The Michael Faulds era at Western University began in dramatic fashion with a 78-7 win over York Sunday night. Quarterback Jerome Rancourt threw for two touchdowns and ran in three more as Western scored 10 majors en route to the blowout victory. “We had eight months of kind of bottled up, wanting to play, right?” Faulds told media after the game. “We had a three-week training camp, but it was really eight months of work. From Jan. 5, we told the group that we’re going to be the hardest working team in the country, super proud of our coaching staff, our players. It didn’t look like week one kind of rust, right? It looked like a team that was well oiled, super proud of the execution.“ Faulds gave credit to more than 10 first-time starting players. Rancourt finished his evening 24-28 passing for 339 yards while adding 49 more on the ground. “I did tell pros that I was coming back prior to the draft to be doing this,” said Rancourt. “To run the QB1 spot and I’ve been waiting for so long and I’ve worked hard to get to get to, and then I think it’s been paying off I can do more than run a ball.” Western will now head west to Windsor to face the Lancers Saturday. Windsor split its first two games including a win over Laurier this weekend. London Majors lead playoff series 2-1 The London Majors nearly completed a miracle ninth-inning comeback. Trailing the Welland Jackfish 6-0 going into the bottom of the ninth in game three at Labatt Park, the Majors started to rally. The first seven batters of the inning reached base, but the Jackfish got three straight outs to survive and cut the series deficit to 2-1 heading back to Welland Wednesday night. With the tying run at third, Deivy Mendez struck out Ryder Hancock to end the game. Cristian Inoa doubled home a pair of runs in London’s five-run ninth. Maikol Escotto, Starling Joseph, and David Draayers drove in the Majors’ other runs. After Wednesday’s game, the Majors and Jackfish will return to Labatt Park Friday for Game five. Knights split west coast exhibition series The London Knights are home from an historic west coast exhibition series after splitting the two games in Victoria, B.C. One night after being blown out 7-1, the Knights bounced back with a 5-3 victory in game two of ‘Clash of the Kingdoms.’ London scored three times in under four minutes during the second period to pull ahead and go onto victory. Jaxon Cover lead the Knights with two goals and an assist including the game winner. Thomas Zocco scored his third goal of the preaseason while Caleb Mitchell and Cohen Bidgood also scored.This was the first time a game was played between these two leagues outside of the Memorial Cup since 2010. London will wrap up its exhibition schedule with a home-and-home series with the Sarnia Sting Thursday and Friday. Julia Benati scores from half to win NSL game With just seconds remaining in a 0-0 game, Julia Benati from Dorchester, Ont. scored a miracle game winner for the Halifax Tides of the Northern Soccer League. The Vancouver Rise had keeper Jessica Wulf pushed up as they pressed forward for a winner, but when the ball was turned over in the Halifax end, Benati made a few moves toward half and drilled a 50-metre strike into the empty goal to give Halifax a 1-0 win in the 95th minute. It was a massive goal as the Tides now take over the fourth and final playoff spot from the Rise with 24 points
