The Guelph Gryphons football team and their fans braved the cold on Nov. 21, 2015 to take their shot at the CIS Mitchell Bowl on home turf at Alumni Stadium. Despite a strong effort and unified presence on the field, the Gryphons were ultimately disappointed as it was not enough to bring them into what could have been their second Vanier Cup appearance.
Guelph last claimed the Vanier Cup in 1984, but they will have to wait another year for their next shot at it. Saturday’s final horn brought tears and heartbreak, as for many of the Gryphons it was their last game at Alumni Stadium.
The Gryphons won the 108th Yates cup for the fourth time in the program’s history on Nov.14, 2015 to take them to the 2015 ArcelorMittal Dofasco Mitchell Bowl.
The stage was set for an exciting game on Saturday as the Université de Montréal Carabins, the reigning Vanier Cup champions, prepared to take on the Gryphons, who were determined to prove themselves as formidable opponents. “The biggest challenge tomorrow will be to keep our level heads [and] play with positivity through the thick and thin,” said Gryphons starting quarterback James Roberts at a press conference on Nov. 20, 2015.
Guelph was unable to keep level heads in the first half and dug themselves into a hole that they were unable to climb out of, despite playing well in the second half of the game.
Gabriel Cousineau, quarterback for the Carabins, continued to play in excellent form, throwing in a perfectly placed nine-yard pass to Phillip Enchill for a touchdown. Montréal’s David Deschamps kicked two field goals in the second quarter and Montréal convincingly led Guelph 23-0 by halftime.
“We established the running game by taking control of the line of scrimmage. Our defense played really well in the first half and our main objective was to keep [Guelph] out of the endzone, which we were able to do,” said Danny Mociocia, head coach of the Carabins. “Once we were able to take that lead, we felt good about the situation but we knew they were going to come out and battle in the second half, and that’s what they did.”
The Gryphons finally got on the scoreboard in the third quarter with two field goals from kicker Gabriel Ferraro.
Guelph improved in the second half, playing excellent defence and only allowing Montréal to take one team safety, however it was not enough to come back against the talented Carabins.
“The defence was always our strength and to have them on the field for so long was tough but they had some big bodies to push and move around,” said Guelph head coach Stu Lang. “We’re a team that once we get on a roll, we tend to do well. It would’ve been nice to score a couple touchdowns and get the momentum. The guys may have been a little nervous. We were in uncharted territory being in the Mitchell Bowl, but this is all part of the maturity of a football program.”
“It’s devastating, we fought hard today and we never gave up, which is all I can ever ask for in my teammates. I’m pretty happy with how we played and how we responded to adversity,” said John Rush, fifth year linebacker and OUA standup defensive player of the year for the Guelph Gryphons.
The Gryphons are able to hold their heads high after Saturday’s loss, and take pride in the advancement of the football program to hold the Yates Cup for the first time in 19 years.
Lang has been building the program since he arrived at Guelph in 2010, and there is no doubt that Lang, along with the coaching staff and returning players, will be ready for a battle next season.