Guelph Gryphons upset CIS No.7 Windsor Lancers

Austin Kennedy passed for 244 yards, but was kept at bay by the Gryphons who held the Lancers to no touchdowns and just 111 rushing yards. Led by Farquharson, Guelph dominated the ground game, tallying 233 yards, more than double that of their opponents. Jordan Brescacin (Tecumseh, ON) led Windsor’s receivers with 75 yards in the air.

The Lancers looked to continue their momentum from their opening day win, taking points on their first possession of the game, thanks to a Dan Cerino 25-yard field goal at the 11:34 mark. Late in the first quarter, the Gryphons forced a fumble from Lancers quarterback Austin Kennedy and capitalized, as Daniel Ferraro (Mississauga, ON) evened the game at 3-3 with a 26-yard field goal.

Kennedy (Windsor, ON) turned over the ball on his second fumble less than a minute into the second quarter, eventually leading to a safety on Windsor’s next possession, after Guelph pinned them deep in their end of the field. Guelph held the Lancers their first deficit of the 2012 season, and Kennedy found himself passing against a tight Gryphon defense.

Meanwhile, the Gryphons offense began to find its stride in the second quarter of the game. A 43-yard punt return, by A’dre Fraser (Halifax, NS) put Guelph at the Lancers’ 37, turned into three more points and an 8-3 lead for the Gryphons.

The Gryphons made some moves on the ground soon after, as Zachory Androschuck (Sarnia, ON) broke through the Lancers line for a 29-yard run, putting the ball at the Windsor 22.  Quarterback Jazz Lindsay then sent an arcing pass that found Dillon Dimitroff (Burlington, ON) at the back corner of the end zone, providing the contest’s first major with less than a minute remaining in the half.

The Lancers were able to cut into the deficit, as Kennedy led a late-half drive from his own 35.  The Windsor offense brought the ball into the Gryphons red zone, and snagged three points after another 25-yard kick from Cerino (Stoney Creek, ON) ended the first half of play.

The third quarter belonged to the kickers, as Ferraro and Cerino combined for three field goals.  The Lancers looked dangerous midway through the quarter, moving the ball smoothly into Gryphons territory.  However, Guelph’s defense would not break in the red zone, and Windsor had to settle for Cerino’s third field goal of the game.

After a fumble late in the quarter, the Lancers had a great opportunity to chop into the lead, taking over the ball in Guelph territory.  A long running play by Jamal Darius would have brought Windsor inside the 20, but an untimely holding penalty negated his efforts, and the home side would have to punt the ball away.

With a 2-possession lead in the final quarter, the Gryphons began managing the clock, orchestrating a critical six-minute and 20-second drive that began at their one-yard line. Farquharson topped off the 109-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard touch down punch-in.

The Gryphons will play host to the Waterloo Warriors in their home opener Saturday September 15 at Alumni Stadium; kickoff is set for 1:00PM. The Lancers will look to get back in the win column next Saturday, September 15, when they hit the road for the first time this season to take on the Toronto Varsity Blues. Game-time is set for 1:00 p.m.

(From Guelph Gryphons Sports Information and Windsor Lancers Sports Information)