KINGSTON, On. (Sept. 16, 2023) - Queen's Men's Football fell short to the Western Mustangs 32-27 this Saturday at Richardson Stadium.

Eight thousand students, alumni, and fans packed the stands to watch an epic showdown between the rival teams. The fourth quarter had everyone on the edge of their seat, with both teams scoring touchdowns and gaining the lead during the final moment of the game. The Mustangs ultimately came out on top, leaving Queen's with a 1-2 record this season.

Western came into the game ranked No. 2 in the nation in the U SPORTS Top 10 rankings, and Queen's went right down to the wire in the thriller at Richardson Stadium.

"At this point, we've proven we can play with anyone in the conference," said quarterback Alex Vreeken (Kingston, Ont.) "It's kind of just us vs us, and if we play our best football, we're gonna have a chance to do some special things."
 

While the Queen's defensive line showed promise in the opening moments of the first quarter, Western managed to break through with a 16-yard pass that turned into an early touchdown, giving the Mustangs an early lead. Quickly after, the Mustangs secured a nine-yard safety, taking a 9-0 lead into the second quarter. Defensive back Jared Siewe (Calgary, Alta.) made an impressive tackle during the final play of the quarter, exciting the crowd and giving Queen's  a surge of energy and momentum heading into the next quarter.

Vreeken completed a beautiful pass to Nathan Falconi (Palgrave, Ont.) during the first minute of the second quarter, bringing the score to 9-7.

Queen's added a point from a rouge kickoff, but shortly after, Western's Brian Garrity connected on two field goals, extending their lead to 15-8. During the last
few seconds of the quarter, Queen's kicker Tyler Mullan (North Bay, Ont.)converted a field goal and Queen's finished off the first half just trailing behind the Mustangs 15-11.

During the third, the Mustangs intercepted a pass, and an impressive 95-yard return ended in a touchdown for Western, bringing their lead to 22-11.

Kicker Brian Garrity contributed another 3 points after a successful field goal, however, Queen's retaliated with a touchdown during the final moments of the quarter, narrowing Western's lead to seven points at 25-18.

The fourth quarter showcased phenomenal gameplay on both ends as Queen's began to close the gap on the Mustangs, securing two points with a safety. The teams battled it out, alternating possession, but an incredible interception by Keegan Vanek (London, Ont.) changed the game's pace. An impressive catch by Jack Ashby-Jacobs put Queen's close to the end zone, and Russell Weir had a one-yard run that put Queen's in the lead at 27-25.

The Mustangs struck back during the final 30 seconds of the game and finished on top at 32-27.

Vreeken finished the game at 25-45 for 358 yards.

Falconi and Anthony Soles (Pointe Claire Que.) were both standout players with key touchdowns this game. Soles finished the game with 68 yards on 15 carries. Falconi led Queen's with six receptions for 96 yards.

Justin Pace (St-Lambert, Que.) led Queen's Football's defence with a game-high 11 tackles (nine solo, two assisted). Van Wishart (Courtice, Ont.) added to his impressive sack total on the season, adding his fifth of the season Saturday. Darien Newell (Brampton, Ont.) also recorded a sack.

The intense final quarter created an electric atmosphere within the stadium, as the seats were flooded with students in Tricolor. Head Coach Steve Synder
emphasized the significance of large crowds in a post-game interview.

"I've said this a million times, but I'll say it again: the students are the key to it all," said Coach Synder. "When the team comes out and sees 2-3,000 students, it's a game changer for them. It might actually impact the game by a few points because our guys just get up and feed off the energy and I think it makes a difference on the opponents as well."

Queen's Football will next take on the Windsor Lancers in Windsor, Ont. next Saturday, Sept. 23, at 4:00 pm.