Over the past six years, the Waterloo Warriors and Guelph Gryphons have become accustomed to nail-biting coin-flips that come down to the game's final possession. And unfortunately for the Warriors, the coin has landed with the Gryphon side up once again.
Guelph running back Isaiah Smith plunged into the endzone with 53 seconds left to break a 35-35 tie, as the Gryphons edged Waterloo 41-35 in front of a raucous crowd of almost 4000 at Warrior Field on Saturday afternoon.
For the third time in their last six meetings, the decisive points were scored in the game's final minute or later: Guelph scored the game-winning touchdown with 23 seconds left in a 53-49 victory in 2017, and the Gryphons claimed a double-overtime victory in the regular season's final week in 2018. On Saturday, the Warriors erased an 18-point second-half deficit to knot the game up, only to fall victim to another late heartbreak.
The highway 7 rivals exchanged offensive blows all day, as the two teams combined for 989 yards of total offense and 61 first downs. The loss sends Waterloo to 1-1 on the young season, while Guelph gets a much-needed victory to move to 1-2.
Predictably, in a game that featured 76 total points, the quarterbacks stole the show and stuffed the box score. Guelph rookie Jake Helfrich threw for 370 yards and 3 TDs, adding a rushing score as well. Meanwhile, Waterloo pivot Nolan Kaban (Calgary/) had another excellent day, completing 18 of 35 passes for 286 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Vyshonne Janusas was Helfrich's favourite target, hauling in 8 balls for 160 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Warriors slotback James Basalyga (Thunder Bay/) added to his scorching start with 138 yards receiving and two more scores, giving him five touchdowns in just two games this season.
Nicklas Sua (Nepean/) was the leading rusher on the day, scampering for 112 yards and a major on 16 carries. Smith led the way for Guelph in the backfield, compiling 70 yards on 14 rush attempts to go along with his game-clinching touchdown.
The Warriors made their first statement on the opening drive of the game, when Kaban stood in against pressure and hit Basalyga for a 37-yard score and an early 7-0 lead for the hosts. Guelph knotted things up later in the first quarter on a pitch-and-catch from Helfrich to Janusas, who broke some tackles and streaked down the right sideline for an 84-yard major.
The Gryphons extended their lead in the second quarter on a pair of long possessions – first, Hefrich capped a 7-play, 93-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, and then Janusas hauled in a 7-yard score on a 9-play, 100-yard drive to make the score 21-7 for the Gryphons. But the Warriors responded before the end of the half when an incredible second effort by Sua turned into a 25-yard touchdown run for the Waterloo tailback. Cole Crossett (Ottawa/) added a 20-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the second quarter, cutting the Waterloo deficit to 21-17 at the half.
Out of the third-quarter kickoff, it was Guelph's turn to claim momentum back in the see-saw affair, as the Gryphons got majors from running back Thomas Barrio and Jakob Tomas on their first two possessions of the second half, extending their lead to 35-17.
But that's when the hosts cued the comeback, as Kaban found Justin Succar (Welland/) from 7 yards out to cut the lead to 35-23. The Warriors failed to convert on a two-point try, but a conceded safety from Guelph early in the fourth quarter made the score 35-25.
The Warriors further ignited the black and gold faithful with another bomb from Kaban to Basalyga, this one a 36-yard shot to narrow Guelph's advantage to three points. Then, after forcing a 2-and-out, Crossett came on and drilled a 49-yard field goal – the longest of his career – to tie the score at 35-35 with under four minutes to play.
The Warriors got the ball back inside of two minutes, but were forced to punt from their own 9-yard line. To make matters worse, All-Canadian punter Crossett had limped off after his dramatic tying field goal, and was unavailable to kick. Rookie receiver Evan Basalyga (Thunder Bay/) came on and leaned into a solid 41-yard punt, but a 16-yard return set the Gryphons up at the Waterloo 34.
Guelph used the solid field position and rode Smith all the way, as the rookie running back scored on a 9-yard run to make it 41-35 with under a minute to play. Jack Andrews (Niagara Falls/) blocked the extra point on a heroic play, giving the Warriors hope – but after a long bomb from Kaban fell just out of the reach of Rushon Dagelman (Niagara Falls/), time ran out on the hosts.
The Warriors will now look to get back above the .500 mark when they welcome the 0-3 McMaster Marauders to Warrior Field in week four action. Kickoff is slated for 1pm on Saturday, September 17.
