HAMILTON, Ont. - On Saturday (Sept. 16) afternoon the Gryphon Football team improved to 2-2 after handing the McMaster Marauders a 21-13 loss. The win came thanks to some impressive play from the Gryphon defence and special teams units, which forced a pair of timely interceptions and blocked an early punt. The win marked the first time the Gryphons had taken a win in McMaster territory since the 2007 season, when an OUA quarterfinal match saw Guelph take down the Marauders 25-21. 

In what proved to be a low-scoring affair the Gryphons opened up the scoring on their second drive, which started in McMaster territory. After forcing a two-and-out on the Marauders second offensive possession, rookie linebacker Nicholas Metron broke through the McMaster offensive line to block the punt, giving the U of G offence the ball on the home team's 35-yardline. The Gryphon offence gained 19 yards and a missed field goal gave them the first lead of the game. On the ensuing possession McMaster scored their first points of the game, but were held to just three after the Gryphon defence came up with a redzone stop. 

Early in the second quarter, with the Marauders driving in Guelph territory, another rookie linebacker in Jevaun Jacobsen would come up with a pair of timely tackles on 2nd and 3rd down to force a turnover on downs. Jacobsen, a native of Burnaby, BC, led the Gryphon defence in Hamilton making his first career OUA start and racking up a team-high 10 total tackles (9 solo, 2 assisted), a tackle-for-a-loss and an interception. The Guelph offence would take over and go 41 yards to set up a 5-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Marshall McCray. With McMaster back on offence it was U SPORTS All-Canadian talent Devynn Cromwell who stepped up this time, intercepting an errant pass from Marauder quarterback Keegan Hall to set up a U of G field goal which sent the Gryphons into halftime with an 11-3 lead. 

The Gryphons came out of the locker room and immediately extended their lead with rookie kicker Gabriel Canabrava hitting a 17 yard strike to put Guelph in front 14-3. Despite a Marauder touchdown on the following possession, the U of G defence held firm, forcing a pair of punts to end the third quarter. A McMaster field goal earlier in the final frame made it just a 1-point lead for the Gryphons but once again it was the defence and Jevaun Jacobsen making a well-timed play. Jacobsen, in coverage, would snag a pass intended for McMaster receiver Jacob Patten, returning it to the 50 yardline. A Guelph penalty would start the drive on the Gryphon 35, with the offence needing a touchdown to put the game seemingly out of reach. The drive was led by the Gryphon rushing attack which picked up gains of 31 and 32 yards from running backs Donavin Milloy and Craig Sherrington. With 2nd-and-six from the McMaster 9 yardline rookie quarterback Tristan Aboud found Vyshonne Janusas for a 9-yard touchdown. Aboud finished the day with another strong performance going 18-of-24 for 150 yards and a touchdown. The Gryphon defence would then put on one last performance, forcing a turnover on downs with the McMaster offence in desperation mode, claiming the second win of the season for Guelph. 

The Gryphons (2-2) received a significant boost to their playoff hopes with the win in Hamilton and will now return to Alumni Stadium next Saturday where they will host the York Lions in the 2023 Gryphon Football Homecoming game. Tickets for homecomming are available at gryphons.ca/tickets with the game also available on RogersTV Cable 20 and oua.tv.