GUELPH, Ont. – In front of 6,012 fans and under sunny skies at the University of Guelph's Alumni Stadium, the Guelph Gryphons football team fell just short, losing 20-11 in a defensive battle versus the McMaster Marauders in Week 2 action of the 2026 OUA football season. With the loss, the Gryphons fall to 0-2 on the season, while the Marauders improve to 2-0.
The Gryphons annual 'O-Week' game saw thousands of University of Guelph first-year students fill Alumni Stadium for the Gryphons 2026 home opener. After the visiting Marauders jumped out to an early 9-0 lead, the Gryphons would answer back in the 2nd quarter with their biggest play of the game, with fourth-year quarterback
Tristan Aboud going deep to second-year receiver
Ethan Garwe, who was able to get behind the McMaster secondary and haul in an 80-yard touchdown reception to trim the deficit to 9-7. Garwe finished the day with 3 catches for 119 yards and the touchdown. But explosive plays on offence were hard to come by on Sunday afternoon in Guelph, with both defences playing exceptionally throughout the game. Late in the 3rd quarter, the Gryphons would take a 11-10 lead after a 42-yard field goal from
Trey Thompson. But the Marauders would score 10 unanswered points from there, highlighted by a 2-yard touchdown run from Micah DuChene on the final play of the 3rd quarter. The Gryphons were limited to 12 first downs on the day, with McMaster's pass rush recording 6 sacks in the game. The Gryphons also flagged for 12 penalties on the day for 123 yards.
Tristan Aboud finished the day 15-of-32 passing for 255 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception, with the INT coming on a Hail Mary attempt on the final play of the game. Gryphons fourth-year running back,
Caleb Sargeant, was limited in his action but explosive when called upon, rushing for 84 yards on just 8 carries (10.5 yards per carry), highlighted by a 42-yard run. Defensively, the Gryphons were stout against the run, with McMaster running back Micah DuChene limited to just 46 yards on 17 carries (2.7 yards per carry). Marauders quarterback Lucas Barresi finished the day 27-of-45, 281 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT. The game featured nearly 1,000 yards of punts, with McMaster punter Michael Horvat punting 13 times for 524 yards (40.3 average) and 4 pinned inside the 20, while Guelph punter
Trey Thompson punted 10 times for 410 yards (41.0 average), a long of 64 and two inside the 20.
Jack Cobb was the Gryphons leading tackler on the day with 6 total tackles.
The Gryphons (0-2) will now turn their attention to their Week 3 opponents, the Carleton Ravens (0-2), with Guelph set to once again play at home on Saturday, September 12 at 1pm when they host the Ravens. The game will feature two teams desperate to pick up their first win of the season, with Carleton dropping their first two games of 2026 (Week 1 35-34 loss at York, and Week 2 31-26 loss to Waterloo). Tickets for the Saturday, Sept. 12 matchup between the Gryphons and Ravens are available online at gryphons.ca/tickets, with the game streamed live online at
www.oua.tv.
