Heartbreaking loss for Gaels in football season opener

The visiting Mustangs rallied from 16 points down midway through the 4th quarter and won in the 4th overtime.

It was a game of inches between the Gaels and the Mustangs in the OUA season opener at Queen's University.

Brian Garrity's 14-yard field goal in the 4th overtime period helped visiting Western beat Queen's 45-42 on Saturday.

The Mustangs rallied from 16 points down midway through the 4th quarter.

Trailing 10-0 in the 2nd quarter, the Gaels (0-1) got touchdowns from Mateo Tuioti and Russell Weir for a 14-10 lead. Weir would score his second TD of the game on a two-yard run late in the 3rd quarter to put the Gaels up 23-10.

With Queen's up 26-10 halfway through the 4th quarter, head coach Steve Snyder kept the offence on the field on third-and-less-than-a-yard at the Gaels' 36-yard line.

But the Mustangs' (1-0) defense held firm and stopped Weir at the line of scrimmage. Snyder felt confident they would able to convert on what should have been an easy play. 

Western ended up taking over possession on downs deep in Gaels territory. The ensuing drive ended with a 10-yard run by back-up quarterback Jerome Rancourt.

With the 2-point conversion, the Mustangs were down 26-18.

The Gaels couldn't do much in the next possession forcing them to punt. The Mustangs drove down the field on the ensuing possession and scored on a four-yard touchdown run. They were again successful on the 2-point convert and it was tied at 26-26.

Despite the loss, Snyder says his team is going to stay positive heading into next Saturday's game against the McMaster Marauders in Hamilton.

Alex Vreeken completed 15 of 34 passes for 252 yards with a pair of touchdown and one interception. 

Tuioti had three catches for 83 yards and one touchdown.

Story by Ken Hashizume