Guelph, ON - The OUA playoffs may still be a few weeks away, but with only two games remaining on the schedule, every game from here on out carries with it huge playoff implications. On Saturday, October 17, the No. 7-ranked Guelph Gryphons (5-1) play host to the Windsor Lancers (1-5) at Alumni Stadium, in what is the Gryphons final regular season home game of 2015. Kickoff is set for 1pm and the game will be televised live on Rogers TV Cable 20. The game can also be seen live online at OUA.tv. Tickets for the game are available for purchase online. The game also marks the Gryphons annual Think Pink game in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Both the Gryphons and the Lancers head into this Saturday's matchup well rested, with each team coming off of Bye Weeks. For the Gryphons, the break was much-needed with several starters banged up. However, the Thanksgiving break has allowed some wounds to heal and the Gryphons are expected to field a full lineup on Saturday as they try to take one step closer to securing a first round Bye in the OUA playoffs. This week, the Gryphons face a Windsor team that has a new look from a year ago. Gone from the Lancers are a pair of 2014 OUA First Team All-Stars in Quarterback Austin Kennedy and Receiver Evan Pszczonak. In at quarterback for Windsor is highly touted rookie Liam Putt (Caledonia, ON). Putt, who was considered one of the most coveted quarterback recruits in the country in the 2015 class, played his high school football at Assumption College in Brantford where he led his team to a provincial championship in 2013. Liam Putt, who also has experience on the international stage after quarterbacking Team Canada's U-19 squad at the World Championships, has shown flashes of brilliance in his first year of OUA football. In Week 4, Putt threw for 374 yards and a touchdown in a losing effort against the Ottawa Gee-Gees. As Putt continues to develop, he also has the luxury of handing the ball off to Windsor's fourth year running back Tarrence Crawford who currently ranks 4th in the CIS with 6 rushing touchdowns on the year.

Much like their young quarterback, the Lancers defence has also shown flashes of brilliance in 2015. In Week 5, the Lancers pulled off an upset over the Golden Hawks in Waterloo and spoiled Laurier's Homecoming. In that game Laurier QB Eric Morelli, who was just recently named CIS Player of the Week after throwing six touchdown passes versus Ottawa, was limited to just 136 yards passing by the Lancer 'D'. In fact, the Windsor defence was able to keep the Golden Hawks out of the endzone all game that day. Lancers Defensive Coordinator Donnovan Carter will incorporate a variety of fronts in an attempt to confuse opposing offensive lines. Fortunately for the Gryphons, they are led up front by a senior group of O-linemen who have played an instrumental role in helping the Gryphons average 42.2 points per game in 2015, the third highest total in the CIS.

The Gryphons come into this Week 8 matchup following their first loss of the 2015 season. Turnovers were an issue for the Gryphons in Kingston two Saturdays ago when they were on the wrong end of a 23-15 decision. However, the Gryphons should like their chances of improving in that category this week as the Lancers rank dead last in the OUA this season in creating turnovers with just 6 on the year (2 INT, 4 fumble recoveries). Quarterback James Roberts ranks in the Top 10 in the CIS with 12 TD passes (T-6th), 114 completions (T-5th) and 1,602 passing yards (8th in CIS). The Cambridge native has also eclipsed the 300-yard mark in three of his six games played this season. Gryphons running back Johnny Augustine continues to be a force on the ground. Last week, Augustine was Guelph's best player, rushing for a career-high 174 yards against Queen's. On the year, Augustine has 9 rushing touchdowns, the second highest total in the country (next only to Western's Alex Taylor who has 10). When Augustine needs a breather, backups Daniel Palmer-Salmon and Brandon Gordon have filled in nicely, combining for 406 yards on 5.7 per carry.

Defensively, the Gryphons have lived up to lofty preseason expectations thanks to some solid play from returning veterans. Linebackers John Rush and Curtis Newton have led the way for a Gryphon front seven that has been dominant against the run in 2015. The Gryphons are limiting opponents to just 88.3 rushing yards per game, giving them the No. 2 ranked rush defence in the CIS (behind Sherbrooke who are allowing 85.6). 2014 OUA All-Star free safety Tristan Doughlin has once anchored a strong Gryphon secondary, despite being forced to play at less than 100 percent health. His three interceptions on the season leave him tied for 2nd in the OUA in INTs. As a team, the Gryphons have also racked up 17 sacks on the season, the fourth highest total in the CIS.

Following Saturday's game versus Windsor, the Gryphons will hit the road and head to the nation's capital to wrap up their OUA regular season schedule with a game in Ottawa on October 24th against the Carleton Ravens.