Third year receiver Alex Charette (St. Catharines, Ont.) ran back a Waterloo missed field goal 125-yards and the No. 6 Guelph Gryphons put up 28 second quarter points to remain perfect on the season with a 41-19 win over the Warriors on Saturday afternoon. Guelph’s fifth win of the season keeps them atop the OUA standings while Waterloo drops to 1-4 on the season.
Jazz Lindsey was 21-for-37 with 274 passing yards and four touchdowns but also threw four interceptions in the process. As a team Guelph put up 454 offensive yards compared to Waterloo’s 260. Waterloo’s quarterback duties were split between Brian Chris (Waterloo) (Waterloo, Ont.) and Jamie Cook (Collingwood) (Collingwood, Ont.) with Chris throwing for 191 yards on his 15 completions (24 attempts) while Cook went 6-for-13 for 83 yards.
Despite the score line it was Waterloo who held the early momentum with a solid drive led by Cook. The second year quarterback lobbed in pass for Paul Cecile (Azilda) but the rec and leisure student would cross himself up otherwise he had a clear path for the first major of the game.
Waterloo would be forced to punt and Guelph would take advantage as Lindsey would find brother Saxon Lindsey (Markham, Ont.) for the 35-yard strike to put the visitors up 7-0. The games first major was setup by a 26-yard rush by John Augustine (Welland, Ont.) earlier in the drive.
On the ensuing possession Waterloo would march down the field led by running back Ryan Di Risio (Burlington) (Burlington, Ont.) and receiver Nick Anapolsky (Guelph )(Guelph, Ont.) but the home side could not find the end zone and would settle for a field goal. Rookie kicker Alasdair Coyle split the uprights from 31-yards to cut into the Guelph lead.
Waterloo continued their offensive creativity into the second half, this time led by Chris at the helm. A 12-yard run by Di Risio would bring the black and gold down to Guelph’s red zone but for the second straight possession the Warriors would settle for a field goal and find themselves down only one.
From there the undefeated Gryphons would turn up their offence several notches and flex their nationally ranked muscles. Back to back touchdowns by Carl Trivieri (Ashburn, Ont.) would put the Gryphons up 21-6 late in the half. Trivieri would find the end zone first on a 10-yard pass then a 45-yarder both on bullet passes by Lindsey.
The second quarter blunders would continue for the Warriors this time on the offensive side of the ball. Waterloo would put together an impressive possession but would be forced to another field goal after yet another red zone stop by the Gryphons defence. Coy would miss the 20-yard field goal and Charette would make the rookie pay running the ball back the distance of the field for the 125-yard major putting his Gryphons up comfortably, 28-6.
Before time would run out on the opening half Guelph would once again find the end zone, this time on a 1-yard pass between the Lindsey brothers to put the Gryphons up 35-6 at the break.
After Waterloo would conceive a safety five minutes into the second half, the Warriors would find their first touchdown of the game thanks to a an incredible solo effort by Anapolsky. The fourth year receiver turned a short pass by Cook into a 19-yard catch and run for the touchdown. With the successful convert Guelph’s lead would be cut down to 37-13.
The rest of the third quarter would turn into sloppy football from both sides with Jazz Lindsey throwing two picks in the process. Greg Zaitz (Ancaster) (Ancaster, Ont.) and Rhys Mahler (Sault Ste. Marie) (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) would pick off the third year quarterback but unfortunately the Warriors could not turn them into points. Guelph would add a field goal at the third quarter buzzer to take a 40-13 lead.
The unconventional football would carry into the fourth quarter with both quarterbacks (Lindsey and Chris) exchanging interceptions before Guelph would finally turn a possession into points on a rouge.
Down 41-19 the Warriors would not quit orchestrating another drive-up the field led by Chris and the third year quarterback would cap off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to make it a final, 41-19.
Guelph (5-0) will return home to host York (2-3) under the lights next Friday while Waterloo will travel to Hamilton to face McMaster (2-3) as part of their homecoming on Saturday.
Photo credit: Steve Brooks
Source, Waterloo Warriors Sports Information
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