WATERLOO, Ont. – On a cool, windy Saturday afternoon in Waterloo at Wilfrid Laurier University's University Stadium, the Gryphon football team fell just short on their comeback attempt against the U SPORTS No. 9-ranked Laurier Golden Hawks. The Gryphon defence forced 4 turnovers (2 interceptions, 2 fumbles), but was unable to slow down the nation's best rushing attack which led the Golden Hawks to a 38-25 victory. With the loss, the Gryphons fall to 1-6 on the season, while the Golden Hawks improve to 5-2.
The Gryphons entered Saturday's matchup coming off a 41-12 loss to the McMaster Marauders, which saw them unable to overcome turnover issues. This week it was the Gryphon defence forcing turnovers to keep the offence in the game. It was halfback-linebacker hybrid,
Devynn Cromwell, and defensive back
Harrison Bagayogo, both 2021 U SPORTS All-Canadians, forcing interceptions, with Bagayogo returning his for a 29-yard pick six to put the Gryphons up 18-14 late in the first half. Cromwell, the Toronto, Ontario native in his second year with the program, finished the game with 1 interception and 7.5 total tackles. Also forcing turnovers for the Gryphons was linebacker
Kole Watson and defensive back
Gianni Green, who each forced a fumble. Watson, who entered the game 10th in total tackles in the OUA, finished the game tied for 6th on the Gryphons with 6 tackles. Green meanwhile accumulated 5 solo tackles to go along with his forced fumble. Each of the Gryphon forced fumbles was recovered by 3rd-year Toronto native Malcolm James. On defence the Gryphons were led by the nation's leading tackler,
Brandon Ferigo who once again led the Gryphons with 13.5 total tackles.
Offensively, the Gryphons air attack, led by University of South Carolina transfer quarterback
Jake Helfrich, bounced back from last week's performance going 16-of-23 for 202 yards and 2 touchdowns. The first Gryphon touchdown came early in the second quarter when the Guelph offence marched 75 yards down the field for Helfrich to find rookie wide receiver
Laurent Paquin alone behind the Golden Hawk defence for a 2-yard touchdown pass. Paquin would finish the day with 4 catches for 28 yards and a touchdown. After an
Eric Stranz field goal and the Gryphon pick-six, Guelph would go into the locker room at halftime up 18-14. The third quarter would see the Golden Hawks and Gryphons trade possessions before Laurier running back Tanner Nelmes broke through the Gryphon defence for a 3-yard touchdown, putting the Golden Hawks in the lead 21-18. The Golden Hawks' nation-leading rushing attack would then take over to start the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns and a field goal, forcing the Gryphons offence to attempt a 38-18 comeback with just 4:07 remaining in the game. The Gryphon offence would go 70-yards on the ensuing drive ending with a 29-yard touchdown where Helfrich found running back Juwan Jeffery. The comeback would fall short, with the Gryphons running out of time and the Golden Hawks emerging with a 38-25 win. On the ground, the Gryphons were led by running back
Sito Berrio, with the Hamilton native finishing the game with 40 yards and a touchdown. Rookie wide receiver
Cameron St. Kitts-Park would end the day as quarterback
Jake Helfrich's favourite target, accumulating 80 yards on 3 receptions. The Gryphons (1-6) will now look to end the 2022 OUA football regular season on a high note, when they return home to take on the Carleton Ravens (4-3) next Saturday (Oct. 22) at Alumni Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1pm and can be seen live at
www.oua.tv.
