QUEBEC CITY – A trio of Gryphon football players were part of the victorious Team West at the 2018 U SPORTS Valero East-West Bowl. The annual all-star game, which features the top prospects in Canadian university football who are eligible for the 2019 CFL Draft, took place on Saturday, May 12 at Laval's TELUS-UL Stadium. Team West, which featured three Gryphons in quarterback Theo Landers, linebacker Job Reinhart and offensive lineman Eric Starczala, won 15-14 over Team East. Saturday's game marked the 16th edition of the event, which began in 2003. Manitoba Bison running back Jamel Lyles scored the game-winning 18-yard touchdown with 2:12 remaining on the clock to secure the victory.
 
Team West dominated the day on offence, racking up 354-103 total yards – 236-93 by air and 159-52 on the ground.

Gryphon quarterback Theo Landers was a big reason why. Landers, a Human Kinetics major at U of G, split the quarterbacking duties with former Vanier Cup MVP Michael O'Connor (UBC Thunderbirds). Landers completed 10 of 18 passes for 119 yards, while also rushing for 56 yards on the ground on 9 carries (6.2 avg). Landers led all players on the day in both passing and rushing.
 
The dual-threat quarterback also led the longest drive of the game, guiding Team West 94-yards on 12 plays late in the 3rd quarter, with the drive ending in a Brian Hope (St. Mary's Huskies) 19-yard field goal. Landers' Gryphon teammate, Eric Starczala, played a familiar role in helping anchor the offensive line for Landers.

The two-time OUA All-Star impressed up front on Saturday, capping off a memorable week for the Criminal Justice major. Earlier in the week, Starczala impressed during one-on-one drills, in which he more than held his own against some of the best pass-rushers in the country, including two-time J.P. Metras trophy winner Mathieu Betts of Laval. Starczala, a 6-foot-5, 315 lbs native of Cambridge, Ontario, also stole the spotlight during testing, recording 27 reps of 225lbs during the bench press, the highest total of any player at the 2018 East-West Bowl (with fellow Gryphon teammate Job Reinhart close behind at 25 reps).
 
Aside from taking on linebacking duties, Reinhart also served as the starting long snapper for Team West. Reinhart, a Guelph native, has garnered significant CFL attention for his long snapping duties and could follow in the footsteps of his older brother Jake, who last season handled the long snapping duties for the Grey Cup champion Argos.

For Gryphons interim head coach Todd Galloway, the trip to Quebec City for all three U of G football players was a resounding success, "We are proud of all three guys for representing the University of Guelph extremely well. They have each put in a lot of work and have now positioned themselves well to potentially be playing pro next year."

For more information on the 2018 U SPORTS Valero East-West Bowl, visit usports.ca 
 

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OFFICIAL SITE
 
BOXSCORE

ALL-TIME U SPORTS EAST-WEST BOWL RESULTS
 
EAST-WEST BOWL RECORD BOOK 

East MVP: Mathieu Betts (Defensive End - Laval Rouge et Or)
West MVP: Colton Hunchak (Receiver - York Lions)

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2018 EAST-WEST BOWL COMBINE RESULTS
 
Vertical jump
Shai Ross, receiver, Manitoba /  39.5
 
Broad jump
Shai Ross, receiver, Manitoba / 10110
 
Bench press
Eric Starczala, offensive line, Guelph / 27
 
40 yard dash
Chris Osei Kusi, receiver, Queen's and Kalem Beaver, receiver, Ottawa / 4.62
 
Shuttle
Kalem Beaver, receiver, Ottawa / 4.08
 
3-cone
Mathieu Betts, defensive line, Laval / 6.56
 
Gryphon Combine Results at the 2018 East-West Bowl:

Theo Landers (Quarterback):
40-yard dash = 4.79
Vertical = 33 inches
Broad Jump = 9 feet, 6 inches
3-cone shuttle = 7.28  
Bench Press = 5
 
Job Reinhart (Linebacker):
40-yard dash = DNP 
Vertical = 26 inches
Broad Jump = DNP
3-cone shuttle = DNP
Bench Press = 25

Eric Starczala (Offensive Line):
40-yard dash = 5.70
Vertical = 19 inches
Broad Jump = 7 feet, 5 inches
3-cone shuttle = 8.78
Bench Press = 27 *Highest result at 2018 East-West Bowl*
 

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