WATERLOO, ON – The Guelph Gryphons football team had a bye week to think about what's gone wrong in a frustrating season. And for one half, the defending Yates Cup champions looked like they had figured it out. But Guelph, despite a wild second-half rally, ran into a hungry Laurier Golden Hawks squad, who produced multiple turnovers and big plays to survive for a 27-25 win in front of a raucous crowd at the "School Day" game in Waterloo Friday morning.

Guelph definitely put a scare into the 7th-ranked Hawks. And the final few sequences produced high drama. Trailing 24-19 in the dying minutes, the Gryphons had two chances to tie it up. Receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker came up with a big 35-yard gain to put Guelph deep into Laurier territory. But on a 3rd and 12, Malcolm Thompson picked off quarterback James Roberts for the second time on the afternoon. The Gryphons still managed to get the ball back in the final minute and after Schaffer-Baker scored from nine yards out, Guelph needed a two-point conversion to tie the game. Laurier deflected Roberts' pass attempt, which fell into the hands of Johnny Augustine, who pitched it back to Roberts before he was tackled, essentially ending a crazy second-half comeback.

Guelph (2-5) lost for the fourth consecutive outing, all against teams in Canadian Interuniversity Sport's Top 10.

The Gryphons had memorable moments on each side of the ball, particularly during their thrilling second-half push when the offence finally came to life. Freshman Mack Jones ran the ball in from 25 yards out at 4:21 of the third quarter and Laurier's lead was trimmed to 24-13 after Gabriel Ferraro's extra point. Tristan Doughlin then intercepted Laurier's Michael Knevel and after Roberts found A'dre Fraser for a couple key receptions, the veteran quarterback ran the ball in from the two-yard line. Guelph went for two but couldn't convert and Laurier led 24-19 early in the fourth quarter.

Roberts completed 23 of 37 passes for 296 yards and a touchdown pass, while adding 40 yards and a score on the ground. Jones led all Guelph rushers with 92 yards. Fraser returned to the lineup and had a game-high nine receptions for 127 yards.

The Gryphons simply couldn't overcome Laurier's big-play ability. Running back Levondre Gordon (193 rushing yards) burned Guelph on a 71-yard touchdown just five minutes into the first quarter. And while the Gryphons came back with two straight field goals, the Golden Hawks struck again when Knevel threw it over the top of the secondary, allowing Brendan McCracken to score on a 94-yard touchdown reception for a 14-6 Laurier lead.

Gordon busted off another 42-yard gain on Laurier's opening drive of the second half, setting up a one-yard rushing score by Osayi Iginuan.

While the huge chunk plays rattled the Gryphons, they didn't help their own cause with critical turnovers. Laurier's Thompson produced the play of the game with an incredible one-handed, diving interception to kill a Guelph drive early in the second quarter. And minutes later, the Gryphons coughed the ball up on a punt return, which translated into a 28-yard Laurier field goal and a 17-6 lead.

Ferraro was 2-for-2 on field goal attempts and did his part punting, as well, routinely pinning the Hawks deep in their own territory.

The Gryphons held firm on Laurier's opening drive of the game but the Golden Hawks, buoyed by a CIS-best rushing attack (291.8 yards per game), took a 7-0 lead when Gordon hit a hole to his left and outran the Guelph defence for the 71-yard score.

Despite allowing the early touchdown, the Gryphons responded well, beginning with a great kickoff return. Roberts produced an 18-yard rush down to the Laurier 24, which set up a 32-yard Ferraro field goal. But it could have been more as Schaffer-Baker couldn't haul in a pretty Roberts pass to the back of the end zone just moments before.

Ferraro would cut the Laurier lead to 7-6 with a 29-yard field goal just before the end of the first quarter.

Guelph is still alive in the Ontario University Athletics playoff picture. The Gryphons host York in the regular season finale next Saturday at Alumni Stadium.