Gaels beat Guelph, earn playoff bye

Queen’s finishes second in OUA after Homecoming win

Queen's scored 30 unanswered points on Saturday
Image by: Sam Koebrich
Queen's scored 30 unanswered points on Saturday

Queen’s took care of business in their second Homecoming game, closing out the regular season with a statement win.

The Gaels beat the Guelph Gryphons 37-23 this afternoon at Richardson Stadium, locking down second place in the OUA and earning a first-round playoff bye.

Aside from a three-minute scoring burst early in the second quarter, the previously unbeaten Gryphons (7-1) mustered just nine total points, allowing Queen’s (7-1) to score 30 unanswered from the second quarter onwards.

Guelph, who handed the Gaels a pair of shocking comeback defeats in 2012, will be forced to play a quarterfinal game against the Windsor Lancers (4-4) next Saturday.

If they win that, they’ll return to Richardson on Nov. 2, with the Gaels set to host an OUA semi-final matchup.

Today, Queen’s trailed 16-7 four minutes into the second quarter, but reclaimed the lead before halftime and cruised to victory on the strength of 20 second-half points.

Gaels quarterback Billy McPhee completed 24 of 35 passes for 294 yards and three touchdowns, while Queen’s running backs combined for 164 rushing yards and one score.

Queen’s defence forced five turnovers and held versatile Gryphons quarterback Jazz Lindsey to just four rushing yards. Defensive back Andrew Lue earned Player of the Game honours after intercepting Lindsey twice.

Receiver Scott Macdonell led Queen’s with seven catches and 96 yards, hauling in a seven-yard touchdown pass from McPhee to take a 7-0 lead four minutes into the game.

A pair of special teams miscues threatened to bury the Gaels early in the second quarter. Lindsey scored on a six-yard run two plays after Queen’s fumbled a fake punt attempt, then hit receiver Carl Trivieri on an eight-yard touchdown pass after Guelph recovered their own kickoff.

The Gaels defence held from there, however, while Queen’s scored 10 points in the final minute of the first half to take a 17-16 lead.

Kicker Dillon Wamsley connected on three field goals, bookending a 24-yard touchdown run from Daniel Heslop to further extend the Gaels’ lead.

Three plays after Lue’s second interception of the game, McPhee linked up with receiver Peter Hannon for an eight-yard passing score, capping off Queen’s extended offensive barrage.

Lindsey led the Gryphons on an 87-yard drive in the dying minutes, padding his numbers with a five-yard touchdown pass to receiver A’dre Fraser.

Aaron Gazendam – the hero of Queen’s first Homecoming victory over the Laurier Golden Hawks two weeks ago – recovered the ensuing kickoff, wiping out any hope of another late-game Gryphons comeback.

Tags

Football, Gaels, Guelph, Lue, McPhee, richardson

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