GUELPH, Ont. –
Isaiah Smith (offence),
Braeden MacDougall (defence) and
Ryan Tharby (special teams) have been named Gryphon Football 'Players of the Game' following the team's 18-17 win over the Western Mustangs on Saturday, October 25 in the OUA quarterfinals.
Isaiah Smith (Offence)
Isaiah Smith for the second time this season has been named the 'Offensive Player of the Game' as one of the key catalysts in the team's win at Western. The third-year running back was the team's go-to option in the ground game, leading the team with 18 carries for 111 yards and a touchdown. The human kinetics major averaged 6.2 yards per carry and was effective on the ground picking up yards throughout the afternoon whether if it's moving the sticks or picking up a good amount of yardage on first down to set the offence up with a manageable second down. With the Gryphons trailing 17-3 with 8:41 remaining in the 4th quarter and needing to find the end zone with time not on their side, it would be
Isaiah Smith who would give his team a boost. From the Western 22-yard line, the Burlington native
took the handoff and bounced it outside to his left as he shed not one but two tacklers on his way to the end zone that kick started the Gryphon offence en route to their win.
Braeden MacDougall (Defence)
The 'Defensive Player of the Game' is fourth-year linebacker
Braeden MacDougall. The Windsor native finished with 4.5 total tackles, including 4 solo tackles, in the team's win. The environmental management major was one of the leaders on the Gryphon defence that held the Mustangs offence to 371 total yards with just 208 in the air. But it was the run defence led by MacDougall that was the key in the win for Guelph. The Gryphs held the Mustangs to 163 rushing yards and kept the OUA's leading rushing Ethan Dolby in check as Dolby only rushed for 124 yards on 21 carries and kept him out of the end zone. With the Mustangs wanting to establish the run on their opening possession, it was MacDougall who came up with a tackle on first down at midfield on Dolby, holding him to a one-yard gain. It led the Mustangs to punt after the defence made another stop on the ground as the Gryphs kept their 3-0 lead in the first quarter.
Ryan Tharby (Special Teams)
First-year linebacker
Ryan Tharby earns this week's 'Special Teams Player of the Game' honours. The management major has had a tremendous season on special teams to go along with his growing role on defence. Tharby played on three of his team's five special teams units against Western. Tharby made the biggest play of the game, and the most consequential play of the entire season for the Gryphon football team, with
his downfield coverage following a missed field goal resulting in a game-winning rouge for the Gryphons. On the final play of regulation, the Gryphons missed a field goal attempt wide left, but the pursuit downfield from the Burlington native was perfect as he was able to force Western returner Seth Robertson out-of-bounds for the playoff-winning, walk-off rouge.
The Gryphons, seeded No. 7 in the OUA playoffs, will now head to Wilfrid Laurier University on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 1) for a 1pm kickoff against the U SPORTS No. 1-ranked Laurier Golden Hawks in an OUA semifinal matchup.
2025 Gryphon Football Players of the Game
Week 9 vs York
OFFENCE:
Marshall McCray (9 carries, 81 yards, 2 TD; 12 yd TD reception)
DEFENCE:
Andre Thompson (1.5 tackles, forced fumble, INT)
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Anakin Guthrie (128 yd missed FG TD return)
Week 7 vs Queen's
OFFENCE:
Marshall McCray (11 carries, 57 yards, 2 TD)
DEFENCE:
Deemetrius Masuka (4 tackles, 3 solo, INT)
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Joseph Younes (solo tackle)
Week 6 at Carleton
OFFENCE:
Willem Arseneau (3 receptions, 113 yds, 2 TD)
DEFENCE:
Gianni Green (4 INT, 61 yd interception return TD)
SPECIAL TEAMS: Max MacErollo (solo and assisted tackle)
Week 5 at McMaster
OFFENCE:
Willem Arseneau (3 receptions, 48 yds, TD)
DEFENCE:
Deemetrius Masuka (6 tackles, 5 solo, sack)
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Nicholas Metron (solo tackle)
Week 4 vs Ottawa
OFFENCE:
Jarod Tessier (8 receptions, 156 yds)
DEFENCE:
Yunus Larry (6 assisted tackles, 65 yd interception return TD)
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Matthew Stam (103 yd kickoff return TD)
Week 3 at Windsor
OFFENCE:
Donavin Milloy (15 carries, 137 yds, 2 TD)
DEFENCE:
Anakin Guthrie (solo tackle, 2 INT)
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Jackson Leshuk (4 tackles, 3 solo)
Week 2 at Western
OFFENCE:
Isaiah Smith (12 carries, 88 yds, TD; 3 receptions, 80 yds, TD)
DEFENCE:
Yunus Larry (5.5 tackles, 4 solo, sack)
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Denver Beazley (assisted tackle)
Week 1 vs Laurier
OFFENCE:
Tristan Aboud (27-40, 407 yds, 2 TD; 9 carries, 96 yds, 2 TD)
DEFENCE:
Jevaun Jacobsen (4 tackles, 6 assisted, sack)
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Matthew Stam (4 returns, 98 yds)
