ANTIGONISH – With the OUA regular season opener just over a week away, an exhibition date with the AUS champion is a useful measuring stick for the 2017 Guelph Gryphons football team. But the Gryphons took on two Atlantic giants Saturday afternoon in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Guelph traveled East to face the Mount Allison University Mounties and the host St. Francis Xavier X-men in a special three-team event at Oland Stadium billed as the Summer Showdown.

A hungry Guelph squad, fresh off an intense first week of training camp, was up for the challenge against StFX, AUS champions the past two seasons, and Mount Allison, conference winners in 2013 and 2014. The unique structure consisted of six, 15-minute quarters (or mini games, with each team logging the equivalent of four full quarters by day's end), and the Gryphons had dominant moments against the two elite Atlantic programs. Guelph outscored the X-Men and Mounties 62-13, winning three of its four mini games.

"It was a nice opportunity to play against two top teams like StFX and Mount Allison," said Gryphons' head coach Kevin MacNeill, pleased with how his players performed on the trip. "They've played against each other in the last four AUS championships. These are great programs that are well coached."

MacNeill saw many positives on both sides of the ball. He said one of the main goals was to get push and control the line of scrimmage. The Gryphons did that, particularly in the first three mini games, all wins. Fourth-year quarterback James Roberts showed a great grasp of the offence and third-year man Theo Landers impressed with both his arm and scrambling ability. Veteran Johnny Augustine and second-year running backs Patrick Pierre and Jamal Hooker were a force in the ground game, while Jordan Terrio flashed his skills with three touchdown receptions. Linebacker Luke Korol was all over the field and made the day's first huge play when he scooped up a Josh Millar fumble and ran it 36 yards to the house in the first mini game.

MacNeill liked the three-team format.

"It was interesting, definitely a first for me," he said. "Starting each quarter 0-0 really kept the kids engaged. It was good for a lot of the younger players to get their chance."

The Gryphons began the first mini game by kicking off to the host X-men and quickly forced a safety to go up 2-0. Korol's touchdown made it 9-0 before Roberts found Terrio for a 16-yard score in a mini game that ended 15-3.

The Gryphons received Mt. Allison's kickoff in the second and put the foot on the gas. Augustine and Hooker had touchdown runs of one and 21 yards respectively, while Terrio added his second touchdown reception, a 10-yard hookup with Landers. Gabriel Ferraro was good on three field goals, including two bombs from 51 and 57 yards out, both in the final 17 seconds of the quarter, to put Guelph up 30-0. The Gryphons would then sit out the third as the two AUS schools renewed their rivalry.

"We hit the ground running and dominated in that second game," said MacNeill. "It was good to see the guys competing."

The fourth mini game featured Guelph on offence beginning at their own 35-yard line against StFX. A Hooker run from eight yards out, another Terrio touchdown connection with Landers (also 10 yards) and a 35-yard field goal from Chris MacLean pushed the Gryphons to a 17-0 win over the X-Men. Guelph then defended first in the fifth, as Mt. Allison started the frame on its 35-yard line. The Mounties handed the Gryphons their only mini game loss of the day, the score finishing at 10-0.

"We wanted to focus on discipline today and not make mental mistakes," said MacNeill. "We did that very well in the first three quarters but slipped a bit in the fourth. We'll have to clean up a few things."

The OUA representative would take the final 15 minutes off as the X-men had their chance to start on offence against the Mounties. Mount Allison capped the event by beating the hosts 10-3.

The Gryphons fly home Sunday and will take Monday off before resuming practice. Guelph gets the OUA regular season schedule underway Sunday, Aug. 27 with the Ottawa Gee-Gees visiting U of G's Alumni Stadium. Kick off for the annual Community Day matchup is 1:00 pm.
 
Summer Showdown Mini Game Scores
1^st Mini Game – Guelph defeats StFX 15-3
2nd Mini Game – Guelph defeats Mount Allison 30-0
3rd Mini Game – Mount Allison defeats StFX 20-2
4th Mini Game – Guelph defeats StFX 17-0
5th Mini Game – Mount Allison defeats Guelph 10-0
6th Mini Game – Mount Allison defeats StFX 10-3