GUELPH, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphons football team (1-3) will look for a bounce back game as they travel down Highway 6 to Hamilton to take on the McMaster Marauders (0-3) on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 20).
Location: Hamilton, ON | Ron Joyce Stadium
Date: Saturday, September 20
Time: 1pm
How to watch: www.oua.tv
Following their tough
30-23 home loss last week to the Ottawa Gee-Gees, the Gryphons will look to turn the page when they take on the McMaster Marauders in Week 5. Despite outgaining the Gee-Gees 452-355 in total yards, the Gryphons lost the turnover battle 5-1 as the giveaways was their undoing in the loss.
The Marauders are still searching for their first win of the 2025 season with an 0-3 record as they fell to the Windsor Lancers on the road 29-13 last week. Luke Thalman in his first season as McMaster's starting quarterback, completed 19-27 passes for 166 yards in their matchup against Windsor last week. Thalman was also the team's leading rusher, carrying the ball 9 times for 69 yards and scoring his team's only touchdown. Thalman on the season has a 68.9% completion percentage for 547 yards to go along with his 3 TD passes and interception. Thalman is also the team's leading rusher with 96 rushing yards through 3 games. One of Thalman's favourite targets this season is Everett Reid who leads the team with 16 receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown. Isaiah Shields is someone to watch for on the Marauder defence as the team's leading tackler with 24.5 tackles on the season after recording 7 tackles last week. Aaron Lavers is also another linebacker to keep an eye on as he led the team with 7.5 tackles a week ago to go along with a sack. McMaster boasts a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian punter in Michael Horvat who leads the OUA with a 47.0 average per punt and 10 punts downed inside the 20.
Tristan Aboud will look to put last week's game behind him as he and the Gryphon offence look to bounce back. The Montreal native is 2nd in the conference in total yards with 1,214 and 2nd in yards-per-game averaging 303.5 yards. Aboud despite throwing for 338 yards last week against the Gee-Gees will look to cut down on the interceptions after throwing four.
Jarod Tessier is coming off a big afternoon a week ago, as he was the team's leading receiver with 8 receptions for 156 yards. The anthropology major is currently 5th in the OUA with 296 receiving yards. Yards haven't been a problem for the Gryphon offence this season as they're 2nd in the OUA in rushing yards per game (201.3), passing yards per game (328.0) and total yards per game (529.3). The Gryphon defence has started to round into form the last few weeks, holding the Gee-Gees offence to 16 points.
Yunus Larry has been a big part of a resurgent defence as he had a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown last week. The defence has found ways to get to the quarterback, as they are currently tied for 3rd with 9 sacks on the season.
Nathaniel Slawter has emerged as one of the team's top defensive backs after racking up 7.5 tackles as the team leading tackler with 16.5.
The Gryphons and Marauders met a year ago from Guelph's Alumni Stadium on September 14, 2024 as the Gryphs hung on for the 29-23 win. Guelph currently holds a two-game win streak over McMaster as the last meeting in Hamilton was in 2023 where the Gryphons defeated the Marauders 21-13.
Saturday afternoon's matchup from Ron Joyce Stadium in Hamilton can be seen live online at
oua.tv. Gryphon fans can also follow along on Twitter / X (@guelph_gryphons) with live, in-game updates and highlights from the action in Hamilton. The Gryphons are back on the road the following week for Week 6 when they travel to Ottawa to take on the Carleton Ravens.
