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London Knights

It was a good week for the Knights, who won two of three games — including a big-time scoring effort at home. Things got started in Peterborough on Thursday (their first trip back since last spring’s OHL Finals), and London came away with a 3-2 comeback win in overtime. Down 2-1 in the final minute, Sam Dickinson tied the game with 16.4 seconds left on a goal assisted by Denver Barkey. The Knights then took advantage of a Petes penalty in overtime and Isaiah George scored the game-winner (assisted by Oliver Bonk and Sam O’Reilly). Easton Cowan also scored for London, while goalie Michael Simpson stopped 40 of the 42 shots he faced against his former team.

After a close game Thursday, London’s offense exploded for an 8-1 win Friday night at home against the Kingston Frontenacs. Three of London’s eight goals came short-handed (Cowan, Barkey and Kaeden Johnston). Kasper Halttunen tallied two goals and an assist, while Barkey scored twice. Jacob Julien and O’Reilly also scored goals for London. Kingston actually outshot the Knights, 36-27, but London held a 6-0 advantage after two periods. London successful killed off all nine Kingston powerplay opportunities in the contest. Owen Willmore made 35 saves in his first win of the season. 

Looking to get their third win in three days, the Knights came up short Saturday, losing 5-3 to the Sarnia Sting on the road. After a scoreless first period, the Knights found themselves down 2-0 late in the second when Denver Barkey scored his first of three goals with 1:37 left in the period. Sarnia responded 23 seconds later, and then made it 4-1 just over six minutes into the third. Barkey then scored a pair of goals, bringing the Knights back to within. But, again, the Sting responded quickly, less than 30 seconds later, with a goal to put the game away.

Up next:

The Knights are back in action Wednesday in Brantford and then play a pair on the weekend (including a home game vs. Erie).

Wed. Oct. 18 (7:00pm @ Brantford Bulldogs)
Fri. Oct. 20 (7:00pm vs. Erie Otters)
Sun. Oct. 22 (5:30pm @ Saginaw Spirit)

Western Mustangs Football

The Mustangs’ perfect season continued last weekend, as the squad won their seventh in a row with a convincing 66-24 victory over the Toronto Varsity Blues on Saturday night at Western Alumni Stadium.

After Brian Garrity opened the scoring with a 45-yard field goal, Western’s Evan Hillock connected with Mohsen Jamal for the game’s first touchdown. Toronto scored an early touchdown in the second quarter, but it was almost all Mustangs after that. Western’s offense exploded late in the quarter and continued to put up points after halftime. Keon Edwards got the team going with a 7-yard touchdown run with 1:38 left in the quarter. On Toronto’s next drive, Jacob Saunders forced a fumble which led to Hillock running the ball in himself for a 6-yard touchdown. Western closed out the quarter with another Edwards short touchdown run to take a 32-10 into the locker room.

A 31-yard touchdown pass to Brayden Misseri, two touchdown runs by Jerome Rancourt, a Matt Williams interception and 63-yard return for a touchdown, and two more field goals from Garrity added to the Mustangs’ scoring in the second half. Hillock finished the day 23-for-25 for 333 yards and a pair of TD passes. Edwards tallied 61 yards on 10 carries (two TDs), while Keanu Yazbeck had 58 yards on 10 carries. Jamal led the receiving corps with seven catches and 100 yards.  

Up next:

The Mustangs are now set up for a showdown against the Laurier Golden Hawks, who are also undefeated (7-0), this Saturday in a contest that will decide the top OUA seed heading into the playoffs (and a first round bye).

Sat. Oct. 21 (1:00pm vs. Laurier Golden Hawks)

London Beefeaters

Taking on the Hamilton Hurricanes in an OFC semi-final Saturday, the London Beefeaters ran their way to a lopsided 50-7 win at City Wide Sports Park.

London got off to a strong start with an eight-point first quarter — and then really turned things on in the second, scoring another 19 to take a 27-0 lead into halftime. The Hurricanes’ only points came in the third quarter when they scored a touchdown. Meanwhile, London had nine more points of their own that quarter, and finished off with two touchdowns in the fourth.

In total, the Beefeaters offense logged 380 yards in the win. Most of the damage came on the ground, as Geoff Clubine (216 yards, 2 TDs) and LJ Dyer (84 yards, 3 TDs) combined for five touchdowns. Christian Thomson had two of four Beefeaters fumble recoveries on the day, including one that he ran in for a touchdown. Matthew Smith and N’kosi Stewart led the defense with nine total tackles apiece.

With the win, London punched their ticket to the OFC Final. They’ll head to Windsor Saturday to play the St. Clair Saints in the championship game for the fourth season in a row. The winner of that contest will earn a trip to a CJFL semi-final against the winner of the Prairie Conference.

Meanwhile, the league announced its all-stars, and the Beefeaters were well-represented with six players, including: LT Jared Balsaz, SB Jagger Horst, RB LJ Dyer, C Kevin Ricard, DK N’kosi Stewart and FS/CB Drew Lawrence.

Up next:

Sat. Oct. 21 (7:00pm @ St. Clair Saints) (OFC championship game)