GUELPH, Ont. – In front of a sold out crowd of 8,500 fans at the University of Guelph's annual homecoming football game, the Guelph Gryphons gave the capacity crowd at Alumni Stadium plenty to cheer about, with the Gryphons winning 47-22 over the Waterloo Warriors. With the win, the Gryphons improve to 3-2 on the season, while the Warriors fall to 1-4.
All three phases contributed to a convincing homecoming victory, with the Gryphon defence helping set the tone early on. Late in the 1st quarter, the Gryphon defence came up with a huge goal line stand. The Warriors had a 1st-and-Goal from the 1-yard line, but were unable to punch it in against a stout Gryphon defence that made three consecutive stops to force the turnover on downs.
The first touchdown of the day for the Gryphons would come in the 2nd quarter, with Gryphons fourth-year quarterback
Tristan Aboud connecting with receiver
Monroe Corniffe, who beat his man on nice double-move before hauling in the 29-yard touchdown to put Guelph up 10-0. Aboud and Corniffe would connect on another big play late in the 2nd quarter, setting up a 1st and Goal situation for the Gryphons, with defensive lineman
Andre Thompson subbing into the offensive backfield to punch it in to give Guelph a 17-0 lead. The Gryphon special teams also contributed to the impressive opening half, with second-year kicker
Trey Thompson connecting on two long field goals, with makes from 50 and 46-yards, as the Gryphons took a 23-8 lead into the locker room at the half.
In the second half,
Tristan Aboud would continue his big day, connecting with Gryphons running back
Massimo Ferrone-Byrd for a 41-yard touchdown to extend the Guelph lead to 31-15. The U of G special teams unit would come up with another big play in the 3rd quarter, this time in the form of a punt block from third-year fullback
Carter Camplin. The Gryphons would take advantage of the short field, with
Andre Thompson picking up his second rushing touchdown of the day, and fifth of the season, to give Guelph a 38-15 lead. Thompson would also add the first passing touchdown of his career in the 4th quarter, connecting with Gryphons offensive lineman Justin Vander Kooi for a 1-yard touchdown pass to make it 47-15 Guelph.
The homecoming victory for the Gryphons extended their current win streak to three in a row, with the team now sitting at 3-2 on the season. Up next for the Gryphons, a road trip to the University of Toronto to face the Varsity Blues on Saturday, October 3. Kickoff at Varsity Stadium is set for 1pm and can be seen live online at
www.oua.tv.
