Undefeated Western Mustangs begin playoff path to Vanier Cup with key injuries

For the seventh time in the last eight seasons, the Western University men's football team will enter post-season play at the top of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) standings.

The dominant record is nothing new to the Mustangs, earning a semifinal bye for the second straight year with an 8-0 record, but this year Western will have to navigate key injuries on the offence that could threaten to derail its season as soon as Saturday's clash with Queen's.

The rematch of last year's Yates Cup, which Western won 44-16 off the strength of its running game, will have a completely different look in the Mustangs' backfield in Saturday's semifinal, which will be streamed live on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem at 1 p.m. ET.

After relying on a two-headed rushing attack featuring the dynamic speed of third-year Keanu Yazbeck and the reigning OUA MVP Keon Edwards this season, the Mustangs lost both for the year with injuries in back-to-back wins over Toronto and Laurier to close out the season.

WATCH | Western running back Keon Edwards a dominant force in U Sports:

Already dealing with a four-year suspension to last season's No. 2 running back Edouard Wanadi for a violation of an anti-doping rule, Western running backs coach Jake Kirk will need to move even further down the depth chart for Western's playoff run, turning to third-year back Troy Thompson and first-year Ethan Dolby.

The two have a combined 80 career carries, but Western is confident in its running back depth.

"[Thompson is] a hell of a zone-runner [and] his vision is great," said Kirk heading into the season. "He's similar to Edwards in the sense that he's a bigger back that can run between the tackles with no issues.

While Western often features