LONDON – There is always plenty of anticipation when the Guelph Gryphons football team and the rival Western Mustangs approach game time. But the wait on Monday night was even longer than usual – lightning and heavy rain delayed the affair by a full two and a half hours.

It was worth it for a game that turned out to be a Labour Day classic. The No. 3-ranked Mustangs outlasted the Gryphons 41-34 in overtime in the OUA Marquee Matchup of the Week at TD Stadium.

Western's backup quarterback Stevenson Bone ran the ball in from the one-yard line in the overtime session and while Guelph had a chance to respond, quarterback James Roberts was forced to leave the field injured during the critical final drive. Backup Theodore Landers came in and was unable to complete a pass on third down, ending a heartbreaker for a Gryphons team that played without fear against the U SPORTS powerhouse.

It was the first meeting in London between the two teams since Guelph (0-2) pulled out its dramatic 23-17 win in the 2015 Yates Cup. And while each team dominated for stretches, they would exchange big blows in the fourth quarter. Fifth-year Gryphons' running back Johnny Augustine broke free for an 81-yard touchdown run that put the visitors up 31-24 with 10:46 left in the quarter.

Western kicker Marc Liegghio and Guelph's Gabriel Ferraro, who was a perfect on four attempts, would exchange field goals. Mustangs' quarterback Chris Merchant then found Malik Besseghieur for a short touchdown grab with 5:29 left that tied the game 34-34, the scoring play that ultimately sent the game to overtime.

Roberts was sharp all night before departing on the final drive, completing 20 of 28 pass attempts for 286 yards and two touchdowns, both caught by Zeph Fraser. His second touchdown connection with Fraser at 13:25 of the fourth was crucial. It stopped a run of 21 straight Mustang points and Roberts then found Kian Schaffer-Baker in the end zone for a huge two-point conversion, tying the game 24-24.

Western was sloppy in first half and the Gryphons took full advantage by building a 16-3 lead. But the Mustangs, led by Merchant, came out with more focus to start the third quarter. The third-year quarterback ran the first of two rushing touchdowns in from the six-yard line to bring the hosts to within three points at 16-13. Western came up with a big sack on the ensuing Guelph possession, which pinned the visitors deep in their own territory. A conceded safety made it 16-15 before Merchant ran in another touchdown, this time from 14 yards out.
 
Guelph didn't appear to be affected by the lengthy weather delay and executed well in the first half. Despite allowing a Liegghio field goal on Western's opening drive, the visitors went right at the Mustangs early. The Gryphons, who racked up eight sacks last week against Ottawa, got off the line quickly Monday, putting pressure on Merchant throughout the opening 30 minutes.

Guelph also produced some turnovers, including a big Riley Baines interception, on the way to scoring points on four consecutive drives for a 16-3 lead. Ferraro was good on field goals of 20 and 42 yards and then Roberts went to work, completing a pass down to the Western 5-yard line before finding Fraser in the end zone from four yards out.

Ferraro then connected again on a 46-yard field goal to extend the Guelph lead to 13 points, shocking the Mustangs and the wet crowd at TD Stadium.

The Gryphons return home for a matchup with the Windsor Lancers at Alumni Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 9. Game time is 1pm.