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KINGSTON, Ont. (September 7, 2009) – Back-up kicker Mike Petranovic of Toronto hit a 37-yard field goal as time expired to give the No. 8 Queen's Gaels a 52-49 victory over the Guelph Gryphons in the team's home opener.

Jimmy Allin of Belleville, Ont., also starred having the game of his career returning 2 punts and 1 kickoff for touchdowns while amassing 439 total return yards. His 259 punt return yards is the second highest single-game total in CIS history.

In a game of wild momentum swings, Queen's built an 18-point lead at halftime, before the Gryphons came back to tie it with less than a minute to play setting up Petranovic's dramatic kick.

The game started inauspiciously for the Gaels as Queen's QB Danny Brannagan of Burlington, Ont., was picked off on the Gaels opening drive, leading to a 7-yard touchdown run by Guelph QB Justin Dunk of Guelph, Ont. After a rouge and a field goal from Gryphons kicker Rob Maver of Brampton, Ont. made the score 11 – 0, Queen's seemed to find their stride as Brannagan connected with Devan Sheahan of Kingsotn, Ont., on a 56-yard touchdown to cut into the Gryphons lead.

For the remainder of the quarter it was the Jimmy Allin show. Following a Gryphons two-and-out after the Sheahan touchdown, Allin returned Maver's punt 66 yards for his first score of the game. After Brannagan hooked up with Blaise Morrison of Bedford, N.S. to give the Gaels a 21 – 11 lead, Allin went to work again, this time returning a punt 78 yards to give the Gaels a 29 – 11 lead at half time.

Despite the deficit, the Gryphons refused to back down. Under two minutes into the second half, Dunk connected with Nick Fitzgibbon of Puslinch, Ont., for a 36-yard touchdown to bring Guelph within 11. Dunk would strike again with four minutes remaining in the quarter on his second TD run of the day to give the Gryphons hope. However, on the ensuing kickoff, Allin struck for the third time in the game, returning the kick 105 yards to bring the crowd to its feet.

With the momentum seemingly back on the Gaels side, the Gryphons once again turned to Dunk who hooked up with Jamie Shaw of Mississauga, Ont., and David Harrison of Waterdown, Ont., on 57 and four yard touchdown passes respectively early in the fourth quarter to once again cut the Gaels lead to seven. Finally, with just 42 seconds remaining, Dunk connected on his third touchdown pass of the quarter to tie the score at 49.

With the game on the line, Queen's turned to team captain Brannagan to lead the Gaels downfield. After key receptions to Scott Valberg and Chris Ioannides got Queen's to the Guelph 30 yard line, Petranovic stepped up and nailed the game-winning field goal with no time remaining to give Queen's a thrilling 52-49 win.

Petranovic, who found out just 24 hours before game time that he would be filling in for the injured Dan Village (ankle), handled the pressure exceptionally well, according to head coach Pat Sheahan.

“For him to put on the performance he did today, against one of the top kickers in the CIS (Rod Maver), is outstanding,” said Sheahan. “He had no doubt in his mind on the sideline prior to the kick that he would make it.”

As for the performance of Jimmy Allin, Sheahan contributed it was a combination of Allin's preparation in training camp as well as Rod Maver's style of punting.

“When you have a punter who drills the ball each and every time, it allows the returner to be prepared each and every time a kick is coming, as opposed to a kicker who is unpredictable.”

Lost in the storyline was Brannagan's career best passing game where he amassed 495 yards converting three touchdowns. His 495 yards is the eighth highest in OUA history and 19th in CIS history.

For Guelph, Dunk was 23 for 44 with 433 yards and four touchdowns. The leading receivers for each team were Gardner and Sheahan who both had 154 receiving yards. Two other Gaels had over 100 yards receiving with Valberg and Morrison each eclipsing the mark.

On the record watch front, Brannagan moved to within 1,826 yards of the CIS All-Time Passing Yards list. Meaning, Allin's 259 punt return yards means he just needs 93 yards to become Queen's All-Time Punt Return leader.

Queen's moves to 1-0 and will face the McMaster Marauders next Saturday in Kingston with kickoff at 1:00pm.  Tickets are available by calling 613.533.2500.  Guelph falls to 0-1 to start the season and will play York in Guelph, Ont.

Notes: The two teams combined for the fifth most points in OUA history and the most since 1988…Mike Schad, former Queen's lineman who was drafted in the first round of the 1986 NFL draft, was in attendance…Devan Sheahan recorded the Gaels first touchdown of the 2009 season after recording the Gaels last touchdown of the 2008 season, a 51 yard touchdown reception against the Ottawa Gee Gees in the 2008 OUA Semifinal… Jimmy Allin's two punt returns for touchdowns in the 2nd Quarter were the first two of his CIS career…Allin sets the Queen's All-Time punt return yards for a game with 259…Blaise Morrison set single-game career highs with 129 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns…Announced attendance at the game was 7,422.