Guelph, Ont. (Oct. 8, 2014) – The sixth ranked Guelph Gryphons (4-1) and the Carleton Ravens (3-2) are set to kick-off under the lights at Alumni Stadium on Friday, October 10.  Game time is scheduled for 7pm.  With a log jam in the OUA standings, all three of Guelph's remaining regular season games will have a huge impact on playoff seeding.  The good news for Gryphons fans is that Stu Lang's squad still control their own destiny in the pursuit of securing a first round bye and spot in the OUA semi-finals.
 
The Gryphons are coming off another impressive defensive performance in a 24-9 win over Austin Kennedy and the Windsor Lancers.  This week, Guelph's defence will have to deal with another athletic quarterback-receiver duo when they face the Ravens.  Carleton quarterback Nick Gorgichuk (Ottawa, Ont.) has completed nearly 70 percent of his passes this season and is also one of the most athletically gifted quarterbacks in the conference.  His favourite target is Nate Behar (London, Ont.) who in just his second year has already developed into one of the best all-around receivers in the country.  Despite the fact that the Gryphons beat Carleton 48-12 last season, Behar was able to rack up 12 catches and 152 yards in the game – both season-highs.  From a rushing standpoint, the Gryphons will focus on containing Carleton's small but speedy running back Jahvari Bennett (5-8, 163 – Mississauga, Ont.) who currently sits fourth in the OUA in rushing.  While Carleton's feature running back may be undersized, the offensive line is anything but.  With three players standing 6-foot-7 or taller, the Ravens boast one of the biggest o-lines in the country.
 
T - Tyler Young 6-7, 307
G – K.C. Bakker 6-7, 340
C – Matt Lapointe 6-4, 310
G – Eric Fowler, 6-3, 310
T – Kwabena Asare 6-8, 280
 
The good news for the Gryphons is that their defensive line has been perhaps their best unit all season long.  After recording 10 sacks in the homecoming win versus Queen's, the Gryphons front four were once again outstanding in the victory over Windsor.  The Gryphons were also helped out defensively on the back end last week with the return of starting free safety Tristan Doughlin (Toronto, Ont.).  Overall, the Gryphons will face a tough test against a young but talented Carleton Ravens offense that is much improved from a year ago.
 
For the Gryphons on offense, fourth year quarterback Jazz Lindsey (Markham, Ont.) leads an attack that has done a tremendous job all season long of limiting turnovers.  Aside from boasting one of the best turnover ratios in the country, the Gryphons have scored 41.8 points per game (good for fifth in the CIS) and rushed for 204.4 yards per game (good for sixth in the CIS).  But perhaps the most impressive offensive stat for the Gryphons this season has been their execution in the red zone.  Of Guelph's 28 trips inside the 20, 16 have resulted in a touchdown while 11 have ended in a made field goal.  The 96% success rate in the red zone is one of the best in CIS (T-2).  This week, the Gryphons face a Carleton Ravens defense that is extremely athletic and who have proven they can hang with the best.  McMaster quarterback Marshall Ferguson was kept out of the endzone versus Carleton (his only game this season without a touchdown pass) and completed a season-low 54.8% of his passes.  With the Ravens in the hunt for a playoff spot and the Gryphons continuing their pursuit of a first round bye in the crowded OUA standings, Friday night's game promises to be a good one.   
 
Come on out and help ensure the Gryphons football team head into Thanksgiving weekend with another win!  For those who are unable to make it to Alumni Stadium on Friday night, the game will webcast on oua.tv, with kickoff set for 7pm.