WATERLOO - Now the Guelph Gryphons need some help.
A 27-25 loss to the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks at University Stadium Friday has put the Gryphons playoff fate at least partially in the hands of others.
"Definitely we still have a chance, but we'll figure that out tomorrow," said Guelph coach Kevin MacNeill, whose team fell to 2-5 with the loss. Laurier is now 6-1.
The three teams they are fighting for the final playoff spot all play Saturday.
Guelph at the very minimum has to win its final game of the regular season at home against York on Oct. 22 and hope that Windsor loses at least one of its final two home games.
They also need Queen's to lose one of its remaining two games.
Even then it could potentially come down to math in what can be a complex tie-breaking formula should more than two teams have the same record, thanks to the league's unbalanced schedule.
There are currently four teams that could still finish the season at 3-5 and tied for the sixth and final playoff spot: York (2-4), Queen's (2-4), Windsor (2-4) and Guelph (2-5).
Bottom line is, Guelph has to win next week.
Friday's game was a rare morning encounter as Wilfrid Laurier used it to fill the stands with elementary school students.
It started off well for the home side, who built up a 17-6 lead in a first half they completely dominated offensively.
Guelph had just 107 total offensive yards in that half while Laurier used a couple of huge plays from scrimmage - one a 71-yard run by Levondre Gordon and the other a 94-yard touchdown catch-and-run by Brendan McCracken - to score touchdowns.
"Too many mistakes. We were shooting ourselves in the foot," said Gryphon running back Mac Jones.
"Coach just kept telling us we have to execute and focus. That's what we talked about at halftime," Jones said.
The talk appeared to work, as Guelph was a different team in the second half, playing much better on both sides of the ball.
Of their 467 yards of total offence, 360 of it came in the second half, including a two-yard touchdown run by Jones, a 9-yard touchdown catch by Kian Schaffer-Baker and a two-yard keeper for another major by Roberts.
Two of those touchdowns came in the game's final 2:14 and both times Guelph went for the two-point conversion, only to be denied each time.
"It took us a little while to wake up, but I'm really proud of how we came out in that second half, the adjustments we made and sticking to our game plan," MacNeill said.
"Just a different mentality I guess," Jones said of the second half. "We came out strong-willed and focused and just executed better."
Jones led Guelph on the ground with 92 yards rushing on 15 carries. A'dre Fraser was the top receiver with nine receptions for 127 yards and Lukas Korol led the defence with six tackles and six assisted tackles.
Roberts completed 23 of 37 passes for 296 yards but was picked off three times.
Guelph was also stung by 110 yards in penalties.
