Gryphons sneak past Blues in final seconds of season opener

GUELPH, Ont. - The Guelph Gryphon football team opened the 2010 season with a 15-13 win over the University of Toronto Varsity Blues at Alumni Stadium in Guelph, Ont.

Boxscore

A well-fought battle by both the Gryphons and Blues left the deciding play to the final seconds of the game, in which stand-in kicker, Mike Fortino (Niagara, Ont.) nailed a 16-yard field goal to give Guelph the two point lead and the victory.

Taking over as the Gryphon starter for the 2010 campaign, quarterback Chris Rossetti (Mississauga, Ont.) had a strong opening performance completing 15-of-27 pass attempts for 212 yards with a touchdown and an interception.  Running back Nick Fitzgibbon (Puslinch, Ont.), though starting a little slow, finished the game with 122 yards on 26 attempts and leading receivers for the Gryphons were Dave Honig (Sarnia, Ont.) and Dillon Dimitroff (Burlington, Ont.) with 66 and 54 yards, respectively.

On defence the Gryphons were a brickwall, allowing only 50 yards of rushing against.  Scott Eggleton (Belleville, Ont.) and Cameron Thorn (Midhurst, Ont.) both picked up sacks for the Gryphons and Mark Durigon (Rockwood, Ont.) hauled in an interception.

For Toronto, quarterback Andrew Gillis (Toronto) went 12-for-25 picking up 158 yards through the air and giving up a single interception, while also leading the team in rushing with 24 yards. Sebastian Magalas (Burlington, Ont.) was the Blues’ top receiver, pulling in two passes for 37 yards.

The Gryphons started off the scoring in the first quarter.  After sending out a defence that shut down the Blues’ first drive, the Gryphons put the first points on the board on a 30-yard play.  As Rossetti was falling to the ground, a quick flip-pass was gathered up by running back Nick Fitzgibbon. Powering his way across the field and shedding a few tackles, Fitzgibbon would find the end zone putting the home team up 6-0, with first-year kicker, Evan Short, chipping in the single point afterword.

The Varisty Blues responded in the second quarter, scoring 10 unanswered points after conceding a safety.  The Blues started by putting 19-yard field goal through the uprights to tighten the score to 9-3.  Under two minutes later, the Gryphons would attempt to punt the ball out of danger, but the quick, penetrating special teams squad of the Blues blocked the kick and the recovery was smothered by Walter Cariazo in the end zone.

Guelph would regain the lead in the third when Short knocked a 20-yard field goal through to put the Gryphons up 12-10 and picking up the only points of the quarter.

Nearing the end of the fourth, Toronto came up big on a deep pass along the sideline, but after being stuffed twice on the goal line, would have to settle for a field goal, leaving just under two minutes left on the clock.  The Gryphons responded however, setting up a brilliant drive, marching down the field to set up for a final field goal attempt and with just seconds left on the clock, Mike Fortino pounded a 16-yarder between the uprights to claim the victory for the Gryphons.

The Guelph Gryphons are on the road next week to take on the York Lions on Monday (Sept. 6).

Source:

Guelph Sports Info