GUELPH, Ont. – Entering enemy territory on their opponent's homecoming day, the Warriors dropped a tough 44-25 battle to the Guelph Gryphons at Alumni Stadium.
A game in which their trademark quick start eluded them, Waterloo dropped back early. Both sides had ample time in the red zone with both Warriors quarterback Nick Orr (Caledon/Mayfield Secondary School) and Gryphons QB Tristan Aboud slinging first down after first down.
Down 17-0 in the second quarter, the visiting Warriors broke through.
Orr, from 10 yards out, threw a seamless ball towards Elijah Pappin (Niagara falls/) who was routing for the pylon. Pappin secured the ball with a leaping grab, and the Warriors had life.
Orr's vision and consistency – despite the scoreline – was impressive. He threw for 10 of the team's 17 total first downs – and 225 yards total – adding on three touchdowns.
The final two TD's came courtesy of two elite grabs from Evan Basalyga (Thunder Bay, ONT/Westgate CVI), the second score a leaping one-handed grab that would complete any highlight reel.
What the Warriors offence were able to display today was completing the long ball when given the opportunity, and that is a welcome sight for the remaining three weeks to come.
Two highlights in particular were passes from Orr that found Zagham Syed (Brantford, ONT/Assumption Collage) and Isaac White (St. Thomas/London South Collegiate Institute) for 45 and 53 yards respectively, two of the longest gains of the entire game.
Syed's catch in the first quarter particularly turned heads, as he only made his second start of the season today.
Guelph were able to take the game over on offense themselves to solidify the victory.
Aboud, their East-West Bowl winning QB, threw for 377 yards. On the ground, their star running back Kanye Nethersole rushed for 94 yards, finding holes in the Warriors defensive line. In the air, the 144 receiving yards for Williem Arseneau displayed a valiant display of synergy between QB and receiver, a dynamic that defined both team's ball games today.
Coming up for the Warriors on the gridiron is a date with their cross-town rival Laurier Golden Hawks on Saturday, October 3 for a Battle of Waterloo clash to remember.
Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM at Warrior Field. Tickets are available at gowarriorsgo.ca/tickets.
