Edwards the leading man in top-ranked ground attack
Keon Edwards leads the Western Mustangs into battle in the Mitchell Bowl — one step away from the Vanier Cup. Win or lose, he’ll be the most important player on the field for a cold contest Saturday.
Edwards was the top running back in the country this year, amassing 1,032 yards in eight regular season games. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).
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He’s been a juggernaut all year, but he saved arguably his best for the league championship game. Keon Edwards, this year’s OUA MVP, exploded for 260 yards and a touchdown in last weekend’s Yates Cup win, wearing down the Queen’s defense and putting the Western Mustangs one step closer to defending their Vanier Cup title.
The performance put an exclamation mark on a phenomenal season for the third-year running back. In eight regular season games, Edwards led the country with 1,032 yards rushing. He surpassed 100 yards in every game, running in nine touchdowns along the way. It was quite the encore to a 2021 season in which he was an OUA All-Star and second-team All-Canadian.
What’s remarkable is that his numbers could have been even better. His 130 carries during the regular season were only fourth-most in the country. Why? Because he split carries with Edouard Wanadi in a Western backfield that put up by far the best numbers in Canadian university football. As a backup, Wanadi was fifth in U Sports in rushing (843 yards on 94 carries) while tallying nine touchdowns of his own.
That 1-2 punch overwhelmed OUA opposing defenses all season. Using multiple backs has been a staple of Western’s offense under head coach Greg Marshall – no matter how good a lead back is. The Mustangs’ run game – helped by a strong offensive line – is the key to their success, and throwing fresh legs at defenses makes Western hard to stop.
“It’s worked out great for both of us,” Edwards said of sharing the load with Wanadi. “The fact that we split our roles just motivates you to perform well on the field. It’s crucial to our game and how we go about our business to win.”
It certainly takes a team-first mentality to share the ball – especially when you’re the best back in the league. Edwards’ monster season earned him the Larry Haylor OUA MVP award, renamed this year after the late Canadian Hall-of-Fame coach who guided the Mustangs from 1984 to 2006. And he’ll be up for the Hec Crighton Trophy, given to the most outstanding U Sports football player.
The third-year Criminology student knows it’s a smart strategy that presents challenges to opposing defenses. It’s hard enough stopping one star running back. But stopping multiple backs with game-changing abilities? That’s a whole other beast to tackle.
(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).
“It can take a toll on defences with what we do,” Edwards said. “Sometimes, there’s a gap scheme with our (O-line) using leverage, not power. Having a different back in the game can be an advantage. Mixing it up, no matter where we are on the field, gives us a fresh set of legs. For the defence, it’s just a headache for them to deal with on every down.”
And it’s not just Wanadi. As the Mustangs proved in last weekend’s Yates Cup, their third running back, Keanu Yazbeck, can create similar problems for defenses. In Western’s 44-16 win over Queen’s, Yazbeck tallied 76 yards on seven carries and ran in a pair of touchdowns.
It’ll be Yazbeck again (and Troy Thompson) in the Mitchell Bowl this Saturday against Laval, as Wanadi will be unavailable for a second straight game. (Per the Mustangs, Wanadi is attending to a personal matter at home).
Who does Keon credit? His running skills aside, Edwards is quick to point to the offensive line for a great deal of the team’s success this year.
“Oh, 100 percent. Those boys play out of their minds. They have a great appetite for success, and they do a fantastic job playing an important role,” he said. “That comes from the coaching staff, too. (The O-line) got comfortable with us changing up the running game. It just goes to show how much of a tight-knit group we are.”
Edwards addresses the crowd after being named Yates Cup Player of the Game last Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).
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Edwards has come a long way. During his rookie season in 2019, he put in his time on special teams when veteran Trey Humes was the lead back for the Mustangs. An unselfish player, Keon’s hard work, drive and dedication has paid off. Now, he’s hoping to lead Western to back-to-back Vanier Cup titles – this time on home turf.
The Mustangs will face their toughest test yet when they host the Mitchell Bowl Saturday at Western Alumni Stadium (3:00pm). Western and the Laval Rouge et Or, ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the country, respectively, will play for a spot in this year’s Vanier Cup. Edwards can’t wait.
“What stands out to me most for Saturday is the battle and competition,” he said. “We’ll be ready to play in front of a great crowd. Laval is very strong and powerful. They have a good team over there, especially on defence. It’s going to be nice to go to battle against them.”
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