Gryphons suffer Thanksgiving setback to McMaster
GUELPH – Guelph Gryphons football fans are likely thankful that this season for their favourite OUA team is almost over.
The Gryphs are still mathematically in the playoff race, but they’ll need a ton of help to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time since 2011.
McMaster Marauders 41 Guelph Gryphons 12
Guelph’s 41-12 loss to the McMaster Marauders on a chilly Friday night at Alumni Stadium dropped Guelph’s record to 1-5. In terms of wins, that leaves them tied with the Waterloo Warriors and York Lions. Waterloo has an identical record while York is at 1-6 and has been ousted from playoff contention.
For the Gryphs to make the playoffs, they’d need to win both of their remaining games and have the Carleton Ravens (3-3) and McMaster (2-4) lose all of their games. Top seven qualify for the playoffs this year and 3-5 could get you in, with help from the tiebreaker rules.
The Gryphs have two games left as they’re to play the Golden Hawks (4-2) at Laurier next Saturday and host Carleton Oct. 22.
The Ravens are to entertain Waterloo next Saturday, but Waterloo’s in the same position as the Gryphs.
McMaster is to play the Gaels (5-1) at Queen’s next Saturday and host the Toronto Varsity Blues (3-4) Oct. 22.
If the Varsity Blues, who have a bye next weekend, lose to McMaster, the Gryphs need McMaster to beat Queen’s to take the Marauders out of the equation. The Gryphs don’t play Toronto this year and the Varsity Blues have already beaten Carleton.
The Windsor Lancers are at 3-3 and could come into the equation as they’re remaining games are against the unbeaten Western Mustangs (6-0) next Saturday at London and Waterloo Oct. 22 at Windsor.
The Ottawa Gee-Gees are second in the league at 5-1 and don’t seem to factor in any of the playoff reckoning for the Gryphs.
Confused yet?
Basically, the Gryphs have to win both of their remaining games and then see where the chips fall. One loss and their playoff hopes are snuffed out for sure.
Friday, the Gryphs stayed within striking distance of the Marauders for three quarters despite a sputtering offence that was held without a first down until midway through the second quarter. In all, the Gryphs had eight first downs in the game – four via passing, two via rushing and two thanks to McMaster penalties. The Marauders had 20 first downs.
After a scoreless first quarter, McMaster grabbed a 14-9 lead in the second quarter and added a field goal in the third quarter. The visitors outscored the Gryphs 24-3 in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Jake Helfrich scored Guelph’s touchdown on a one-yard run while Eric Stranz booted a 32-yard field goal and converted Helfrich’s TD. The Gryphon defence had the other points with a team safety in the second quarter.
Jawuan Smith (three-yard run), quarterback Andreas Dueck (one-yard run), Daniel Bosett (seven-yard reception) and Chris Bechkos (39-yard interception return) scored the TDs for McMaster. Ben MacDonald kicked four field goals, four converts and a rouge.
The Marauders finished with 298 yards of total offence while the Gryphs had 131. McMaster also had five interceptions to one for Guelph and the Gryphs lost the only fumble of the game.
Both teams were penalized heavily, McMaster losing 156 yards on 13 calls and the Gryphs being moved back 125 yards on 14 calls.
Guelph rotated quarterbacks Helfrich and Tommy Yanchuk throughout the game. Helfrich completed seven of 15 pass attempts for 36 yards, threw three interceptions and was sacked once. Yanchuk completed five of nine pass attempts for 37 yards and was intercepted twice.
Kaine Stevenson caught three passes for 33 yards and Clark Barnes caught three for eight yards. Isaiah Smith had 13 carries for 53 yards.
Defensively, Kole Watson had seven solo tackles and two assisted tackles, Brandon Ferigo had four solo tackles and four assisted tackles and Yunus Larry had five solo tackles and an assisted tackle.
Scott Murray had 2.5 sacks and Yusuf Al-Khaldi had 1.5 sacks. Gianni Green had the interception and returned it 14 yards.
After having sellouts in their first two home games, the Alumni Stadium crowd Friday was listed as 876. It had been 7,135 in the Labour Day loss to Windsor and 7,300 in the Homecoming loss to Queen’s.
Both of Guelph’s remaining games carry 1 p.m. starting times – next Saturday at Laurier and Oct. 22 at home to Carleton.
