The Guelph Gryphons football team was defeated 36-2 by the Laurier Golden Hawks today (Oct. 2) in front of 7,293 homecoming fans in Waterloo.

 

The Gryphons (3-2) earned the two points on a safety in the fourth quarter.

 

The Hawks dominated the Gryphons early, leading 20-0 after the first quarter and going into halftime with a commanding 34-0 lead. Guelph struggled on offence in the first half, picking up only one first down. They got rolling in the second, picking up 10 more firsts', but the Golden Hawks kept the Gryphons playing on a long field.

 

Second-year Gryphon quarterback Luke Nangle (London, Ont.) started his first game of the season, he threw the ball 29 times, completing 11 passes for 170 yards with no interceptions. He also scrambled for another just two yards on four carries.  The rushing attack was led by Nick FitzGibbon (Puslinch, Ont.) who had 53 yards on 18 carries.

 

Defensively for the Gryphons fifth-year's Adam Dunk (Guelph, Ont.) and Grant MacDonald (London, Ont) were the top defenders with 8.5 and 7.5 tackles respectively. Defensive back Jordan Duncan (Grimsby, Ont.) chipped in the contest's lone interception and a 43-yard return.

 

Laurier's Dillon Heap had a strong showing with nine receptions for 110 yards. Starting quarterback Evan Pawliuk went 13-17 for 151 yards and a long of 28. Anton Bennett was the Hawks leading rusher with 75 yards on 16 carries. On defence linebacker Mitchell Bosch (Langley, B.C.) led the way with 6.5 (5 solo, 3 assisted) tackles and a sack.

 

Just two minutes into the match Evan Pawliuk (Kingston, Ont.) connected with Dillon Heap (Waterloo, Ont.) on a five yard reception to make it 7-0. Nathan Hawkes (Kitchener, Ont.) would score 32 and 35-yard field goals on the next two drives, while Pawliuk would keep it for a 4-yard run for the Hawks second major.

Laurier continued to roll in the second quarter as Heap would pick up his second TD of the day on an eight yard pass from Pawliuk. Anton Bennett (Toronto, Ont.) scored the Hawks final touchdown on an 18-yard run.

 

Both teams traded safeties in the second half.

 

The Gryphons are on the road again for a contest against the McMaster Marauders on Thursday night this week, October 7 in Hamilton.

 

{with files from Laurier Sports Information}