GUELPH – The Guelph Gryphons football team offered a glimpse of what they can be this season – a squad with big-play ability on both sides of the ball. Guelph showed a lot of resolve engineering a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback but a 28-yard Lewis Ward field goal in double overtime lifted the Ottawa Gee-Gees to a 24-21 win over the Gryphons in a wild OUA season opener Sunday afternoon at Alumni Stadium.

Guelph erupted for 11 points in the final 2:35 of the fourth quarter to tie the game 18-18 and send it to overtime. The Gryphons exchanged field goals with Ottawa in the first extra sequence, including a 49-yard bomb by Gabriel Ferraro, which ignited an already pumped up crowd. Ward would then hit again from 28 yards out and Ferraro, kicking into the wind, pulled his 36-yard attempt left to end the game.
 

It was disappointing finish but the Gryphons showed resilience and heart in front of their home fans.

"The effort, the belief, and the trust in each other by the kids was outstanding," said head coach Kevin MacNeill. "They really battled to come back and tie the game and put it into overtime. That's the kind of effort we need for a whole game."

Guelph, in the process of installing a new offence, initially had a tough time sustaining any momentum in its possessions. Ottawa took advantage by scoring 16 straight points on two conceded safeties and four of Ward's six field goals on the day to build an 18-7 lead.

"You really have to credit their defence," said MacNeill. "Especially in the third quarter, they really stuffed it pretty good and it definitely hurt us. We'll have to look at the film."

But the Gryphons changed gears late. Fourth-year quarterback James Roberts connected with Jacob Scarfone on a beautiful 74-yard catch-and-run score with just 2:35 left in the fourth quarter. Roberts then threw to Kian Schaffer-Baker, who ripped the ball out of the air with an Ottawa defender draped on him, for a clutch two-point conversion to cut into the visitors' lead. Ferraro booted a 38-yard field goal with just one second left on the clock to force the overtime.

Roberts finished with 189 passing yards on the day, while Scarfone hauled in three catches for 123 yards and the big touchdown. Second-year running back Patrick Pierre, making his first career start, worked hard in the backfield, carrying the ball 26 times for 100 yards.

Guelph would make several huge defensive plays, particularly in the fourth quarter when they consistently pressured young Ottawa quarterback Alex Lavric, who had replaced injured starter Victor Twynstra. The Gryphons were relentless during their comeback, led by rookie defensive end Alain Cimankinda. Cimankinda, the defensive player of the game, registered three and a half sacks, including  one in overtime, for Ottawa losses totaling 22 yards. OUA All-Star Job Reinhart had two and a half sacks and Charlie Taggart added two more, while Luke Korol led all players with 16 tackles (12 solo).

"We're happy with how we played," Korol said of the defensive unit. "Things like this happen. It's just the way the game we went. There are definitely areas that we can fix up and we'll do that this week.

"We'll respond and come back better."

Guelph did have a couple untimely penalties that put both units in trouble throughout the game.

The Gryphons will look to rebound when they hit the road to face the Western Mustangs in London Monday, Sept. 4. Game time is 7 pm.