GUELPH, Ont. – Saturday afternoon (Sept. 13, 2025) at the University of Guelph's Alumni Stadium, the No. 10-ranked Gryphon football team suffered a 30-23 defeat to the visiting Ottawa Gee-Gees. With the loss, the Gryphons fall to 1-3 on the season, while the Ottawa Gee-Gees improve to 3-1. Despite outgaining the Gee-Gees in total offence on the day (Guelph 452 yards of offence to Ottawa's 355 yards of offence) it would be turnovers that would ultimately lead to the Gryphons undoing on Saturday, with a total of five Guelph turnovers (4 interceptions, 1 fumble) proving to be the difference.
 
Trailing by a touchdown late in the 4th quarter, the Gryphon offence was on the move and deep into Ottawa territory needing a touchdown to force overtime with the Gee-Gees clinging to a 30-23 lead. But with 13.7 seconds left, Guelph's hopes of a late comeback would officially come to an end when Gryphon quarterback Tristan Aboud had his pass attempt deflect off the fingertips of the intended receiver and into the hands of Gee-Gees defensive back, Patrick Cumberbatch, who sealed the road win for Ottawa with the interception. The interception by Cumberbatch marked the second key INT by the Gee-Gees secondary late in the 4th quarter of Saturday's matchup, with Ottawa's game-winning touchdown on the day coming in the form of a pick-six just a few moments prior. With the game tied 23-23 with 1:34 remaining in regulation, the Gryphons were pinned deep in their own end and in need of a length-of-the-field drive in order to take the lead. But U of G quarterback, Tristan Aboud, while dropping back for a pass underneath the shadows of his own goal post, would see his pass intercepted by Gee-Gees defensive back, Jaxxon Brashear, who would take it back 20-yards for the touchdown to give Ottawa a 30-23 lead.
 
While the interceptions proved costly, Aboud also had plenty of bright spots on the day, with the third-year quarterback finishing the game with 338 yards passing. His favourite receiver on the day was Jarod Tessier (Welland, ON) who led all receivers with 8 receptions for 156 yards. Aboud's biggest completion of the game came with five minutes remaining in the 4th quarter. With Guelph trailing by seven, Aboud aired it out for Jakob Tomas, who got behind the Gee-Gees secondary and hauled in a 63-yard completion before being brought down at the Ottawa 5-yard line. From there, the Gryphons would tie the game on a touchdown run from quarterback Marshall McCray, to get the 2,655 fans in attendance at Alumni Stadium on their feet.
 
It was one of several big plays on the day for the Gryphons, who also recorded a pick-six of their own on the afternoon. In the 2nd quarter, Gryphons fourth-year linebacker, Yunus Larry (Hamilton, ON) would step in front of a pass from Gee-Gees quarterback Josh Janssen and take it 60-yards the other way for the touchdown to put Guelph up 15-7. The Gryphons also started the game off in electric fashion, with standout rookie Matthew Stam (Guelph, ON) fielding the opening kickoff of the game at his own 7-yard line and taking it back 103-yards the other way for the first touchdown of his young OUA career to give the Gryphons a 7-0 lead right out of the gate.
 
The Gryphons (1-3) will look to bounce back next week, as they hit head south on Highway 6 to Hamilton to face the McMaster Marauders (0-2) on Saturday, September 20 at 1pm at Ron Joyce Stadium. The Gryphons will play each of their next two games on the road (Sept. 20 at McMaster, Sept. 27 at Carleton) before returning home on Saturday, October 4 to host the Queen's Gaels in the University of Guelph's annual Homecoming football game. Tickets for the October 4 Homecoming game are still available online at www.gryphons.ca/tickets.