My apologies for not having a post sooner rather than later after the conclusion of the Western-Guelph game I previously and, dare I say it, accurately, dubbed the 2010 Fraudulent Bowl.
But, I likened this game to covering a tragic three-vehicle collision. It usually takes the police hours, sometimes days, to figure out what exactly happened. And truth be told, more than 24 hours after the conclusion of this wreck of a game, I still have no real idea what to make of it, other than it was one of the most disappointing "top-10" and "nationally televised" games I've ever witnessed.
About the only thing this game sold the nation on behalf of the OUA was metaphoric snake oil while Queen's and Ottawa were the real deal playing out a barn-burner in the 613.
The offences were bad. The quarterbacks, if possible, worse. The play calling was bad — but I suppose that's what happens when you have slightly more than zero options on offence; what's to coach? Both are hamstrung by awful offences and were facing good defences, arguably the best in the OUA. The weather was bad. The officials were bad. About the only the things that weren't bad were the offences, and even those struggled at times.
What we definitely learned is neither Western nor Guelph is a Yates Cup contender. Not in their current form — Western, remember, gets running Nathan Riva back this week against Queen's? And Guelph, having to rely on a well disguised fake field goal, still is not a top-10 team. The Gryphons now have the same number special teams touchdowns as passing majors — one. But, vote the Gryphons in if you must. Both teams have enviable defences but one-dimensional offences that set the passing game back 30 years overshadow the other side of the ball.
Nick FitzGibbon continues to prove he's one of — if not the — best running backs in the OUA. And receiver Jedd Gardner made just three catches, and all were spectacular. But that's all the offence offered. Chris Rossetti has thrown just one touchdown pass this season, and it's reached the midway point. And even that pass should have been ruled incomplete.
Western desperately needs Riva to return, if only to give the Mustangs three options in the backfield. What Western needs more is Donnie Marshall to find a few inches and favourite target.
Guelph defensive lineman Grant MacDonald compared the two pivots in talking with Ryan Pyette of the London Free Press.
“But the difference is Chris is looking to pass first,” MacDonald said, “and Donnie’s looking to run. But I give Donnie credit — he’s a good quarterback in this league, but I’d still take our guy every time.”
Ok. Fine. But Western is clearly the better team even though it now merely clings to its rung in the hierarchy of the OUA's three-tiered pecking order, in which Western routinely finds itself among the league's top-three teams. But Guelph once again squandered its chance to break into the upper echelon and remains one of the best second tier teams in the league; junior varsity champions until they prove otherwise.
I think it's clear I've (slightly) underrated Guelph and everyone, me included, has overrated Western. And the rest of the OUA, except Ottawa, is average at best. Western barely beat Guelph, which needed a last-second field goal to barely beat Toronto. You do the math. Is Guelph to be feared? Hell, no. Respected? Hell, yes, thanks particularly to the team's outstanding defence.
However, it must be asked, even if only rhetorically: Riva practised in full all week, wanted to play, but didn't dress Saturday. And Western head coach Greg Marshall elected to try and convert a third-and-six. Did Western really fear that defence?
So, which team is really the fraud? Both. Because neither are truly contenders.
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