WINDSOR, Ont.- Hitting the road for the first time in the 2021 season, the No. 5 nationally ranked Guelph Gryphons found themselves on the wrong end of a 14-12 score Saturday afternoon in Windsor.
Taking to Alumni Field on the heels of a tremendous season opening victory over the Western Mustangs, the Gryphons were without their starting quarterback, Shawn Lal, who missed the game due to an upper body injury. Without their top signal-caller, the Guelph offence was unable to find a consistent rhythm against the Lancers ultimately settling for four Eric Stranz field goals, while being held out of the end zone.
Once again using their defensive prowess, the Gryphons were able to make life very difficult for the opposing offence. Although in a loss, the Gryphs were able to hold Windsor to just 140 yards through the air, while forcing three turnover on downs and another seven punts.
Unfortunately for Guelph, it was ultimately penalty trouble and a pair of turnovers on offence that made the hill a little too steep to climb. During the contest, the Gryphons were flagged 17 times for a total of 135 yards, with six of those penalties resulting in Windsor first downs.
Getting the start at quarterback for the injured Shawn Lal, and making his OUA debut was Montreal, Quebec native Ettore Casati III. However, as the game went on, Gryphon's Head Coach Ryan Sheahan elected to split series and snaps between Casati and DeAndre Rose as he tried to give the offence a spark.
After Windsor jumped out in front 3-0 early in the contest, the Gryphons were able to reply with a 37-yard field goal from Stranz midway through the second quarter. Then after a Windsor single point was scored on a punt into the end zone, the Gryphons took their first lead of the game with a 39-yarder from Stranz. However, with only 45 seconds remaining in the first half, the Lancers regained the lead with a field goal to take a 7-6 advantage into the break.
With 6:35 to go in the third, the lone touchdown of the contest was scored when Windsor quarterback Sam Girard connected with Alex Bornais for a 23-yard major. From there, the Gyphons tallied a pair of Stranz fourth quarter field goals (30, 41) but that was as close as they would get.
Just prior to Stranz kicking his third field goal of the game, the Gryphons thought they had scored their first touchdown, but an offsides penalty negated a 20-yard touchdown toss from DeAndre Rose to Keegan Dicks.
Throwing the ball, Rose finished the game 11 for 14 with 97 yards and an interception, while Casati went 3 for 7 with 28 yards and an interception. Guelph's leading rusher on Saturday was Windsor native Kaine Stevenson with eight carries for 15 yards, while Vyshonne Janusas' four catches for 48 yards led all Gryphon receivers.
On the defensive side of the ball, A.J. Allen flew all over the field for Guelph totaling a game-high 17 tackles with 2.5 of those going for a loss. Also nearly totaling double-digit tackles as well was Jeremy Kapelanksi, who finished the game with 9 (one tackle for a loss).
After being named OUA Specials Teams Player of the Week for Week 2, Eric Stranz made a strong bid to be named back-to-back for the weekly honour going 4/4 on field goals (37, 39, 30, 41), while also averaging 42.6 yards per punt on eight attempts.
Looking to turn the page on their road defeat, Guelph will now switch their focus to the Queen's Gaels as they get set to head to Kingston on Friday. Kick-off from Richardson Stadium is set for 6:00pm.
