HAMILTON, Ont. – Saturday afternoon (Sept. 20) from Ron Joyce Stadium in Hamilton, the Gryphons football team fell to the McMaster Marauders 25-15. With the loss, the Gryphons record drops to 1-4 on the season, while the McMaster Marauders with their first win of the season moves to 1-3.
 
Wind played a major factor throughout the afternoon, and it was the Gryphons who got off to a good start in the game with the wind at their back. With Guelph leading 2-0 in the 1^st quarter, Tristan Aboud found Trenten Dobson open downfield for a long 48-yard reception down to the 5-yard line as Marshall McCray on the next play ran it in for his 4^th touchdown of the season to give the visitors a 9-0. The Gryphon defence impressed early on holding the Marauders to only two-and-outs in opening quarter with some strong open field tackling. The second quarter would see the hosts take advantage of the wind as they were able to flip field position, forcing the Gryphons to start deep in their own as the Marauders answered back, scoring 12 straight points with the wind to take a 12-9 lead at halftime.
 
The Gryphon defence was doing their part to keep team in the game as they continued to get stops in the third quarter and keeping deficit to within one score. With the Marauders leading 13-9 early in the fourth quarter and both defences taking over the game, it would take a big play to break this game open. McMaster with the ball from their 29-yard line with the wind at their back, Luke Thalman would make the biggest play of the game as he found Aidan Nemeth open at midfield as the Marauder receiver runs it into the end zone for the 81-yard touchdown to give the hosts a 20-9 lead. The Gryphon offence were unable to contain the Marauder pass rush as Tristan Aboud couldn't get any rhythm going with defenders in the backfield throughout the afternoon. Guelph had their chances in the fourth to cut into the deficit but turned it over on downs a couple times on third down as the Marauders would tack on a field goal and two single points to extend their lead to 16 points. With the Gryphons trailing 25-9 late in the fourth, they would drive downfield and find the end zone on the siding touchdown reception from Willem Arseneau. The comeback attempt would come to an end on the two-point conversion as the Marauder pass rush would get to Tristan Aboud, forcing him to release the ball early for the incompletion as McMaster secured the 25-15 win.
 
The Gryphons (1-4) will look to bounce back next week, as they make a trip up north to Ottawa for their final road game of the season to face the Carleton Ravens (2-2) on Saturday, September 27 at 4pm from TAAG Park before they return home on Saturday, October 4 to host the Queen's Gaels in the University of Guelph's annual Homecoming football game. Tickets for the October 4 Homecoming game are still available online at www.gryphons.ca/tickets.