A crazy game ended in crazy fashion Saturday at Alumni Stadium.
The end result: a 47-44 overtime win for the Guelph Gryphons over the Waterloo Warriors that puts them in the playoffs.
Guelph CVI grad Tavius Robinson, a rookie defensive end on the Gryphons, made the big play that put them there.
With Waterloo driving for what would have been a game-winning touchdown in their second overtime possession, Robinson stripped the ball from scrambling Warriors quarterback Tre Ford and the fumble was recovered by the Gryphons.
Game over.
Thanks to the league's tie-breaking formula for the three teams with 5-3 records, Guelph finishes third in the OUA standings and will host Waterloo next week in a quarter-final match-up.
"I went up field on my pass rush and I saw him sneak back so I came around, saw that the ball was loose and just stretched my arm across and got it out," the first-year Gryphon said.
"That one play doesn't really mean anything," Robinson said. "It's a team thing. That one play doesn't mean nothing. It's playoffs now and we've got to get better for next weekend."
Both teams had scored touchdowns on their first possessions of overtime and Guelph kicker Gabe Ferraro booted a 42-yard field goal on the Gryphs' second possession of overtime.
Ferraro also kicked a field goal as time expired in regulation to force overtime. His four field goals in the game tied him for the most career field goals in regulation in Canadian university football with 91.
"We've had a lot of close ones and I just think through the perseverance and how much heart they've shown, we're starting to come out on the other side of these close ones and it's nice to see," said Gryphons coach Todd Galloway.
It was the third straight win for the Gryphons.
The game was a wild and thoroughly entertaining affair that saw the lead change hand seven times.
Waterloo, led by Ford's athleticism and arm, rolled up over 600 yards in offence, but fumbled five times and had a blocked punt returned by the Gryphs for a touchdown.
Ford threw for five majors. Guelph's Theo Landers threw a pair.
Guelph's Jean-Paul Ciminkanda ran for 157 yards and a touchdown.
