Mack Jones got an unexpected chance to shine at Alumni Stadium Sunday afternoon and the Guelph Gryphon running back took full advantage.
When Guelph's starting back Johnny Augustine went down with an ankle injury just five carries into the season opener against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, Jones was there to pick up the slack.
Seeing his first ever OUA game action, Jones led all rushers with 92 yards on just 11 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns as Guelph won its season opener 41-22 over the Varsity Blues.
"I didn't expect that," Jones said of his first live action. "I didn't have time (to get nervous). It was an opportunity and I took it."
Jones joined the Gryphs last year but spent half the season recovering from a nagging hamstring injury and the other half on the sidelines, not playing a single down in his rookie year.
"I had high expectations to play in my first year but I pulled a hamstring two days into training camp and I was out four weeks," the Port Colborne native said. "When I came back I hurt it again the next day.
"Now I want to contribute and be a Gryphon."
His brother Colton also played his first game as a Gryphon, catching four passes for 46 years.
Mack Jones was one of four running backs used by Gryphons coach Kevin MacNeill, who won his first game as head coach.
Third-year back Daniel Palmer-Salmon wasn't far behind Jones, rushing for 87 yards and a major on 11 carries and rookie Jamal Hooker had 60 yards.
Quarterback James Roberts had a tidy game, completing 22 of 30 passes for 262 yards with no interceptions.
All four Guelph touchdowns came on the ground. Gabe Ferraro added three field goals and the Gryphs recorded a safety.
"We're really confident in our entire backfield. We've got a great group of guys," MacNeill said.
"(Jones) has worked his butt off all summer. He actually trained with Johnny (Augustine) and he came back in better shape and faster than he was in his first year and it's a testament to his hard work."
Guelph led 36-1 at halftime before a whistle-filled second half ground the game to a standstill and Toronto added three touchdowns in the final quarter to make the game seem a little closer than it was.
"There's some things we want to clean up, but a win's still a win," said MacNeill. "That's what we'll take away from it.
"We'll look at film and make sure we look at the little things that allowed them to come back a little bit at the end."
The Gryphons played the game without fifth-year receiver A'Dre Fraser, who missed the game for eligibility reasons.
"It was an eligibility issue and he couldn't play. Hopefully we will solve that for the near future," MacNeill said.
Guelph is on the road next weekend against the Windsor Lancers. Next home game is Sept. 10 against Queen's.
