GUELPH, Ont. – On Labour Day Monday, in front of over 7,000 fans at the University of Guelph's Alumni Stadium, the No. 9-ranked Guelph Gryphons played host the Windsor Lancers in the first home game of the 2022 season for the Gryphons. Despite an electric atmosphere, and a standout performance from their rookie running back, the Gryphons would ultimately end up on the wrong end of a 28-24 score line, with the Lancers spoiling the home opener party in front of 7,097 Gryphon fans. With the loss, the Gryphons fall to 0-2 on the young season, while the Windsor Lancers improve to 1-1. The Gryphons will now play each of their next two games on the road (Sept. 10 at Waterloo, Sept. 17 at Ottawa) before returning home to host the Queen's Gaels on September 24 for the 2022 edition of the Gryphon homecoming football game.
Several new faces who are new to the Gryphon football program in 2022 stole the spotlight on Monday afternoon, with the Gryphons returning to their home field following an opening-week loss in London to the No. 1-ranked Western Mustangs back on August 27.
Monday's matchup versus Windsor marked the OUA debut of Gryphon quarterback,
Jake Helfrich, a highly-touted NCAA transfer, who arrives at the University of Guelph after having walked-on with the University of South Carolina Gamecocks of the Southeasten Conference. For Helfrich, a 20-year-old native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Monday's action marked his first taste of Canadian football, with the arts major arriving in Guelph after having starred at Providence Day High School in Charlotte. Helfrich gave Gryphon fans some glimpses of his standout pedigree, but finished his OUA debut a modest 11-of-23 passing for 125 yards, 0 TD and 0 INT. The Gryphons also mixed second-year quarterback
Shawn Lal into the action on Monday, with the Abbotsford, BC native going 5-of-10 for 60 yards in limited action.
But the top performer on offence for the Gryphons on Monday was another new arrival in 2022, in rookie running back
Isaiah Smith. The 6'0", 213 pound first-year back is a physical presence in the Gryphon backfield, but the Burlington native also showcased his tremendous speed, with the bio-medical science major exploding for a 67-yard touchdown run midway through the opening quarter to send the near capacity crowd into a frenzy. Late in the 2nd quarter,
Isaiah Smith would find the endzone for a second time on the day, this time punching it in from 2-yards out, helping Guelph take a 14-13 lead into the locker room at halftime. Smith finished the day with 13 carries for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns (9.9 yards per carry).
But it was a day that belonged to running backs, including Windsor's impressive rookie back, Joey Zorn (Flint, Michigan), who provided a spark for the visiting Lancers early in the second half. On Windsor's opening possession of the 3rd quarter, Zorn would break off an 80-yard touchdown run to give the Lancers a 20-14 lead.
Zorn, who recorded 111 yards rushing in Week 1 versus the Ottawa Gee-Gees, would impress again in the second game of his OUA career, finishing the day with 203 yards rushing on 18 carries.
With the Guelph trailing 21-17 early in the 4th quarter, the Gryphons would receive a big play on defence thanks to another Gryphon newcomer at linebacker.
Franck Kemayou, a Toronto native in his first season as a Gryphon after transferring from Acadia University to U of G, would intercept a screen pass attempt from Windsor quarterback Danny Skelton. Kemayou, a Masters student at the University of Guelph (capacity development and extension), would then rumble 40-yards to the house, with the pick-six putting Guelph back on top 24-21.
But it would prove to be the final points of the day for the Gyphons, with Windsor taking the lead for good with 6:20 remaining in the 4th quarter when Lancers third-year running back Christopher John found the endzone from 6-yards out, capping a 7-play, 82-yard drive and putting Windsor up 28-24. Looking to make a last-second comeback, the Gryphons turned to quarterback
Shawn Lal, who was able to move the Gryphons to mid-field, but a turnover on downs with under :10 seconds remaining meant the Gryphon comeback would fall short. The Lancers controlled the time-of-possession battle on the day, with Windsor finishing the day with 36:33 of ball possession, compared to just 23:27 for the Gryphons. Defensively, the Gryphons recorded 3 sacks on the day, while linebacker
Brandon Ferigo picked up a team-high 10.5 tackles. Seven different Gryphon receivers caught a pass on the day, with former running back
Kaine Stevenson leading the way with 5 receptions for 51 yards.
The Gryphons will now look to rebound on a short week, as they travel to the University of Waterloo next Saturday (Sept. 10) to face the well-rested Waterloo Warriors, who will be fresh off of a Week 2 bye when they welcome the Gryphons to Warriors Field. Next Saturday's game at Waterloo kicks off at 1pm and can be seen live online at
www.oua.tv.
