October 13, 2005
LANCERS HOST GUELPH ON UNIVERSITY RUSH
WINDSOR – A national audience will get their first look at Windsor’s star running back Daryl Stephenson, when the Lancers (3-3) host the Guelph Gryphons (2-4) on this week’s University Rush broadcast, presented by Pioneer Petroleums, on The Score Television Network. Air time is 2:00 pm.
Stephenson, a second-year player from London, ON, was the Norm Marshall Trophy winner as OUA Rookie of the Year in 2004 and the powerful back has continued to progress this season. The 6-2, 222-pounder leads Canadian Interuniversity Sport in rushing with 1,015 yards on 151 carries, scoring nine touchdowns. Stephenson has gained at least 245 yards in three of his six games this season, including an astounding 280-yard, five-touchdown performance in Windsor’s 63-22 win over the Toronto Varsity Blues last month. The humble Lancer gives full credit to his teammates for the gaudy numbers he has put up.
“It all starts with the offensive line,” says Stephenson, adding that the presence of 1st team All-Canadian receiver Arjei Franklin (Scarborough, ON) has been a major factor to the success on the ground, translating to three wins in the past four games. “When we do get a good mix of run and pass, we usually come out on top.”
The Windsor offence has been getting respect from the opposition, particularly Stephenson, who put on 20 pounds since his rookie season. He says the added weight, which hasn’t affected his speed, has changed his running style. Instead of hesitating and waiting for holes, Stephenson now just runs north and south.
“The coaches wanted me to try and attack people more this year,” he says.
Franklin has continued to be a reliable target for quarterback Jon Dent (Chatham, ON), catching 29 passes for 518 yards and five touchdowns. Defensive backs Logan Lenarduzzi (Windsor, ON) and Sasha Glavic (Pickering, ON) are keys in the secondary, topping the team in solo tackles with 19 and 15 respectively. Lenarduzzi also has a team-high four interceptions.
The Gryphons have found a groove the past couple weeks and they will be eager to see if their recent success continues in a game with major playoff implications for both teams. Guelph began 2005 with a veteran team and post-season aspirations but those hopes were quickly tempered following an 0-4 start. Guelph played two difficult games right out of the gate losing 48-31 to the offensive-minded Ottawa Gee-Gees and then 29-10 to the nationally-ranked Western Mustangs the following week. An overtime loss to the Waterloo Warriors (27-24) in week three and a close 22-15 loss to the York Lions left head coach Tom Arnott’s team starved for a victory.
Arnott admits that frustration was setting in with the players but he demanded a reversal in attitude and made some necessary changes on the field to kick start the team. The Gryphons responded and finally got one in the win column in their Homecoming game when they scored a season-high 58 points against the visiting Varsity Blues (58-30). Guelph then manufactured a massive upset last week when they slipped past the McMaster Marauders 22-20 (ranked ninth in the country at the time) on a late field goal by Graham Dorey.
“That was a victory we needed to keep us in the hunt for a playoff spot,” says Arnott.
Guelph has taken advantage of a balanced offensive attack with some big defensive plays -- notably a pair of late interceptions to preserve the win over McMaster – mixed in over the past couple of weeks. Freshman quarterback Justin Dunk (Guelph, ON) has added a spark to the offence, exhibiting a combination of athleticism and playmaking ability. Dunk started the first OUA game of his career against Toronto and completed 16 of 23 passes for 280 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He was also effective in the win over the Marauders, going 19-for-32 for 284 yards and a touchdown, while adding 55 more yards on the ground on seven rushes.
“Justin is one of the most athletic quarterbacks that I’ve ever coached,” says Arnott. “With him, we felt we had a greater arsenal of things that we could do.”
Dunk has been looking to Jeff Keegan (London, ON), who quietly leads the CIS with 680 receiving yards on 32 catches, with five touchdowns. Last season’s leading rusher Chris McIntyre (Guelph, ON) returned to the lineup after sitting out with a hamstring injury he picked up before training camp and ran for 169 yards on 26 rushes against the Marauder defence. Arnott has made some moves on the defensive side of the ball, as well, inserting second-year player Graeme Reed (Barrie, ON) in at linebacker and moving Adam Wigdor (Uxbridge, ON) from the offensive line to the nose tackle position.
“We made changes that we felt had to be made for the good of the program,” says Arnott. “And we made the game fun again.”
- O U A -
(Photo: Daryl Stephenson breaks loose with the ball. Photo by Craig Glover, University of Windsor.)
