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Oct. 30: Laurier 42 – Guelph 10
 

WATERLOO, Ont. - The Guelph Gryphons ended their season today with a 42-10 quarter-final loss to the Laurier Golden Hawks in Waterloo at University Stadium. 

In a very unusual turn of events, the Gryphons lost both of their quarterbacks in the first half of the match and were left scrambling.

Chris Rossetti of Mississauga, Ont. was in the game for about three drives before being tackled on a rush and injuring his knee. Backup quarterback Luke Nangle of London, Ont. was taken down on an interception return at the end of the first half leaving the pivot position vacant. Reciever Jedd Gardner of Niagara Falls, Ont. filled in for the second half.
 

"I felt very badly for the fifth year guys, it was quite emotional in the locker room afterwards as you can imagine with most of them realizing that may be was the last football game they will ever play. But they played their hearts out and fate was sort of against us today," said Gryphon head coach Stu Lang.  "I told them I was very proud of them, I was proud to be their coach and that we've learned a lot from the beginning of training camp, to exhibition Concordia game and that we've really come together as a team and that we've learned some wonderful lessons about life that they will be able to use beyond the football field."

Even with the injuries to Guelph, Laurier's offence was working on all cylinders as Shane Kelly went an efficient 22-for-33 with 282 yards and two touchdowns. Kelly connected with Shamawd Chambers of Markham, Ont. for Laurier's first score of the match just six minutes in.

The Hawks next major came from an unexpected source. Defensive lineman Stephen Cormack of Waterloo, Ont. picked off Nangle and ran it back 57 yards for a 19-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The two team's would exchange field goals between the second and third frames to make it 29-4 going into the final 15 minutes.

The Hawks exploded in the fourth quarter with two majors. On the first, Shane Kelly connected with Dillon Heap of Waterloo, Ont. on a 14-yard strike. Then Rashad La Touche of Whitby, Ont. turned a third down conversion into a major.

Guelph's lone touchdown also came in the fourth quarter with Nick Fitzgibbon of Puslinch, Ont. taking advantage of a third and long play for a 54-yard score. The run helped the OUA's leading rusher to 142 yards on the ground on 24 carries.

"We decided towards the very end of the game that we would just give Nick (FItzGibbon) the ball. When we spoke after the game I told him that there is no greater player that has ever worn a Gryphon jersey," commented Lang on graduating running back Nick FitzGibbon's career at Guelph.

On defence, the Gryphon's Adam Dunk of Guelph, Ont. had an impressive outing with 14 tackles of which 13 were solo and two assisted. Sebastian Howard of Niagara Falls, Ont. had the lone pick for the visitors, coming off Shane Kelly's first pass attempt of the game.

For Laurier Giancarlo Rapanaro of Niagara Falls, Ont. had a solid outing, taking over the place kicking duties for Nathan Hawkes of Kitchener, Ont.  The fifth year linebacker went 3-for-3 in field goal kicking, hitting two 40-yarders as well as one from 22. He also had two interceptions and five tackles (three solo, four assisted).

Spencer Troop of Georgetown, Ont. led the Hawk defence with 6.5 tackles (five solo, three assisted) as well as an interception of his own.  
 

The Gryphons season now ends after a regular season record of 4-4.

Laurier will now travel to Ottawa to take on the Gee Gee's at Frank Clair Stadium on Saturday, November 6th at 1 p.m.