CIS football Monday roundup: No. 2 Mustangs run wild over Warriors in season opener

WINDSOR, Ont. - The Lancer Football team, under the leadership of interim head coach Joe D'Amore opened their 2011 season in fine fashion as they dominated the Toronto Varsity Blues 38-5 on Monday afternoon in the Labour Classic home opener in Windsor.

The Lancers used a pair of kick return touchdowns to open the game in front of 3,871 fans at Alumni Field to build a commanding lead en route to the victory.

Windsor now sits at 1-0 in conference play and will travel to Waterloo next Saturday for a showdown with the Laurier Golden Hawks.

On Monday, Lancer veteran Shea Pierre wowed the hometown crowd on the game's opening kick-off as he returned it 104 yards for a touchdown for the 7-0 lead.

After Toronto went three and out on their first possession, the Lancers would score again as Mitch Dender returned the game's first punt 73 yards for the major to increase the lead to 14-0.

The Lancers would continue to apply the pressure in the opening quarter as quarterback Austin Kennedy snuck one in from 1-yard out to make the score 21-3.

In the second quarter, after a 26-yard pass play to Lancer receiver Jordan Brescacin, running back Shomari Grant would get his first career CIS touchdown on a 3-yard run to make it 28-3. Grant, a native of Kissimmee, Florida had strong opening game for the Lancers as he rushed for 112 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown.

Veteran Paul Lefaive would follow Grant's run with a 43-yard touchdown run of his own to make the score 35-3 with 6:20 remaining in the half.

The Varsity Blues would force a safety late in the quarter to make the halftime score 35-5 in favour of Windsor.

With the game well in hand in the second half, neither team was able to muster much offensive in the final two quarters.

The Lancers would add a rouge and single in the fourth quarter to make the final score 38-5.

Lancer quarterbacks Sam Malian and Austin Kennedy shared the duties on opening day as Malian completed 12 of 19 passing for 107 yards while Kennedy finished 5 of 9 passing for 31 yards.

Standout transfer Shomari Grant led the ground attack for the Lancers with 112 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Through the air, Jordan Brescacin caught 5 passes for 61 yards while Cory Fernandes hauled in 7 catches for 49 yards.

Defensively for Windsor, Jermaine Simpson led the way with 7 tackles while Brad Adams added a pair of sacks for a Lancer defense that did not allow a touchdown on the day.

The Lancer Football team will be back in action next Saturday as they hit the road for a showdown with the Laurier Golden Hawks in Waterloo. Stay tuned to www.goLancers.ca for all the news and information from game two on the road.

Source: Windsor Sports Info

TORONTO - The York University Lions football team opened its season with a 46-7 loss to the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks on Monday (Sep. 5) in front of 4,300 ecstatic fans at York Stadium.
After a very competitive first three quarters, the Golden Hawks exploded for 31 points in the fourth quarter, sending a largely pro-Lions crowd home disappointed but hopeful.

Lions quarterback Nick Coutu (St. Catharines, Ont.) had a solid game at pivot, going 15-37 for 136 yards and leading his squad in rushing with 25 yards on five carries. Rookie running back George Daniel (East York, Ont.) led all Lions receivers with 26 yards on two catches, including a lengthy 20-yard reception.

On defence, rookie defensive back Marcus Grandison (Toronto) led the Lions in tackles with 9.5, followed by veteran defensive lineman Steve Reading (Fenelon Falls, Ont.), who picked up seven tackles on the day, including one for a loss. Grandison also had an interception in the game, the first of his CIS career.

Golden Hawks quarterback Shane Kelly (Basking Ridge, N.J.) went 26-43 for 339 yards, throwing three touchdowns and one interception on the day. Shamawd Chambers (Markham, Ont.) led all receivers with seven receptions for 135 yards and one touchdown, and Anton Bennett ran for a game-high 52 yards on nine carries. Mitchell Bosch (Langley, B.C.) led the team in tackles with 5.5, including one sack and one tackle for a loss.

The Golden Hawks opened the scoring early in the first quarter, earning two points on the Lions opening drive. After a quick two-and-out, the Lions were pushed deep into their own end zone on third down and forced to concede a safety.

Following the safety, the Golden Hawks went to work on their own opening drive, pushing downfield and finding the end zone on a 35-yard TD pass from Kelly to Dillon Heap (Waterloo, Ont). Ronald Pfeffer (Kitchener, Ont.) quickly followed up with a rouge off the kickoff to put the Golden Hawks up 10-0.

Later in the quarter, the Lions, deep in their own end zone yet again, would concede another safety, putting the Golden Hawks up 12-0 at the break.

