Can Western knock Laval off its perch? U Sports: Ilnicki wins Hec Crighton

Unbeaten Mustangs face toughest challenge in taking on defending champions

HAMILTON— The Western Mustangs have put up staggering numbers during their remarkable U Sports football season.

They are undefeated at 11-0. They led the country with an average of 48.3 points per game. They have outscored the opposition by a whopping 222-47 in the playoffs.

The only thing standing in the way of their perfect season are the reigning Vanier Cup champions from Laval.

“I know we’ve got a good football team but I’m realistic enough to know that this is going to be our biggest challenge by far,” Mustangs coach Greg Marshall said Thursday at a news conference.

The top-ranked Rouge et Or (10-1) and No. 2 Mustangs will meet Saturday at Tim Hortons Field in a matchup of the two most decorated programs in Canadian university football history.

Western is looking for its seventh Vanier Cup title and first since 1994. The Rouge et Or are looking for their 10th national crown.

Something will have to give when Laval’s top-ranked defence (9.6 points allowed per game) meets Western top-ranked offence (608.5 yards per game). The Mustangs will likely get a boost from the busloads of supporters set to make the 90minute drive from nearby London, Ont.

Western started its playoff destruction with a 66-12 rout of Guelph, followed by a 75-32 victory over Laurier in the Yates Cup.

The Mustangs then went to Acadia to crush the Axemen 81-3 in the Uteck Bowl.

Laval, meanwhile, has been challenged at times throughout its postseason run. The Rouge et Or dumped Sherbrooke 45-0 in the Quebec conference semifinal before pulling out a HAMILTON— University of Alberta running back Ed Ilnicki won the Hec Crighton Trophy as the top player in Canadian varsity football on Thursday as U Sports announced its yearend awards.

Ilnicki, a five-foot-10, 220-pound running back from Spruce Grove, Alta., set a single-season Canada West record with 1,468 rushing yards. He also led U Sports in rushing touchdowns (11) and carries (196) as he helped the Golden Bears reach the post-season for the first time since 2010.

Wilfrid Laurier receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr., Laval quarterback Hugo Richard and Acadia running back Dale Wright were the other finalists.

Regina linebacker Nick Cross took top rookie honours, Western linebacker Nick Vanin claimed the Russ Jackson Award recognizing excellence in football, academics and citizenship, and Acadia’s Jeff Cummins was selected coach of the year for the second time in his career. tight 25-22 win over Montreal. Laval had a so-so first half in last week’s Mitchell Bowl before topping Calgary 35-23.

“When you’re involved in games that are decided at the very end, you gain the experience of adversity and that’s definitely not negligible,” said Laval coach Glen Constantin.

“I like having experienced that kind of adversity during our playoff run.”

Constantin, in his 17th year as Laval head coach, holds the U Sports record with eight Vanier Cup titles. Marshall is looking for his first national title in his 18th season (11th at Western) as a university head coach.

“We’re expecting a hard-fought game, they’re going to be the most complete team we’ve faced all year,” Marshall said.

“There are no holes in their armour.”