WATERLOO, Ont. - Nathan Riva ran for a record-high 42 times for 279 yards as the Western Mustangs booked a ticket to their third consecutive Yates Cup game with a 26-16 win over the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks at University Stadium in front of 3,474 fans on Nov. 7.

With the win, the Mustangs advance to the 102nd Yates Cup at Richardson Stadium in Kingston, Ont. on Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. CLICK HERE FOR BUS TRIP INFORMATION. Queen's defeated McMaster 32-6 in the other semifinal.

Riva (LaSalle, Ont.) set the OUA single-game record for rushing attempts with 42 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter for Western. FULL STATS

"If feels nice to win this one in Laurier's stadium," Riva said. "They have a great team, a great crowd. It's a tough place to play. It's really satisfying, they gave us a tough time."

It was Western's fourth straight win over Laurier, and the second consecutive year they have ended Laurier's season. It took a 17-0 third quarter run to score the deciding points - both on Riva's touchdown runs for 22 and 55 yards.

"We knew what we needed to do. We just seem to be a second-half team,' Riva said. "We knew we had to turn it up a notch, and we did."

Riva accomplished all his success against a Laurier defence that, previous to this game, was ranked 2nd in the OUA in rush defence. The sophomore criminology major now has 18 touchdowns on the season, three coming in the two playoff games. 

"He ran hard, he took a lot of shots, probably three times as many hits as he had rushes," Marshall said. "He deserves credit, he played a great game."

Riva's performance moves him to No. 3 in all-time single-game rushing yards - behind Randy McAuley (285 yards) and Greg Marshall's 316 yards on Nov. 7, 1981, also against Laurier in a playoff game.

"But he didn't break my record," Marshall joked.

Western amassed 547 yards of total offence and held the Golden Hawks to 252 yards.

"Our offence did a really good job today," Marshall said. "But our defence played outstanding today.... and John Surla, when it seemed like Laurier was about to make a big play, he (Surla) was there making a tackle, breaking it up. He played a great football game."

The Mustangs, which outscored Laurier 17-0 in the third quarter, controlled the time-of-possession battle, holding the pigskin for over 36 minutes in the game.

Western's defence also deserves much of the credit, as they held a Laurier backfield highlighted by running back Michael Montoya, the leading rusher in the OUA, to just 118 yards rushing. The victory was a continuation of Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall’s history of playoff success. He has won the Yates Cup in his last six non-consecutive years as an OUA head coach. 

Matthew Norman (Montreal), an offensive lineman who also played on the defensive line for the Mustangs against Laurier because of injuries to normal starters Mike Van Praet  (London, Ont.) and Scott Fournier (Ottawa, Ont.), made a major difference.

"Full credit to Laurier, we beat a quality opponent today," he said. "I'm ecstatic... to be able to play Queen's again, we feel like we have some unfinished business. It's going to be unbelievable, we'll be pumped."

With Western trailing 9-6 at the half, Norman said Marshall motivated his team in the dressing room.

"To be honest, we didn't make a lot of adjustments," Norman, a sophomore, said. "Coach Marshall talked about focussing and just said it was up to us, in our hands, to either win or lose the game." 

"It was no time to celebrate," Norman said, noting the Golden Hawks celebrated as they left the field at the half, after making a bone-crunching hit on Riva to finish the second quarter. "We took it to them in the third quarter. Coach Marshall said Nathan Riva was getting big gains and if we blocked downfield, eventually Nathan would break one, and he did."

Western quarterback and CIS all-time passing yardage leader Michael Faulds had an uncharacteristically modest day passing, and the Eden Mills, Ont., native took his share of punishment, having to leave the game briefly after the first series. But he still put up 238 yards of passing, going 14/29 and leading Western to 25 first downs.

Darryl Wheeler (Hamilton, Ont.) added four field goals in the win and was effective punting the ball despite breezy conditions.

Both times Western won OUA semifinal games on the road against Wilfrid Laurier, they went on to play for Vanier Cups.

After beating the Golden Hawks in the semifinals in 1979, Western lost to Acadia 34-12 in the Vanier Cup. Then, in 1994, Western went on to beat Saskatchewan 50-40 in the Vanier Cup in overtime after winning the semifinal over Laurier in Waterloo, Ont.