In the second quarter, it was the Lions who found the scoreboard first. After Grandison's interception put the Lions on the Golden Hawks' 35-yard line, Heneri Dervishi (Toronto) converted on a 33-yard field goal that cut the Golden Hawks' lead to 12-3.

With three seconds remaining before the half, however, the Golden Hawks restored their 12-point lead with a 25-yard field goal from Pfeffer and took a 15-3 lead into halftime.

The Lions came out of halftime hungry and dominated the third quarter. Moments after earning a single point on a rouge from fourth-year punter Dror David (Richmond Hill, Ont.), the Lions would capitalize on a shanked punt from Pfeffer with a 30-yard field goal from Dervishi to trim the Golden Hawks' lead to 15-7. Neither team would score for the remainder of the quarter, setting up an important fourth quarter.

Early in the fourth, any hopes of a Lions comeback were shattered when Kelly connected with Russ Jirgens (Burlington, Ont.) on an eight-yard TD pass to increase the Golden Hawks lead to 22-7.

After a 27-yard field goal from Pfeffer put the Golden Hawks up 25-7, Kelly went to work again, finding Chambers on a 45-yard TD pass that put the game out of reach at 32-7.

Bosch continued a big quarter for the Golden Hawks with a 30-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown, and backup quarterback Dillon Campbell (Whitby, Ont.) added a 13-yard rushing touchdown to put the Golden Hawks up for good, 46-7.

The Lions will be in action again on Saturday (Sep. 10) when they host the Toronto Varsity Blues in the 42nd annual Red & Blue Bowl. Kickoff is at 1 pm at York Stadium.

Notes: The frosh crowd had lots of fun at the game, which featured a live robot dance, sedan race and cheer off. Concessions were open and everyone enjoyed a bite to eat while cheering on the Lions. Calumet was the winner of a pizza party for their college. Thanks go out to Apollo Effect, for entertaining all the frosh and fans before the game, and to all our in-game prize sponsors: Bills Toronto Series, the Bookstore, Kamik Boots and Quiznos.

Source: Cody Powell, York sport writing assistant

GUELPH, Ont. - The University of Guelph Gryphons opened their 2011 regular season on the wrong end of a 35-8 score to the Ottawa Gee Gee’s Monday afternoon in front of 6,500 fans at Alumni Stadium. With the loss, Guelph opens the season with a 0-1 record while the Gee Gees advance to 1-0.

Aaron Colbon (Orleants, Ont.) led the Gee Gee’s with 298 passing yards and two touchdowns to leading receiver Bogdan Raic (Ottawa), who accumulated 138 yards to go with his two touchdowns. Colbon was an efficient 23-for-32 on passing attempts on the day. Brendan Gillanders (Orleans) gained an impressive 186 yards on 16 carries for an 11.6 rushing average to go with his scoring touchdown. Gillanders performance was the main reason the Gee Gees earned a total of 296 rushing yards, compared to Guelph’s 59 yards in rushing. 

Gryphon’s quarterback Chris Rossetti (Mississauga, Ont.) completed 18-for-33 passes for 201 yards with a touchdown and an interception on the day. Rossetti also led the Gryphons with 36 rushing yards on five carries. David Honig led the Gryphon receivers with four catches for 58 yards and a touchdown.  In total the Gryphons only generated 294 yards in offense compared to Ottawa’s 692 yards.

“I think its more mental than physical and the guys were rudely awakened with the outcome,” said Guelph head coach Stu Lang. “Despite the outcome though our special teams were a positive in this game. I think Alex Charette was a real weapon returning the ball and our kicker Daniel Ferraro, once he got his legs, showed promise. So I think our special teams was a big focus.”

The Gryphon’s tough loss overshadowed a career day by fifth year receiver Jedd Gardner (Niagara Falls, Ont.), who set the Gryphon’s all-time receiving mark with his catch early in the third quarter. With his 15-yard reception, Gardner became Guelph’s all-time leader in receiving yards, a mark that he will add to as the season carries forth. For the day, Gardner had two receptions for 25 yards.

Both teams struggled to find their offense early in the game. The Gryphon’s defence was able to hold the potent GeeGee’s offense to a pair of rouges and a field goal as they trailed 5-0 after the first quarter.

After adding another field goal early in the second quarter, the GeeGee’s finally got into the endzone as Colbon hooked up with Raic for the game’s first touchdown, capping off an eight play drive. The two would hit pay dirt once again before halftime on a 22-yard reception. At the half the GeeGee’s led 22-0.

While the Gryphon’s offense wasstagnate for most of the game, the Guelph defence was able to keep them in the game for much of the first half. Linebacker Jake Reinhart (Guelph, Ont.) led all defenders with 11 total tackles, while defensive back Jordan Duncan (Grimsby, Ont.) accumulated 10.5 tackles on the day.

