Windsor Lancers

The No. 5 Windsor Lancer football program won its first playoff game of the 2026 season Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium, defeating the Guelph Gryphons 28-24.
 
In the process, the blue and gold improved their overall record to 7-2 and extended their OUA-best winning streak to six games.
 
STATS
Weagbe Mombo was the best Lancer offensively today, contributing a game-high 101 rushing yards on 12 carries, highlighted by a 28-yard run in the third quarter. Kareame Cotton got better as the game went along, too, completing 13 of his 28 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns.
 
While visiting backup QB Marshall McCray threw for a game-high 287 yards and three touchdowns, 143 yards and two scores of which went to tight end Jarod Tessier on seven catches, Derek Anderson and Braxton Johnson each recorded a sack to help Windsor limit its opponents to under 25 points for the sixth time in their last six games. Harrison Daley (7), Noah Kugler (6), and Marco Piccioni (5.5) led the Lancers in tackles, too, diversifying their defensive pressure.
 
With today's result, the blue and gold have recorded an OUA playoff victory in three of the last four years and now own a 5-2 record against the Gryphons in their last seven matchups.
 
GAME FLOW
The Lancers opened the scoring early with 14- and 17-yard field goals from Odette School of Business freshman Alex Patrinos and a rouge point by punter Rico Abelson on the final play of the first quarter.
 
Entering the second quarter with a 7-0 lead, the blue and gold got their passing game going as Kareame Cotton scrambled left and found Colby Ginn wide open in the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown; however, with just over two minutes left in the half, Gryphons QB Marshall McCray found fourth-year tight end Jarod Tessier over the middle of the field for a 75-yard catch-and-run score, bringing Windsor's lead within seven as part of the longest play of the game.
 
In the third quarter, the Gryphons picked up where they left off as McCray found Ethan Garwe for a 17-yard touchdown following his 21-yard rush on third down and a missed field goal by the hosts. The visitors added a team safety on the blue and gold's next drive, ultimately taking a two-point lead into the fourth quarter.
 
While Kareame Cotton added his fifth rushing touchdown of the season at Guelph's one-yard line to put the blue and gold up 4:37 into the fourth quarter, capitalizing on a 15-yard defensive pass interference penalty, McCray found Jarod Tessier for his second score of the game on an 11-yard play and William Arseneau for a two-point conversion on the next drive, reclaiming a three-point lead with a 24-21 score.
 
But the Gryphons' continued offensive pressure didn't faze the Lancers, even on Halloween. With the help of defensive pass interference and roughing the passer penalties, Kareame Cotton led a game-winning, fourth-quarter drive that finished with Evan Martin's third touchdown of the year and first since August 29th at McMaster.
 
The blue and gold relied on their standout defence to complete the win as Braxton Johnson and Melyk George collaborated on a sack to set up Titus Lyles' batting down of the football for Guelph to turn the ball over on downs with under a minute to play. 
 
UP NEXT
With Ottawa's upset win at McMaster, Windsor will travel to Western to take on the Mustangs in an OUA semi-final matchup on Saturday, November 7th at 1:00pm.
 
Tickets for the game will be available here: https://westernmustangstickets.universitytickets.com/w/
 
A stream will be available on oua.tv.