Saturday, September 29,
1pm
University Stadium, Waterloo
Guelph Gryphons vs Laurier Golden Hawks
Online: www.oua.tv
GUELPH, Ont. – Pure emotion is one of the things that makes football so great. A short schedule means every game is critical, whatever the level, so missed opportunities hurt that much more. The Guelph Gryphons football team knows this feeling. And so does the Gryphons' Week 6 opponent, the Laurier Golden Hawks. That's why their meeting for Laurier's Homecoming at University Stadium in Waterloo on Saturday, Sept. 29 is so important for two teams in a desperate battle to land an OUA playoff spot.
The Gryphons (2-3) lost a Homecoming heartbreaker last weekend, falling 33-32 to the Queen's Gaels. But in defeat, the Guelph players showed an ability to dig deep, almost overcoming a massive 33-7 deficit in the final 15 minutes of play. Regardless of the result, that performance galvanized a roster that spent the whole week working on getting things right with Laurier on deck.
"What I take away from that game is the pride in seeing a group of young players come together," said head coach
Todd Galloway. "That comeback was made possible by the unity they showed. We came up a little short but the effort was there. And I expect us to show the same level of commitment this week."
"I know our Homecoming didn't go as hoped but we don't quit until the clock stops," said fourth-year receiver
Kade Belyk. "We know we can play, we know what we are capable of. We just have to play consistent throughout the whole game.
Alain Cimankinda in Guelph's 24-14 win over Laurier in 2017
"We are five points away from being a 5-0 team."
According to Belyk, the team is excited to get back on the field this weekend. The Gryphons are playing at a high tempo and look forward to matching up with Laurier, a sqaud that has endured its own emotional swings through the midway point of the OUA season. The Hawks got off to a great start in 2018, defeating Ottawa and Queen's in the first two weeks before enjoying a well-earned bye.
But Laurier had its own heartbreaker after that, losing 34-32 to its in-town rival Waterloo on a late 88-yard touchdown pass. And last week, the Hawks fell to McMaster on a fourth-quarter pick-six that dropped them to 2-2 and searching for answers.
So both teams know what it's like to have a game slip through its grasp. And each is ready to do whatever it takes for a win this week.
Guelph came alive offensively last week with one of the best quarters in recent memory. It actually began on the final play of the third quarter against Queen's when
Theo Landers hooked up with
Zeph Fraser on a 45-yard touchdown. That play down the left sideline opened up the floodgates for an offence that, as Galloway put it last week, "took the reins off" and punished a helpless Queen's defence.
Kian Schaffer-Baker and Belyk caught fourth-quarter touchdowns and an offence that had its struggles in the first three games of the season, was suddenly humming. The Gryphons will hope to execute at that same level against a tough Hawks' defence.
"Laurier is a good test for us as receivers," said Belyk, who considers the Guelph corps among the best in the country. "Laurier's defence has been lethal for years, we just have to play to our potential and we will do just fine."
The Laurier offence is capable of moving the ball on the ground or through the air, presenting plenty of dangers. Quarterback Tristan Arndt has been incredibly accurate through four games, completing 80 of 114 attempts (70.2 per cent) for 1,158 yards (289.5 yards per game, third in the OUA) and an 8:2 touchdown/interception ratio. Fourth-year star receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr, the conference MVP in 2017, has accounted for almost half of Ardnt's passing yardage, racking up 34 catches for 506 yards (126.5 ypg, second in the OUA) with two touchdowns.
The Guelph secondary will have to be aware of the Laurier passing attack but the Hawks' ground game has been equally impressive. Fourth-year running back Levondre Gordon leads all OUA players with 102.8 rushing yards per game, scoring four touchdowns.
It will be a great matchup with an excellent Gryphon defence that allows just 19.8 points per game (third in the OUA) and leads all teams with 17 sacks.
"This is a game with two talented teams that are determined to win," said Galloway. "It's a big test."
Gryphon Team Statistics
Gryphon Individual Statistics
Hawks Team Statistics
Hawks Individual Statistics