The second half opened with an impressive defensive stand by Guelph. Gardner returned the Gee Gee’s punt 33-yards setting up his record setting catch.

On their second play of the half, Gardner made his record breaking catch for 15 yards, taking a big hit in the process. Gardner is now the sole owner of the Gryphon’s receiving record and was awarded the game ball in front of a packed stadium of 6500.

After Guelph was forced to punt shortly after, Gillanders rumbled for a four yard touchdown run, capping a six play, 88 yard drive. Gillanders also had a big 22-yard reception during the drive that kept the Gryphon’s defence off balance.

It wasn’t until the 13 minute mark of the third quarter that Guelph was able to get on the scoreboard, with Honig and Rossetti hooking up for a three yard touchdown pass. Rossetti completed a short throw to Saxon Lindsey (Markham, Ont.) for the two-point conversion.

The fourth quarter saw the Gee Gee’s score on two more field goals to close out the scoring. The Gryphon’s used the opportunity to get some of their rookies some valuable game time experience.

Guelph held a slight advantage in possession time, but ultimately saw a number of penalties hold them back. The Gryphon’s had 10 penalties accounting for 66 yards, with many negating some impressive plays. The Gee Gee’s held the advantage in terms of turnovers, accumulating three interceptions and a fumble recovery. Guelph on the other hand had two fumble recoveries on the day.

The Gryphon’s will be looking to avenge their season opening loss when they hit the road to take on the Waterloo Warriors on Saturday, September 10th in Waterloo. Kick-off is scheduled for 1pm.

Source: Guelph Sports Info

KINGSTON Ont. – The No. 3 McMaster Marauders (1-0) knocked off the Queen’s Gaels (0-1) 26-2 during a windy opening day of OUA football.

Kyle Quinlan of South Woodslee, Ont., was 20 for 31 throwing for 349-yards and tossing one touchdown to lead McMaster to its first win at Richardson Stadium since 2003. The loss was the Gaels first home opener defeat since 2005 when the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks beat them 45-0.

McMaster’s Tyler Crapigna of Nepean, Ont., scored 14 points converting four field goals and two extra points in a game that saw winds as high as 24km/hour.

McMaster’s 23 point run over three quarters silenced the 8,517 Queen’s fans in attendance.  The Marauders’ Ben D’Aguilar of Hamilton opened the scoring when he picked off Queen’s quarterback Billy McPhee of Burlington, Ont., and returned it 57-yards for the touchdown. Crapigna would then post 10 straight points including a convert and three field goals to push the score to 23-0 in the third quarter.

The Gaels only points of the day came from a safety when Crapigna took a knee in the endzone. Prior to that play Queen’s had pinned McMaster deep in their own zone.

McPhee finished his first game as a starter going 13 for 32 amassing 152-yards and two interceptions.  

Last year’s opening day Gaels pivot Justin Chapdelaine of Abbotsfored, B.C. looked sharp in his debut as a receiver making five catches for 64 yards and rushing the ball 26 yards on four attempts.  Chapdelaine even converted a pass for 13-yards on a hitch-and-pitch play.

Quinlan’s longest pass was a 76-yard bomb to Michael DiCroce of Hamlton which setup Crapigna’s first of four field goals on the day. Crapigna hit field goals of 16, 29, 35 and 20-yards.

Dicroce was McMaster’s top reciever hauling in 114-yards on four receptions.  Jarred Jones of Scarborough, Ont., recorded the only receiving touchdown finishing with 76 total yards on four receptions including the 60-yard major just before halftime.  

Defensively, the Gaels looked sharp despite the score with three players recording five or more tackles.  Osie Ukwuoma of Mississauga, Ont. recorded one of the Gaels two sacks on the day which moved him into second place amongst the Queen’s all-time sacks leaders. Ukwuoma needs 12 sacks to tie Jim Aru for the all-time lead. 

Next week the Gaels travel to meet the Ottawa Gee Gees (1-0) at Frank Claire Stadium in Ottawa with kickoff set for 1:00pm. 

NOTES:  The loss was Queen’s first in a home opener since September 5, 2005 against Wilfrid Laurier… in that game Danny Brannagan of Burlington, Ont.  relieved Ali Clarkson in a lopsided Laurier which was Brannagan’s debut as a freshman… McMaster’s last win at Richardson came five games ago on September 20, 2003 in a 30-27 overtime thriller.  The Gaels have now lost three in-a-row against McMaster and their all-time record falls to 14-10 since 1952.

Source: Shawn MacDonald, Queen's Sports Information