Gaels confident in their back-up quarterback ahead of homecoming game

Head coach Steve Snyder says Ashton St. Germain took some snaps in practice as injured starter Alex Vreeken remains day-to-day.

The Gaels football team are pretty comfortable in putting their back-up quarterback in for this weekend's homecoming game.

Second-year quarterback Ashton St. Germain subbed in for veteran starter Alex Vreeken last Saturday against the visiting Windsor Lancers. 

St. Germain had 260 yards passing with a touchdown in the Gaels' 25-22 loss, their first taste of defeat this season. One of those pass completions was a 62-yard catch and run to Logan Walton late in the second quarter that led to a touchdown.

But St. Germain was also intercepted three times in the game, one of the picks occurred when the Gaels were down at Windsor's 14 yard line.

Head coach Steve Synder says St. Germain played well enough to win the game.

Snyder also touched on Vreeken's status for Saturday's game at home against the Guelph Gryphons. Vreeken is day-to-day after suffering an undisclosed injury during a game on October 3 against Western.

But Snyder is confident of putting St. Germain back in there if he is called upon.

One of the Gaels players who is used to seeing St. Germain at quarterback is third-year centre Riley Sherman. Sherman and St. Germain were teammates in high school at St. Joseph's in Nepean.

Sherman says St. Germain has the abililties to be a capable quarterback in the OUA.

With the thoughts of an undefeated season now in the rearview mirror, the five-and-one Gaels will look to finish the regular season strong starting with Saturday's game against the four-and-two Gryphons.

Guelph is coming off a slow start to the season and have reeled off four straight wins which Snyder says makes them a dangerous opponent for the Gaels.

Game time at Richardson Stadium is 1 pm.

Story by Ken Hashizume