Mustangs stay perfect in Vanier Cup

HAMILTON The powerful Western Mustangs were relentless throughout their undefeated season, and not even the top-ranked defence in the country could come close to slowing them down.

Western quarterback Chris Merchant threw for 276 yards and ran for two touchdowns himself as the Mustangs defeated the Laval Rouge et Or 39-17 on Saturday to win the Vanier Cup.

Running back Cedric Joseph also scored two touchdowns as the 12-0 Mustangs ran the table and ended a 23-year Canadian university football championship drought.

“No one can really stop our offence,” Western defensive back Alex Salytchev said. “Our defence flies around. We’re truly the best team in the country.

“I hope everyone knows that this team will be immortalized as one of the best in history.”

Receiver Cole Majoros had the other touchdown for Western on a breezy, overcast afternoon at Tim Hortons Field. Alex Taylor had 154 rushing yards on 26 carries as the Mustangs put up 578 total offensive yards.

Laval, the 2016 champion, gave up an average of just 9.6 points per game in the regular season. But Western’s top-ranked offence was brimming with confidence after piling up 222 points over its first three playoff games.

The Mustangs scored on their opening drive and never allowed Laval to gain any real traction.

“It was just too much of a good football team,” Rouge et Or head coach Glen Constantin said. “We hit a buzz saw.”

“This is a dominant team,” Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall said. “To go undefeated and dominate the way we did in the playoffs, I’m really proud of these guys.”

The 2013 Rouge et Or team was the last squad to run the table at 12-0.

This was the seventh Vanier Cup win for Western.