The game started inauspiciously for Western when their first possession ended quickly. Two penalties backed the Mustangs up to their two-yard line, and they conceded a safety two plays later. Wilfrid Laurier led 2-0. 

Both teams traded punts before Riva began to catch fire. Midway through the first quarter he already had 91 yards on 14 carries. 

He led the Western offence to the Laurier nine-yard line where the drive stalled and kicker Wheeler scored the Mustangs their first points of the game. 

After more Riva rushing, Wheeler would add another field goal with 1:59 left in the second quarter. Western led 6-2. Laurier’s two-minute offence proved incredibly effective and a screen pass to receiver Alex Anthony brought the Golden Hawks all the way to the Western 32-yard line. 

Rookie Laurier quarterback Evan Pawliuk (Kingston, Ont.) then threw his first touchdown pass of the game to receiver Josh Bishop (Mississauga, Ont.) and gave Laurier the lead at the half, 9-6. Pawliuk, who struggled in the first three quarters, finished 13/32 for 156 yards and two TDs

At that point, Western was almost doubling Laurier’s total yardage, 277 to 151, but was losing because of the Mustangs’ inability to score in the red-zone and struggle on third-down gambles. 

But the third quarter, which has been the most productive for the Western offence all season, and this game proved to be no exception. On their first drive of the half, Riva ran untouched to the endzone on a 22-yard rush with 11:24 to play in the third quarter.

Wheeler’s extra point was good and Western went ahead 13-9. 

"They (Laurier) had trouble stopping the run, so that was a key factor" Norman said. "And we did a pretty good job of filling the gaps, taking away their holes."

Riva added another 55-yard touchdown run late in the third to put Laurier away for good. Pawliuk would pass for another touchdown, this time to Dillon Heap with 3:52 to play in the fourth quarter, after a late hit penalty to Conor Elliott (London, Ont.) and two offside calls on Western gave Laurier great field position. But the Laurier onside kick was recovered by Western.

The Mustangs were forced to punt, but Pawliuk’s late comeback hopes were snuffed out by Mustang defensive lineman David Lee (London, Ont.), who sacked Pawliuk on a key third down attempt. 

Western next travels to Richardson Stadium on November 14th the face the Queen’s Gaels for the 2009 Yates Cup.  To order tickets, call 613 533.2500.

"We are excited to get another shot at Queen's," Norman said. "It will be a great matchup for the Yates Cup."

Riva, who has been a monster rushing for over 170 yards in both playoff games, is pumped up already for the chance for Western to win a third straight OUA title.

"It's a great time to play football in November and to compete for another Yates, it's sweet.," Riva said. "It's going to be a battle. Queen's is the best team in the OUA for a reason."

YATES CUP TICKETS: Bus Trip
The Western Mustangs have organized a round-trip to Kingston this Saturday Nov. 14 - you could be a part of Mustangs history!
Date: Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
Game Ticket: $10 for students / $15 for adults
Bus Ticket: $42
Total: $52 for students / $57 for adults
Departure from TD Waterhouse: 7:30 a.m. SHARP
Arrival in Kingston: 12:30 p.m. (approximately)
Departure from Kingston: 4:30 p.m.
Arrival at TD Waterhouse: 9:30 p.m. (approximately)
If interested, please contact:
Beth Im-Jenkins
Ph 519-661-3711 ex. 83711
eimjenk@uwo.ca

YATES CUP MEDIA ACCREDITATION
Email ycmedia@gogaelsgo.com for accreditation

FOOTBALL MEDIA AVAILABILITY THIS WEEK
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday – practices from 5-730 p.m. on grass at the UWO Practice Fields - players and coaches available prior to practice as they arrive (4:30-5 p.m.) or after practice before team meetings (7:30 p.m. or so)
- Friday 10-1130 a.m. – practice on turf at TD Waterhouse Stadium - players and coaches available prior to practice as they arrive (9:30-10 a.m.) or after practice before team meal (11:30-11:45 a.m.)
- Team bus leaves for Kingston 12:30 p.m. sharp on Friday - media not able to attend Friday practice requiring Coach Marshall may call in to OUA call (information to follow)

REMINDER: Thursday - OUA Media Conference announcing Major Football Award Winners and featuring members of Western Mustangs and Queen's Gaels. Will take place Thursday, Nov. 12, at 11:30 a.m. at Tiger-Town in Hamilton, Ont. Media looking to attend should await official OUA announcement.