BOX SCORE GUELPH, Ont. (October 13, 2012) - The No. 4 Queen's Gaels (5-2) jumped out to a big lead early but ultimately couldn't hang on as they fell to the No. 7 Guelph Gryphons (6-1) by a 33-28 score.

The Gaels scored on their first possession of the game, as Billy McPhee of Burlington, Ont., connected with Aaron Gazendam of Kingston, Ont., for a nine yard touchdown pass, four minutes into the first quarter. The Gryphons responded ten minutes later with a field goal from Julian Tropea of Niagara Falls, Ont. On the first play following the field goal, McPhee hit Giovanni Aprile downfield for a 75 yard catch and run play which resulted in a Gaels touchdown just before time expired in the first quarter.

The second quarter started well for the Gaels as Andrew Sauer of Ayr, Ont., recovered a fumble in the Gryphons endzone to increase the Queen's lead to 21-3 just 24 seconds into the frame. The teams were stalemated for much of the second quarter until Justin Chapdelaine of Abbotsford, B.C., ran a fake field goal into the endzone from 41 yards out to give the Gaels a 28-3 lead. Momentum shifted late in the second quarter, however, as Gaels punter Dillon Wamsley of London, Ont., had a kick blocked deep in Queen's territory. After a Gryphons recovery, Rob Farquharson of Niagara Falls, Ont., ran a ball into the endzone to cut the Gaels lead to 28-10. Gryphons quarterback Jazz Lindsey of Markham, Ont., added a rushing touchdown of his own just before halftime to bring the score to 28-17 at the break.

Guelph kicked the scoring off in the second half when Mackenzie Myers of Guelph, Ont., intercepted a pass and returned it the length of the field to cut the Gaels lead to 28-25. Lindsey hit Michael Fortino of Niagara Falls, Ont., on the following two point conversion play. The Gryphons eventually took the lead late in the third quarter when Farquharson ran his second touchdown in, again from four yards out. They capped the scoring in the fourth quarter with a rouge from punter Daniel Ferraro of Mississauga, Ont., which made the score 33-28.

Lindsey was the catalyst on offence for the Gryphons, passing for 180 yards on 18 completions, while also adding a rushing touchdown on three carries for 11 yards. He also added the two-point conversion in the third quarter. Farquharson provided the bulk of the production with an 87 yard, two touchdown performance.

Billy McPhee was 26 of 43 passing for the Gaels, with two touchdowns -- both in the first half. He struggled in the second, getting picked off four times by the Gryphons defence. Ryan Granberg of Sherwood Park, Alta., ran for 88 yards on 23 carries in the loss while also chipping in 42 receiving yards.

Defensively the Gaels were led by Cory Dyer of Gananoque, Ont., who had a team high five tackles and the lone sack of the game.

The Gryphons head to Toronto next weekend to take on the York Lions (2-5). The Gaels, meanwhile, wrap up their regular season against the Toronto Varsity Blues (2-5) in Kingston at Richardson Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:00 pm.