Kingston, Ont. (September 17, 2016) - Queen's (0-3) played their first home game of 2016 in the revitalized Richardson Stadium on Saturday, but the afternoon was spoiled for Gaels fans by the rain and the No.5 Western Mustangs (3-1) in a 27-13 defeat.

The celebrations to open the revitalized Richardson Stadium included welcoming speeches and the presentation of the game ball from representatives of the Gaels Vanier Cup winning teams from 1968, 1978, 1992, and 2009. Fans were also entertained by live music, stilt walkers, face painters, and balloon twisters during the pregame, and enjoyed new concessions from Pita Pit, Gabriel Pizza, and Kenny's hotdogs. 

GAME FLOW
Queen's kicked to the Mustangs to start the game, and Western marched the field to score on the first possession of the game. After the ensuing kickoff went for a rouge and Marc Liegghio hit a field goal, the Gaels ended the first quarter down 11-0.

The tricolour started to put together a 72 yard drive to close out the opening 15 minutes, which culminated in a 25 yard Nick Liberatore (Dartmouth, N.S.) field goal to start the second. Liberatore hit from 34 and 14 to get the Gaels back into the game, down 11-9 late in the second quarter. Heading into the break, the teams traded field goal chances, as Liegghio hit from 21 yards for Western and Liberatore missed, but got the single to make the halftime score 14-10.

As the teams took to the locker rooms, the sky opened up and it poured on the tricolour faithful. Many fans ran for cover on the concourse under the newly constructed buildings on the East and West sides of the field. Both teams had to battle the elements as the third quarter started, with players on both sides struggling to hold onto the ball. Western bobbled the kickoff return to start the third, but managed to get it back. The quarterbacks and receivers struggled to connect, with Queen's completing only four passes in the quarter, while Western didn't complete a single pass.

To start the fourth, Western held a 19-10 lead after the Gaels conceded a satety and Liegghio hit his third and final field goal. Jonah Pataki (Wallaceburg, Ont.) set up Liberatore for a new personal 46 yard field goal early in the final frame. The drive started with Matteo Del Brocco (Leamington, Ont.) making a 21 yard catch, then Pataki took over the drive, making a 12 yard catch and running for 15 yards over a few plays. Pataki almost had himself a touchdown on the drive, but it was called back do to a Queen's holding penalty. After Liberatore converted, the Western lead was down to six points at 19-13. The Queen's comeback was stymied when Western turned a Gaels fumble into a touchdown, as Chris Merchant scampered 20 yards into the endzone and the Mustangs made the two point conversion to put the final score at 27-13.

Nate Hobbs (Mississauga, Ont.) had his best day under center this season for the Gaels, throwing for 244 yards on 42 attempts and 22 completions, but was intercepted three times. 

Western committed to the run, going 329 yards on 54 rushes led by Alex Taylor, who had almost 200 yards on the ground.

On defence, Mike Moore (Mississauga, Ont.) finished with a game-high 10.5 total tackles and a forced fumble, while Wesley Mann (Almonte, Ont.) had 10 total tackles by the end of the game.


FINAL SAY
"I thought that our defence, against a really tough offence, held up just about as well as they could and our guys did a great job. I thought our kids were there and I just envisioned a different outcome today. I thought we were going to take the lead in the fourth and take it. The opportunities were there for us." - Pat Sheahan

BY THE NUMBERS
5 - Queen's had five conversions on third down
65 - The Gaels held Western to 65 yards through the air
64 - Nate Hobbs was the Gaels leading rusher with 64 yards on six attempts

UP NEXT
Queen's is back at Richardson Stadium next weekend when they host the Varsity Blues (1-3) on Saturday at 1pm.