Guelph, ON – The marquee matchup of the OUA's Week 2 schedule is taking place at Alumni Stadium as a pair of 1-0 teams will square off on Labour Day when the Gryphons host the Laurier Golden Hawks. The game will be broadcast live on Rogers TV Cable 20 and can also be seen live online at OUA.tv. Kickoff is set for 1pm at Alumni Stadium on Monday, September 7. Tickets are FREE for U of G students, $20 per adult, $5 for non U of G students, $5 for youth (ages 6-17), and kids 6-and-under are free. Listed below are some fast facts to get you all set for Monday's matchup between the Gryphons and Golden Hawks.
GRYPHON FAST FACTS
* 2015 Record: 1-0 (beat Waterloo 78-7 in Week 1)
* 2014 Regular Season Record: 7-1 (went 1-1 in playoffs, lost to McMaster in Yates Cup)
* Head Coach – Stu Lang (6
th season) --- Lang's Overall Record at Guelph: 31-16 (3-4 in playoffs)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS IN 2015
KEY LOSSES FROM LAST SEASON
GRYPHON NEWS AND NOTES
The Gryphons are ranked No. 6 in the country after a resounding 78-7 victory over a young Waterloo Warriors team in their season opener last Sunday (August 30). In that game, Guelph's second year quarterback
James Roberts (Cambridge, ON) accounted for four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) and led the charge for a Gryphon offence that amassed just over 700 yards of total offence. Third year running back
Johnny Augustine (Welland, ON) had three touchdowns on the ground while receivers
A'dre Fraser (Halifax, ON) and
Jacob Scarfone (London, ON) each had two. Defensively, the Gryphons held Waterloo to just 93 yards rushing and just 111 yards passing. This week, fifth year senior middle linebacker
John Rush returns from injury after having missed the season opener. The Gryphons have won each of their last three matchups versus Laurier. The Gryphons have won five of their last six home openers dating back to the 2009 season.
GOLDEN HAWK FAST FACTS
* 2015 Record: 1-0 (beat York 38-21 in Week 1)
* 2014 Regular Season Record: 4-4 (went 0-1 in playoffs, lost to Western in OUA Quarterfinal)
* Head Coach – Michael Faulds (3
rd season) --- Faulds' Overall Record at Laurier: 6-12 (0-1 in playoffs)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS IN 2015
- #34 RB Dillon Campbell
- #10 REC Greg Nyhof
- #3 DL Kwaku Boateng
- #40 LB Brandon Calver
KEY LOSSES FROM LAST SEASON
- DB/LB Chris Ackie (Montreal Alouettes)
- DL Ese Mrabure-Ajufo (B.C. Lions)
- OL Tommy Griffiths (Winnipeg Blue Bombers)
- K/P Ronnie Pfeffer (Ottawa Redblacks)
GOLDEN HAWK NEWS AND NOTES
Without a doubt, the main story hogging all of the headlines heading into Laurier's Week 2 game revolves around their quarterback situation. Starter James Fracas (Waterloo, ON) was injured in a preseason game in Saskatchewan, leading to backup Eric Morelli (Burlington, ON) being given the first start of his CIS career in the regular season opener at York. In that game, Morelli impressed by going 19-28, 258 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. However, Morelli has been dealing with an apparent knee injury himself leading to plenty of concern in the Laurier camp around their QB situation.
Fortunately for the Golden Hawks, they also have one of the best running backs in the country in fifth year senior Dillon Campbell (Whitby, ON). Last season, Campbell was the OUA's nominee for the Hec Crighton trophy after he rushed for over 1,400 yards on the season (joining former McMaster star Jesse Lumsden as the only other OUA running back to have accomplished the feat). Last season in his matchup against Guelph, Dillon Campbell carried the ball a season-high 35 times while rushing for 203 yards and two touchdowns.
