September 13, 2014

BLUES SHUT OUT LIONS IN ARGO CUP WIN

Second-year running back Lukas Gavac rushed for 179 yards and four touchdowns in leading the University of Toronto Varsity Blues football team to a 70-0 win over the York Lions in the 45th annual Red & Blue Bowl at Varsity Centre.

York 0-3

Toronto 1-1

Final

York (0-3)

Toronto (1-1)

Second-year running back Lukas Gavac rushed for 179 yards and four touchdowns in leading the University of Toronto Varsity Blues football team to a 70-0 win over the York Lions in the 45th annual Red & Blue Bowl at Varsity Centre.

It marks Toronto's second consecutive Argo Cup victory, sixth in the last seven years and the fifth time the Blues have shut out the Lions in program history. The win also marks the largest margin of victory and most points scored in Red & Blue Bowl history, as well as the most points Toronto has scored since defeating McMaster 71-24 on Sept. 25, 1992. U of T is now 1-2 on the season, while the Lions drop to 0-3.

Gavac (Mississauga) rushed for 140 yards and three majors in the first half, while adding 39 yards and one TD in the third quarter. Two other running backs also shone on the day. Rookie Divante Smith (Mississauga) rushed 18 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns, while sophomore Ashton Rochester (Oakville) ran eight times for 100 yards and one major.

Fourth-year receiver Kevin Bradfield (Toronto) added seven receptions for 135 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing five times for 51 yards. Blues quarterback Simon Nassar (Toronto) was 18-of-21 for 219 yards and one TD.

The Blues opened the scoring on their second drive of the game as Gavac capped off a seven-play, 65-yard drive with a nine-yard rushing touchdown, his first major of the season and second of his career.

Gavac struck again on Toronto's next series, rushing three times, including the 34-yard run for the major. Bradfield added to Toronto's first-quarter lead with a short catch and long run for the 47-yard touchdown. Toronto led 21-0 after the first quarter.

U of T didn't waste any time, adding to their lead on their first possession of the second quarter. Nassar connected a 45-yard pass with Bradfield, which set up Gavac's third touchdown of the day, this time a 12-yard TD.

The Blues scored on their fifth consecutive series as Rochester ended a 10-play, 71-yard drive with a one-yard rushing major. Blues kicker Eric Hewitson added a 29-yard field goal and York conceded a safety as Toronto took a 40-0 lead into halftime.

Gavac kept on rolling in the third quarter, rushing for a 27-yard score, his fourth of the game, to give the Blues a 47-0 lead. Hewitson hit a 38-yard field goal and the Blues took a 50-0 lead into the fourth quarter.

York conceded three safeties in the fourth quarter and Smith scored both of his touchdowns on one- and 13-yard runs, respectively.

York defensive back Josh Small (Pickering, Ont.) led all players with 7.5 tackles, while Hussein Hazime added seven tackles and 1.5 sacks in the loss.