Guelph, ON – Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium the No. 5-ranked Gryphons defeated No. 9-ranked Ottawa GeeGees 48-26. Gryphons second year quarterback James Roberts (Cambridge, ON) threw four touchdown passes and ran in another as the Gryphons improved to 5-0 on the season. With the loss, the Gee-Gees fall to 2-2, with both losses coming versus Top 10 teams after losing to McMaster in Week 2.
 
Saturday's clash against the No. 9 Ottawa Gee-Gees marked the second straight week in which the Gryphons were hosting a Top 10 opponent. After disposing of then-No. 6 McMaster during last week's Homecoming, the Gryphons were looking to keep rolling. And roll they did. Guelph's defensive unit opened the game with a quick two-and-out. On the Gryphons opening offensive possession, the Gee-Gees jumped off side on a second-and-long, QB James Roberts made the most of the 'free play' by hitting James Ingram down the seam for a 31-yard completion. It was the start of a good day for Roberts and the Guelph offence. On the fourth play of the drive, Roberts found Jacob Scarfone in the end zone for a 27-yard TD to give the Gryphons an early 7-0 lead. After another two-and-out by the Gryphon D, Roberts and company got the ball back at midfield and went to work. This time, it was a five play, 63-yard drive that was capped with two-yard touchdown run by Johnny Augustine (Welland, ON) as the Gryphons led 14-0 early. 
 
Ottawa Gee-Gees quarterback Derek Wendel came into the game ranking third in the country with 355.3 passing yards per game. The Gryphons were able to contain Wendel and company however, and it was Guelph's fifth year senior linebacker once again leading the way. John Rush would spark the Gryphons by intercepting a Wendel pass in the first quarter, returning it to the Ottawa 17-yard line. One play later, it was Roberts to A'dre Fraser (Halifax, NS) and it was 21-0 Gryphons. Before the end of the quarter, James Roberts would tack on a 5-yard touchdown run as Guelph led 28-0 after the opening quarter of play.
 
In the first quarter alone, Roberts had already racked up 181 passing yards and accounted for three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing). The Gryphon defence meanwhile had held Wendel and the potent Gee-Gees aerial attack to just 28 passing yards in the opening quarter.
 
In the second quarter, Roberts would find his running back Johnny Augustine out of the backfield for a 27-yard touchdown pass to give the Gryphons a 35-7 lead. Guelph took a 35-10 lead into the locker room at the half. In the third quarter, Roberts would pick up his fourth touchdown pass of the day on a 6-yard TD pass to Scarfone to put the Gryphons up 42-10. Roberts finished the day 25-for-35, 391 yards, 4 TD passing as well as one TD rushing.
 
If Roberts provided the most impressive stat line of the day, Ryan Nieuwesteeg provided the most impressive highlight of the game. In the fourth quarter, Nieuwesteeg would make an acrobatic, one-handed grab on a 28-yard completion. With a defender draped all over him, Nieuwesteeg was able to reach up and somehow come down with one a certain 'catch of the year' candidate.  Nieuwesteeg was one of 10 different Gryphon receivers to make a catch on the day. Johnny Augustine finished the day with 102 yards rushing on 21 carries. Scarfone led the receivers with 7 receptions for 122 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Defensively, the Gryphons were once again led by their standout linebackers. John Rush and Curtis Newton combined for two interceptions, two sacks, 11.5 tackles a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
 
The Gryphons are in action next Saturday when they visit the Queens Gaels (3-2). Kickoff is set for 1 pm at Richardson Stadium and the game can be seen live online at OUA.tv.