GUELPH, Ont. -
Tristan Aboud (offence),
Anthony Moretuzzo (defence), and
Jack Cobb (special teams) have been named Gryphon football's 'Players of the Game' following the team's 33-10 victory over the University of Toronto Varsity Blues on Saturday (Aug. 26) in the opening game of the 2023 OUA football season.
Tristan Aboud (Offence)
Rookie quarterback
Tristan Aboud takes home 'Offensive Player of the Game' honours
following an impressive OUA debut in the Gryphons Week 1 matchup with the U of T Varsity Blues on Saturday. The Montreal, Quebec native went 19-for-26, throwing for 200 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while adding 59 rushing yards on 4 attempts to help lead the Gryphons to a 1-0 start to the season. The 6-foot-4, 215lbs Phillips Exeter Academy graduate's longest completion came late in the second quarter when he found
Kaine Stevenson for a 25-yard gain to put th Gryphons just outside the redzone. Two plays later, Aboud threw his first career U SPORTS touchdown to
Willem Arseneau to give his team their first points of the game. The management economics and finance major led the Gryphons down the field for a trio of scoring drives during his memorable OUA debut, and will look to carry that momentum into Week 2, when he plays in his first OUA road game as the Gryphons head to Windsor for a Sunday night (Sept. 3) showdown with the Lancers.
Anthony Moretuzzo (Defence)
Fourth-year defensive back
Anthony Moretuzzo is the first Gryphon 'Defensive Player of the Game' of the 2023 season after a sensational performance on Saturday. After missing out on the 2022 season due to an injury, Moretuzzo returned to the Gryphon defence and immediately reminded fans in attendance of the impact he can have on an opposing teams attack. The history major led the team in total tackles (7) while finding his way to the Varsity Blues quarterback more than anyone else, collecting a pair of sacks on the day. Moretuzzo also displayed his knack for making plays in critical situations with a pair of assisted sacks on 2nd-and-long, as well as his highlight pick-six coming late in the fourth quarter.
Jack Cobb (Special Teams)
Linebacker
Jack Cobb earns Gryphon football 'Special Teams Player of the Week' honours in Week 1 after the Burlington, Ontario native came up with the biggest special teams play of the day.
Late in the fourth quarter, after the Varsity Blues returner made a pair of defenders miss, Cobb came up the middle of the field and delivered a devastating hit, brining the home fans out of their seats. The marketing management major also finished the game with 4.5 total tackles on special teams, a team-high for the day.
The Gryphons (1-0) will now shift their focus to the Windsor Lancers (1-0). Windsor is also off to a 1-0 start to the season after beating McMaster 21-17 in Hamilton on Saturday night. Kickoff between the Gryphons and Lancers is set to take place under the lights in Windsor, with a 7pm start time on Sunday, September 3.
