Last-minute field goal gives Guelph one-point win over Windsor

A 17-yard field goal by Daniel Ferraro with just three seconds remaining in the game gave the Guelph Gryphons a 24-23 win over the Windsor Lancers in an Ontario University Athletics football game Monday at Guelph.

The Lancers, leading 23-21, appeared to be in good shape when Guelph took the ball on its own nine-yard line with just 61 seconds to play. Gryphons quarterback Jazz Lindsey moved his team 91 yards in the next six plays, however, to get in position for the game-winning kick.

Guelph, 2-0, led 21-13 when Lancers quarterback Austin Kennedy connected with Scott McEwen for a short touchdown pass in the final minute of the third quarter. A 32-yard field goal by Dan Cerino — who missed two earlier attempts — midway through the fourth quarter put Windsor, 1-1, into its short-lived lead.

Two Windsor turnovers ended up on the scoreboard — a fumble in the end zone and a 15-yard interception return by Guelph’s Taylor Palmer.

Lindsey finished the game 15-for-29, passing for 195 yards, as the Gryphons managed just 47 yards rushing and 223 yards of net offence. Windsor, which had 414 total yards, got 371 of them from Kennedy through the air. He was 19-for-38, completing 7 of those passes to Evan Pszczonak for 172 yards and a touchdown.

In other games Monday, the Carleton Ravens were rudely welcomed back to the OUA by the Western Mustangs, who administered a 71-4 whipping in London; the Ottawa Gee-Gees scored 25 points in the third quarter to break open a seven-point game en route to a 44-32 win over the Waterloo Warriors; the Toronto Blues withstood a fourth-quarter comeback by the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks to claim a 27-20 win and the No. 2-ranked Queen’s Golden Gaels similarly hung on in the final period to defeat the No. 6 McMaster Marauders 31-24.

Ottawa racked up 607 yards of total offence and the Warriors 409 yards in the run-and-gun affair at Waterloo. Gee-Gees quarterback Aaron Colbon was 28-for-40 for 452 yards and four touchdowns (but two interceptions). He also rushed for 75 yards.

Nicholas Dagher was the favourite target, catching nine passes for 145 yards, while Brendan Gillanders carried 22 times for 144 yards along the ground. Kingston’s Lewis Ward kicked a field goal and five converts for the Gee-Gees, 1-1, who got superb punting — 40-yard average on seven kicks — from rookie Domenic Bellardini.

Jamie Cook completed 24 of 40 passes for 297 yards and a touchdown in his first start of the season for Waterloo, 0-2. His favourite receiver was Nick Anapolsky, who caught nine balls for 112 yards.

At London, the Mustangs led 7-1 when they scored a touchdown in the final minute of the first quarter and the floodgates opened against the prodigal Ravens. Western scored 32 points in the second quarter and led 46-1 at halftime.

Will Finch was 26-for-32 for 409 yards and three touchdowns for Western, 2-0. Garret Sanvido (18 carries for 125 yards) and rookie Adam Sinclair (11 carries for 114 yards) each scored two touchdowns for the Mustangs, who shared the ball among 10 different ball carriers and eight different receivers.

Carleton quarterback Jesse Mills was 14-for-27 for 151 yards before giving way to Nick Gorgichuk, who was 5-for-10 for 44 yards. Kyle Van Wynsberghe and Wilson Birch each had four receptions for the Ravens, who will open at home Saturday against Waterloo.

Chris Jugovic completed 17 of 34 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Varsity Blues, 1-1, to their first win of the season. Llevi Noel caught four passes for 101 yards and Alex Pierzchalski caught both TD passes.

Playing at home, the Blues led 27-3 late in the third quarter when Laurier, 0-2, rallied behind quarterback Julien John. Ronnie Pfeffer’s 45-yard field goal with 6:16 remaining in the fourth quarter lifted the Hawks to within a touchdown but they could get no closer.

John finished the game 25-for-49 for 344 yards and a pair of touchdowns, one of which went to Greg Nyhof, who had Laurier’s best receiving night with six catches for 113 yards.

In other games Saturday, Windsor visits Queen’s, McMaster hosts Western, Toronto travels to Ottawa and, in a battle of winless teams, Laurier will christen the new field at York.