Just like last year the Queen’s Gaels and Guelph Gryphons will likely face off not just this Saturday afternoon to close the season, but again in two weeks’ time in the OUA semi-finals. The winner of this contest is granted home field for the return contest and a much-needed first-round bye. The Gryphons swept both meetings last year—both times coming from behind. Is it possible that former Gael Stu Lang could lead his rebuilt Guelph program to four straight victories over his alma mater?
Watch the Gaels and the Guelph Gryphons face off at Queen’s homecoming on Sportsnet 360 on Saturday at 1 P.M. Eastern – Broadcast Schedule
For Queen’s, revenge is the focus as they’ve had nearly a calendar year to answer questions on how they blew a 22-point fourth-quarter lead in the two teams’ last meeting. For Guelph the focus is securing an undefeated regular season for the first time in school history. If Western beats York at home and also stays undefeated, a Guelph win would mark the first two teams in a single CIS conference that would finish the season with a spotless record. Oh yeah, and if all that’s not enough, this is Queen’s second homecoming.
THE OFFENCES
I’m skeptical as to how much these offences are going to show because of the overwhelming chance these teams will meet again 14 days later. Having said that, the respective defences in this game have operated at a higher efficiency than the offences, so late in the game the playbooks may begin to open up.
The chief concern for both coaching staffs will be pass protection. Despite having two of the better offensive lines on paper, each team is giving up 2.43 sacks per game. Considering Queen’s and Guelph rank first and second in sacks defensively, max protection and blitz pickup will be points of emphasis leading up to Saturday’s game. The last thing you want is to have your quarterback taking unnecessary hits and risking injury heading into the playoffs.
THE DEFENCES
Coming into the 2013 season the Queen’s Gaels were assumed to be far and away the best defence in the conference, as all their impact players were back from their dominant 2013 campaign. The Guelph Gryphons were expected to have growing pains as they lost a handful of seniors. But, for much of the season, the opposite has been true.
Guelph’s defence leads the league in every major defensive category and is the chief reason they’re undefeated. Queen’s defence has had rough patches, but has also been banged up. Opting to rest multiple starters versus Waterloo last week ahead of this week’s contest, the Gaels will need to be rested and ready to face a Gryphons’ offence that had more success against them in 2013 than any other team. Guelph’s young secondary will face its toughest test as Queen’s boasts the most athletic group of receivers they have faced thus far.
THE KEY MATCHUP
QB Billy McPhee vs. DB Taylor Palmer
Taylor Palmer is the leader of the Guelph secondary, which has been the best in the OUA against the pass through seven games. Not only has he been valuable during pre-snap by getting guys lined up, he’s also used his acumen to bait opposing quarterbacks into interceptions, as he’s tied for the conference lead with four.
Meanwhile, Billy McPhee’s Achilles’ heel historically has been the ill-timed pick. McPhee has made huge strides in that area this year with just three interceptions versus 14 touchdown passes. The Burlington, Ont., native will need to be every bit as good as his 159.2 QB efficiency rating to keep Palmer at bay.