Enquires can be addressed to:
David DiCenzo
Communications and Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Phone: 905-540-5156
Fax: 905-540-5149
Email: david.dicenzo@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
Stephenson, a second-year player from London, ON, was the Norm Marshall Trophy winner as OUA Rookie of the Year in 2004 and the powerful back has continued to progress this season. The 6-2, 222-pounder leads Canadian Interuniversity Sport in rushing with 1,015 yards on 151 carries, scoring nine touchdowns. Stephenson has gained at least 245 yards in three of his six games this season, including an astounding 280-yard, five-touchdown performance in Windsor’s 63-22 win over the Toronto Varsity Blues last month. The humble Lancer gives full credit to his teammates for the gaudy numbers he has put up.
“It all starts with the offensive line,” says Stephenson, adding that the presence of 1st team All-Canadian receiver Arjei Franklin (Scarborough, ON) has been a major factor to the success on the ground, translating to three wins in the past four games. “When we do get a good mix of run and pass, we usually come out on top.”
The Windsor offence has been getting respect from the opposition, particularly Stephenson, who put on 20 pounds since his rookie season. He says the added weight, which hasn’t affected his speed, has changed his running style. Instead of hesitating and waiting for holes, Stephenson now just runs north and south.
“The coaches wanted me to try and attack people more this year,” he says.
Franklin has continued to be a reliable target for quarterback Jon Dent (Chatham, ON), catching 29 passes for 518 yards and five touchdowns. Defensive backs Logan Lenarduzzi (Windsor, ON) and Sasha Glavic (Pickering, ON) are keys in the secondary, topping the team in solo tackles with 19 and 15 respectively. Lenarduzzi also has a team-high four interceptions.
The Gryphons have found a groove the past couple weeks and they will be eager to see if their recent success continues in a game with major playoff implications for both teams. Guelph began 2005 with a veteran team and post-season aspirations but those hopes were quickly tempered following an 0-4 start. Guelph played two difficult games right out of the gate losing 48-31 to the offensive-minded Ottawa Gee-Gees and then 29-10 to the nationally-ranked Western Mustangs the following week. An overtime loss to the Waterloo Warriors (27-24) in week three and a close 22-15 loss to the York Lions left head coach Tom Arnott’s team starved for a victory.
Arnott admits that frustration was setting in with the players but he demanded a reversal in attitude and made some necessary changes on the field to kick start the team. The Gryphons responded and finally got one in the win column in their Homecoming game when they scored a season-high 58 points against the visiting Varsity Blues (58-30). Guelph then manufactured a massive upset last week when they slipped past the McMaster Marauders 22-20 (ranked ninth in the country at the time) on a late field goal by Graham Dorey.
“That was a victory we needed to keep us in the hunt for a playoff spot,” says Arnott.
Guelph has taken advantage of a balanced offensive attack with some big defensive plays -- notably a pair of late interceptions to preserve the win over McMaster – mixed in over the past couple of weeks. Freshman quarterback Justin Dunk (Guelph, ON) has added a spark to the offence, exhibiting a combination of athleticism and playmaking ability. Dunk started the first OUA game of his career against Toronto and completed 16 of 23 passes for 280 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He was also effective in the win over the Marauders, going 19-for-32 for 284 yards and a touchdown, while adding 55 more yards on the ground on seven rushes.
“Justin is one of the most athletic quarterbacks that I’ve ever coached,” says Arnott. “With him, we felt we had a greater arsenal of things that we could do.”
Dunk has been looking to Jeff Keegan (London, ON), who quietly leads the CIS with 680 receiving yards on 32 catches, with five touchdowns. Last season’s leading rusher Chris McIntyre (Guelph, ON) returned to the lineup after sitting out with a hamstring injury he picked up before training camp and ran for 169 yards on 26 rushes against the Marauder defence. Arnott has made some moves on the defensive side of the ball, as well, inserting second-year player Graeme Reed (Barrie, ON) in at linebacker and moving Adam Wigdor (Uxbridge, ON) from the offensive line to the nose tackle position.
“We made changes that we felt had to be made for the good of the program,” says Arnott. “And we made the game fun again.”
- O U A -
(Photo: Daryl Stephenson breaks loose with the ball. Photo by Craig Glover, University of Windsor.)
Enquires can be addressed to:
David DiCenzo
Communications and Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Phone: 905-540-5156
Fax: 905-540-5149
Email: david.dicenzo@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
