Guelph, Ont. – It is truly one of the biggest games of the entire CIS regular season schedule.  The No.6 Guelph Gryphons (5-1) and the No.4 Western Mustangs (5-1) will square off Saturday afternoon in a marquee matchup that will see one team walk away having taken a big step towards securing a first round bye and spot in the OUA semifinals.  Kickoff is set for 1pm at Alumni Stadium and will be webcast on oua.tv 
 
Last season, football fans in southern Ontario were deprived of the opportunity to see these two heated rivals go at it, as the OUA's rotating bye week system meant fans had to wait until 2014 for this day to arrive.   But now it's almost here.  Anticipation is high.  The stakes are even higher.  With things still crowded at the top of the OUA standings, both the Gryphons and Mustangs have their sights set on a top two finish.  A win this week would go a long way to ensuring that.  The last time these two teams met was in the 2012 regular season when the Gryphons pulled off a thrilling 42-39 victory.  Saturday's game promises to be another entertaining affair.
 
For the Gryphons, the key to stopping the Mustangs potent offensive attack will be winning the battle up front.  Of course, that is easier said than done.  As university football fans have become accustomed to over the years, the Western Mustangs once again boast one of the best offensive lines in the country.  Led by NCAA transfer Eddie Meredith (former Boston College Eagle), the Mustangs set the tone up front for their talented playmakers.  Western quarterback Will Finch (Burlington, Ont.) took home OUA MVP honours a year ago and has picked up right where he left off.  Finch ranks second in the CIS, completing nearly 70% of his passes and has a talented group of receivers at his disposal.  George Johnson (London, Ont.) and Brian Marshall (London, Ont.) were both named 1^st team All-Canadians a year ago and both return to the Mustangs this season.  Yates Cup MVP Matt Uren (London, Ont.) and Justin Sanvido (Vancouver, B.C.) round out a dynamic receiving unit that will give the Gryphons secondary plenty to worry about.  On the ground, the Mustangs are led by a pair of CFL prospects in Garret Sanvido (Vancouver, B.C.) and Yannick Harou (Gatineau, QC).  The good news for the Gryphons, is that their defence boasts plenty of talent as well.
 
John Rush (Niagara Falls, Ont.) is now in his fourth year after having fully recovered from a torn knee ligament a year ago.  He leads a talented group of linebackers that include Curtis Newton (London, Ont.) and MacKenzie Myers (Guelph, Ont.)  The Gryphon secondary is experienced, with four returning starters from 2013-2014.  But if the Gryphons are going to successfully disrupt the Western attack, it will have to start with the front four.  Number 96 Donnie Egerter (Niagara Falls, Ont.) and number 99 Djordje Gravilovic (Waterloo, Ont.) will look to provide a physical presence inside for the Gryphons, while Cameron Walker (London, Ont.) provides the Gryphons with one of the best rush ends in the league. 
 
Offensively, quarterback Jazz Lindsey (Markham, Ont.) continues to play the best football of his career.   Last week, Lindsey finished 20-33, 291 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions in a win over Carleton.
 
From a rushing standpoint, the Gryphons have showcased some tremendous depth this season.  As usual, Robert Farquharson (Niagara Falls, Ont.) is the one leading the way for the Gryphons ground game, but Johnny Augustine (Welland, Ont.), Mason Swift (Sooke, B.C.), Daniel Palmer-Salmon (Brampton, Ont.) and Brandon Gordon (Toronto, Ont.) have all proven to be more than capable of carrying the load in the backfield as well. 
 
Playmaking receivers Alexander Charette (St. Catherine's, Ont.) and A'Dre Fraser (Halifax, NS) have been Lindsey's favourite targets and will need to come up with some big plays once again if the Gryphons are to consistently move the ball against a big, experienced Western defence. 
 
While the OUA playoffs may be still be three weeks away, but it will sure feel like the postseason is upon us when the Gryphons and Mustangs renew their rivalry on Saturday afternoon.