U Sports: Western Mustangs rout Guelph Gryphons to win Yates Cup

Chris Merchant lifted the Vanier Cup champion Western Mustangs to a Yates Cup victory on Saturday, bringing them one step closer to repeating their U Sports football title.

Merchant threw for 324 yards and a touchdown and ran in three more scores as No. 1 Western routed the Guelph Gryphons 63-14 at home for the Ontario University Association championship.

Cedric Joseph ran for 122 yards and three touchdowns and Mackenzie Ferguson returned an interception for a score to keep the Mustangs undefeated.

Merchant completed 19-of-22 pass attempts and also had one interception.

Guelph’s Theo Landers was limited to just 69 passing yards, one TD and one interception.

Western will host next weekend’s Mitchell Bowl against the Saskatchewan Huskies with a spot in the Vanier Cup on the line.