- Guelph Sports Journal
Gryphons suffer Thanksgiving setback to McMaster
GUELPH – Guelph Gryphons football fans are likely thankful that this season for their favourite OUA team is almost over.
The Gryphs are still mathematically in the playoff race, but they’ll need a ton of help to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time since 2011.
McMaster Marauders 41
Guelph Gryphons 12
Guelph’s 41-12 loss to the McMaster Marauders on a chilly Friday night at Alumni Stadium dropped Guelph’s record to 1-5. In terms of wins, that leaves them tied with the Waterloo Warriors and York Lions. Waterloo has an identical record while York is at 1-6 and has been ousted from playoff contention.
For the Gryphs to make the playoffs, they’d need to win both of their remaining games and have the Carleton Ravens (3-3) and McMaster (2-4) lose all of their games. Top seven qualify for the playoffs this year and 3-5 could get you in, with help from the tiebreaker rules.
The Gryphs have two games left as they’re to play the Golden Hawks (4-2) at Laurier next Saturday and host Carleton Oct. 22.
The Ravens are to entertain Waterloo next Saturday, but Waterloo’s in the same position as the Gryphs.
McMaster is to play the Gaels (5-1) at Queen’s next Saturday and host the Toronto Varsity Blues (3-4) Oct. 22.
If the Varsity Blues, who have a bye next weekend, lose to McMaster, the Gryphs need McMaster to beat Queen’s to take the Marauders out of the equation. The Gryphs don’t play Toronto this year and the Varsity Blues have already beaten Carleton.
The Windsor Lancers are at 3-3 and could come into the equation as they’re remaining games are against the unbeaten Western Mustangs (6-0) next Saturday at London and Waterloo Oct. 22 at Windsor.
The Ottawa Gee-Gees are second in the league at 5-1 and don’t seem to factor in any of the playoff reckoning for the Gryphs.
Confused yet?
Basically, the Gryphs have to win both of their remaining games and then see where the chips fall. One loss and their playoff hopes are snuffed out for sure.
Friday, the Gryphs stayed within striking distance of the Marauders for three quarters despite a sputtering offence that was held without a first down until midway through the second quarter. In all, the Gryphs had eight first downs in the game – four via passing, two via rushing and two thanks to McMaster penalties. The Marauders had 20 first downs.
After a scoreless first quarter, McMaster grabbed a 14-9 lead in the second quarter and added a field goal in the third quarter. The visitors outscored the Gryphs 24-3 in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Jake Helfrich scored Guelph’s touchdown on a one-yard run while Eric Stranz booted a 32-yard field goal and converted Helfrich’s TD. The Gryphon defence had the other points with a team safety in the second quarter.
Jawuan Smith (three-yard run), quarterback Andreas Dueck (one-yard run), Daniel Bosett (seven-yard reception) and Chris Bechkos (39-yard interception return) scored the TDs for McMaster. Ben MacDonald kicked four field goals, four converts and a rouge.
The Marauders finished with 298 yards of total offence while the Gryphs had 131. McMaster also had five interceptions to one for Guelph and the Gryphs lost the only fumble of the game.
Both teams were penalized heavily, McMaster losing 156 yards on 13 calls and the Gryphs being moved back 125 yards on 14 calls.
Guelph rotated quarterbacks Helfrich and Tommy Yanchuk throughout the game. Helfrich completed seven of 15 pass attempts for 36 yards, threw three interceptions and was sacked once. Yanchuk completed five of nine pass attempts for 37 yards and was intercepted twice.
Kaine Stevenson caught three passes for 33 yards and Clark Barnes caught three for eight yards. Isaiah Smith had 13 carries for 53 yards.
Defensively, Kole Watson had seven solo tackles and two assisted tackles, Brandon Ferigo had four solo tackles and four assisted tackles and Yunus Larry had five solo tackles and an assisted tackle.
Scott Murray had 2.5 sacks and Yusuf Al-Khaldi had 1.5 sacks. Gianni Green had the interception and returned it 14 yards.
After having sellouts in their first two home games, the Alumni Stadium crowd Friday was listed as 876. It had been 7,135 in the Labour Day loss to Windsor and 7,300 in the Homecoming loss to Queen’s.
Both of Guelph’s remaining games carry 1 p.m. starting times – next Saturday at Laurier and Oct. 22 at home to Carleton.
- Guelph Sports Journal