Photo credit Lindsay Nemeth
| Toronto | 56 | York | 35 | Final | Box Score |
Source: Jill Clark, Toronto Sports Info
TORONTO - The University of Toronto Varsity Blues football team
scored 32 points in the second quarter en route to a 56-35 victory
over the York Lions in the 44th annual Red & Blue Bowl on
Thursday night (Oct. 10) at York Stadium.
With the win, the Blues improve to 3-4 heading into their
final game of the regular season next Saturday versus the Waterloo
Warriors at Varsity Centre. York drops to 2-5 and take on the No. 1
Western Mustangs in London next week.
"We have the opportunity to do something that hasn't been at the
university for a while," said Varsity Blues head coach Greg Gary.
"Everybody is on board. We all want to finish strong and see where
we end up."
Third-year quarterback Simon Nassar (Toronto) had another
solid game, going 24-for-38 for 360 yards and four touchdowns.
Fifth-year veteran receiver Paul de Pass continues to close
in on U of T's all-time career receiving yards record. The Ajax,
Ont., native made 11 catches for 155 yards and two majors, and sits
just 128 yards shy of Mark Magee's 2,385 record (1977-81) heading
into the final game of the regular season.
Fellow veteran receiver Alex Pierzchalski also moved up in the U of
T record books. The London, Ont., native has 14 receptions in the
last two games, moving him into third in most career receptions
with 141, behind Cory Kennedy (153) and Magee (145).
Rookie receiver Llevi Noel also had a big night, making five
catches for 123 yards and one touchdown.
Second-year defensive lineman Aaron Jervis (Oakville) led
Toronto with seven tackles and one sack, while Christopher Johnson
also had seven tackles and an 88-yard interception touchdown in the
win.
The Blues got off to a rough start and trailed the Lions 14-2 early
in the 2nd quarter; however, third-year defensive back Trevor
Harvey came up with a 60-yard punt return to set up a de Pass
28-yard touchdown reception and the Blues kept rolling from
there.
Jervis blocked York's Nick Naylor punt and recovered it to set up a
Hewitson 15-yard field goal, and rookie Anthony Naccarato faked a
punt for a 28-yard gain and a Toronto first down on the ensuing
drive to set up a one-yard Marcus Hobbs rushing major.
On the ensuing kick off, Eric Hewitson's on-side kick was pulled
out of the air by Albert Awachie and de Pass came up with his
second touchdown reception, this time from 29 yards out.
York charged down the field late in the first half and faked a
field goal on the last play of the half, only to be intercepted by
Johnson for the 88 yard major. The Blues led 34-14 at halftime.
Nassar and de Pass marched down the field to start the second
half and fourth-year receiver Alex Pierzchalski (London, Ont.)
capped off the nine-play, 92 yard drive with a two-yard touchdown
reception.
York answered back with a major later in the quarter but
Nassar found Noel for a 72-yard major and the U of T held a 49-21
heading into the fourth quarter.