GUELPH - The 2017 edition of the Gryphon football homecoming football game is almost upon us. Here is everything you need to know to get you set for one of the best days in the Canadian University sporting calendar.
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DETAILS
What:  2017 Gryphon Football Homecoming Football Game
When: Â Saturday, September 23 - 1pm
Where: Â Alumni Stadium (University of Guelph)
Who: Â Guelph Gryphons (2-2) vs McMaster Marauders (2-1)
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TICKETS
Available online
General Admission: Â $30Â
(while quantities last)
Student Tickets: Â $15Â
SOLD OUT
Kids:Â Â 6-and-under: Â FREE
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BROADCAST INFO
TV: Â Live on Rogers Cable 20 (viewers in Guelph area)
ONLINE: Â
oua.tv &
cusn.ca
RADIO: Â
TSN 1150
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GAME DAY INFO
- 10am:  Tailgate in P7, organized by Gryphon "Parents of Players" (food available with $5 donation)
- 11am: Â Gates open at Alumni Stadium
- Live music during pre-game & halftime
- Licensed area/beer garden in south endzone featuring Wellington Brewery products ($5 cover charge)
- Total of 8 food trucks on location
- Bouncy castle located by Alumni Walk & Gryphon Fieldhouse
- 1pm: Â Game ball delivered by Skydive Cayuga's Adam Winnicki (former Canadian Military Paratrooper)
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GAME PREVIEW
GUELPH - Homecoming is always the biggest date on the football calendar. The anticipation that builds during the week leading in, as well as a packed house that literally makes Alumni Stadium shake, differentiates this game from others.
It will be a special day when the No. 8 McMaster Marauders come to town for a Saturday afternoon matchup. But Homecoming is also a time for the Guelph Gryphons' players and coaches to remember the program's rich history.
"One of the exercises that we do during this week is have the guys research an alum at their position to remember the past and respect the people that came before them," says Gryphons' head coach
Kevin MacNeill.
"It's our way to honour the Homecoming tradition."
There's no lack of incentive to win. But players also want to perform well on this unique stage.
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Johnny Augustine carries against Mac at Homecoming 2015
"This is the game that everyone comes to," says fifth-year Gryphons' running back
Johnny Augustine, who is savouring the opportunity in his final season. "It's Homecoming, it means a lot.
"Especially on your home turf, you want to come out victorious. What better way to play the Homecoming game than against one of the top teams in the OUA."
The Marauders (2-1) do present a challenge but the Gryphons have been trending up each week of the season, including two wins in which they have outscored opponents 124-16. The points won't be so easy to come by against McMaster, whose only blemish is a 29-14 home loss to Western back in week 2.
"They're a big-play team," says MacNeill. "Defensively, they are extremely aggressive and put a lot of pressure on opposing offences. They do a great job of defending on the back end, as well. They're very well coached, aggressive, physical and they fly around the football field.
"It's important for us to have a great effort to match the energy that they'll bring."
The teams last met in the regular season Oct. 1, 2016 in Hamilton, a 27-15 McMaster win (Mac also won their OUA quartefinal matchup later that month 17-11). The Marauders have two Yates Cup victories over Guelph dating back to 2012 but the Gryphons won 33-23 when the rivals met at Homecoming in 2015 and defeated the Marauders 24-22 in their 2013 matchup.
"We have great respect for Mac," says Augustine. "Every year since I've been here, we've always duked it out. It's a good rivalry with good tradition.
"It'll be a fight."
MacNeill's defence will play close attention to McMaster weapons like third-year running back Jordan Lyons, who has rushed the ball 51 times through three games for 202 yards and a touchdown. Rookie quarterback Jackson White was under centre in Mac's recent 24-7 win over Ottawa, completing 20 of 32 passes for 255 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. One of White's touchdown passes went to fellow rookie Tommy Nield, a Guelph native, who ranks second on the Marauders with nine receptions for 95 yards and two scores. Dan Petermann, who recently surpassed Ryan Janzen for most career receptions (158), leads Mac with 13 grabs this season.
The experienced unit is looking forward to it. MacNeill has been impressed with how well the defensive players have gelled, putting everything they've learned from coordinator Adam Grandy and the position coaches to use in games. Against Toronto, MacNeill saw an example of how the players have developed.
"We were against a personnel grouping that we hadn't prepped for during the week," he says. "The guys did an incredible job of making sure they were aligned correctly and they figured it out on the field. We introduced some new concepts last year. They've gotten really comfortable and are able to play at a high level."
Guelph's prolific offence hasn't met a lot of resistance the past two weeks so facing the McMaster defence will be a much bigger test for quarterback
James Roberts and his unit. The fourth-year Cambridge, ON native leads the OUA with nine touchdown passes and ranks third in the conference in passing yards per game with 277.5. Roberts has several weapons at his disposal like a healthy
Jacob Scarfone and the veteran Augustine. Scarfone has put last year's knee injury behind him. He's averaging 105.3 receiving yards per game (second in the OUA) and is tied with Waterloo's Richmond Nketiah for the most touchdown receptions (four). Augustine has also had a resurgent year coming off an injury-plagued 2016. The Welland, ON native has rushed the ball just 27 times but has racked up 228 yards and an OUA-best five rushing scores.
"We knew we had that (offensive potential) all summer long," says Augustine, who has also chipped in seven receptions for another 119 yards. "We're very versatile in a lot of positions. Guys can do more than one thing and that definitely puts guys on their toes."
The Gryphons now have a chance to put up a third straight win, which would erase the disappointment after losing their first two games in overtime to Ottawa and Western. To do it at Homecoming would mean that much more, especially for departing veterans.
"It doesn't matter how good you look on paper, at the end of the day, you have to all mesh together," says Augustine. "I think we've finally hit that groove and we want to keep this going.
"It's a special group that we have here."
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Gryphons' Individual Statistics
Gryphons' Team Statistics
