GUELPH, Ont. – The Gryphon football team improved to 3-1 on the season thanks to a 29-24 home win over the McMaster Marauders on Saturday (Sept. 14) in front of 2,948 fans at the University of Guelph's Alumni Stadium. The Gryphons impressed in all three phases, showcasing a balanced attack on offence, a strong team-effort on defence, and adding several big plays on special teams to continue their strong start to the 2024 OUA football season.
 
After the Marauders (1-3) opened the scoring midway through the opening quarter with the game's first touchdown, the Gryphons would explode for 15 points in the final minute and a half of the 2nd quarter. With 1:31 remaining before the half, the Gryphons would score their first touchdown of the day, thanks to a beautiful connection between a pair of second-year standouts in quarterback Tristan Aboud and receiver Willem Arseneau. Arseneau, an arts major from Calgary, Alberta, would make an acrobatic catch in the back corner of the endzone for the 19-yard touchdown reception to give Guelph a 13-10 lead. Arseneau, who was named the 'Firehouse Subs Player of the Game' for Guelph, stepped up on Saturday with several other starting receivers for the Gryphon (Vyshonne Janusas, Kaine Stevenson) unable to play due to injury. Arseneau finished the day with 5 receptions for a team-high 91 yards.
 
After the Gryphons added a rouge to go up 14-10, the defence would step up, with second-year defensive back, Kyle Simon-Guerin, intercepting McMaster quarterback Keagan Hall to give the Gryphons an opportunity to add to their lead before the half. The Gryphons would do just that, putting together a 4-play, 51-yard touchdown drive, capped off by an 8-yard touchdown run by third-year running back, Donavin Milloy. Milloy, who missed the Gryphons previous two games due to injury, it was an efficient return to the U of G backfield, with the 19-year-old from Hamilton averaging 9.1 yards-per-carry on Saturday, rushing for a team-high 64-yards on 7 carries.
 
In the 3rd quarter, the Marauders were able to trim the deficit to 21-17. But the Gryphons would close out the game in convincing fashion, thanks in part to a spark from the special teams. Punter Nicholas Guardiero, a local product and graduate of Guelph's Bishop Macdonnell Catholic High School, would make good on a fake punt attempt with six minutes remaining in the 4th quarter, and Guelph clinging to a 23-17 lead. On 3rd and 6 from midfield, Guardiero would run it himself, picking up 9-yards and a 1st down to bring the Alumni Stadium crowd to their feet and keep the Gryphons offence on the field. A pair of strong runs from sophomore running back Caleb Sargeant would get the Gryphons down to the 1-yard line, where second-year quarterback Marshall McCray would punch it in to extend the Gryphons lead to 30-17. For McCray, a 19-year-old human kinetics major from Niagara Falls, the 1-yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter marked the latest score in what has been an incredible touchdown streak for the standout, dual-threat quarterback. McCray has now rushed for a touchdown in each of the first 12 games of his OUA career. As a rookie in 2023, McCray led U SPORTS with 9 rushing touchdowns. Now in his second-year, the elusive QB has recorded one rushing touchdown in each of the Gryphons first four games of the 2024 season.
 
However, it was McCray's teammate in the U of G backfield, Tristan Aboud, who led the way throughout the day on Saturday versus McMaster. Aboud also showcased his ability to impact the game with his legs, with the 21-year-old from Montreal finishing second on the team in rushing yards on Saturday, with 57 yards rushing on 5 carries. About was also efficient in the pass game, with the management economics and finance major finishing the day 15-of-20, 144 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. Helping lead the way on the defensive side of the ball for the Gryphons was defensive back, Anthony Moretuzzo, who finished the game with a team-high 8.5 tackles. The Gryphon defence shut down the Marauders ground game, limiting McMaster to just 24-yards rushing as a team on the day, with McMaster playing this game without the services of their starting running back Brayden Kelly due to injury.
 
The Gryphons (3-1) will now prepare for a tough road test against another team boasting a 3-1 record in the Queen's Gaels. Kickoff at Richardson Stadium in Kingston on Saturday, Sept. 21 is set for 3pm with the game broadcast live online at www.oua.tv.