The Western football team has a turnover problem.
Mustangs quarterback Jerome Rancourt threw three interceptions and lost another possession due to a fumble in a 41-30 defeat to Queen’s Saturday at Western Alumni Stadium. That makes six picks in two weeks for the 6-foot-5 pivot, who also threw three against McMaster in the Homecoming win.
“I think we all have to realize, even though Jerome’s a fifth-year player, he’s a first-year starting quarterback,” head coach Michael Faulds told reporters after the game. “So we’re going through some of those growing pains right now and he and I are just having conversations about what he saw in that play and why he did what he did.
“So we do that whether it’s a successful play or it’s a negative play, just seeing kind of the why so that we can make the corrections when we’re in that situation again.”
The Mustangs (4-1) now trail the Gaels (5-0) in the race for first place and control of the all-important first-round playoff bye. Essentially, Western has to win out its final three games (Carleton, Ottawa, Laurier) and hope Queen’s drops two of its final three against Windsor, Guelph and McMaster to avoid a quarterfinal tilt.
It’s not impossible, but the odds are long.
Western gave up 21 second-quarter points and was outscored 14-1 in the fourth quarter. That combination added up to the Gaels’ first victory against the Mustangs in 16 meetings (regular season and playoffs) dating back to 2012.
Western was boosted by a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown by Dasani McIntosh, but that special teams magic wasn’t enough to turn the tide. Queen’s dominated time of possession and worked the Alex Vreeken-to-Russell Weir combination for 138 yards and two scores.
Rancourt finished 17-of-31 for 276 yards while Ethan Dolby led Western’s running attack with 96 yards on 14 carries.
rpyette@postmedia.com
Ryan Pyette joined The London Free Press in 2001 and has spent most of his career covering local and national sports. From Sault Ste. Marie, he is an award-winning journalist who has been to multiple Olympics, Memorial Cups, world championships and international sporting events.
rpyette@postmedia.com