The Guelph Gryphons cinderella season came to an end today with a 30-13 loss to the defending national champion McMaster Marauders in the Yates Cup Final at Ron Joyce Stadium in Hamilton in front of 5,427 fans.
 
The Gryphons finish the season with an overall record of 8-2, with their only losses of the year coming at the hands of the Marauders.  It was quite an incredible season for the Gryphons, turning things around from a 2-6 season, failing to make the playoffs in 2011.
 
"The guys played very well and I'm very proud of them," said head coach Stu Lang. "No one expected us to be here after last year and to say the only team that beat us this season are the national champions is pretty good.  We put a little scare into them but we just couldn't hang on in the end."
 
The Marauders captured their second straight Yates Cup and extended their winning streak to 20 conference and playoff contests, breaking the previous record of 19 set by Laval.
 
McMaster used a 21-point outburst in the first half to make the game out of reach for the Gryphons.  Kyle Quinlan of Woodslee, Ont. showed  why he was the OUA MVP tossing two touchdowns and finishing 16 of 20 for 265-yards with one interception.
 
The future of the Gryphons program, second year pivot Jazz Lindsey of Markham, Ont. scored the Gryphon's lone touchdown before the half on a one-yard run in a third-and-goal situation.  That happened with 4:38 remaining in the second quarter.  Lindsey finished 29-of-47 with an impressive 319-yards.
 
"Jazz threw the ball very well both into the wind and with the win, he's certainly our leader. He's going to be the foundation of our future and he's a wonderful individual."
 
Along with some strong play from Lindsey, Gryphon third year running back Robert Farquharson of Niagara Falls, Ont. impressed the fans finishing with 23 carries for 94 yards. Leading the Gryphon defence was Bryan Dunjko of Aurora, Ont. with 10.5 total tackles while John Rush of Niagara Falls, Ont. had nine tackles.
 
Despite the loss, following the game head coach Lang was confident in the future of the Gryphon program mainly because of the veteran leadership.  It was the last game suiting up for many of the Gryphons, making way for many new players next season.
 
"It's tough, many of the graduating players were quite emotional. Mark Durigon who had a great speech last night at our dinner talking about the importance of this game and the importance of your final year.  Zach Androschuk our Russ Jackson nominee and Jake Reinhart, both the heart and soul of this team, Mike Millar and Bryan Dunjko, I could just go down the line. It's a sad way to end for these guys and my heart goes out to them." 
 
McMaster will now host the Mitchell Bowl set for November 17 at Ron Joyce Stadium.  They will face the winner from Canada West's Hardy Bowl between No. 7 Regina and No. 3 Calgary starting at 2:00pm MST.
 
Notes: The Gryphons have won three Yates Cup in 1996, 1992 and 1984. The last victory in 1996 was a 23-13 victory over Waterloo.  Their last appearance in a Yates Cup final was in 2007 where they dropped the game 34-21 to Western.  This is the Gryphons eighth appearance in the Yates Cup Final. The win gives McMaster its sixth Yates Cup title in club history, all coming from 2000 to date. 

Full Game Recap from OUA: 

The Gryphons opened the scoring at the 4:38 mark of the first quarter, capping their first possession of the game with a 12-yard field goal from Julian Tropea (Niagara Falls, Ont.).  Guelph spotted McMaster its first two points on its next possession, Tropea conceding his first of three safety touches.

McMaster's offence found the end zone on the ensuing possession, Quinlan combining with Robert Babic (Oakville, Ont.) for a two-yard passing major.  Two plays later, Lindsey threw an interception into the waiting arms of Marauder defensive back Scott Martin  (London, Ont.), which McMaster soon converted into three points via a 20-yard Tyler Crapigna (Nepean, Ont.) field goal.

A Guelph fumble on the next play from scrimmage promptly gave McMaster the ball on the Guelph 39 yard-line.  Quinlan soon after connected Tyler Loveday (Kitchener, Ont.) on a 21-yard pass-and-run touchdown to give McMaster a 19-3 lead in the opening minute of the second quarter.

Guelph struggled on its ensuing possessions, in turn conceding a second safety touch and throwing an interception.  The Gryphon offence finally gelled on a 13-play, 71-yard drive culminating in a one-yard rushing major by Lindsey.  One further safety touch conceded by Guelph sent the teams to the intermission with a 23-10 McMaster lead.

McMaster added to its lead early in the third quarter, off a two-yard rushing major by Kasean Davis-Reynolds (Mississauga, Ont.).  Guelph responded on the ensuing possession with a 16-yard field goal by Tropea.  A scoreless fourth quarter was highlighted by a McMaster pass rush tallying three sacks in the final five minutes of play, stifling Guelph's sputtering offence.