U of T’s Varsity Blues lost to the rival York University’s Lions by a score of 36–24, dropping their fifth game of the season. The game also marks York’s first victory over Toronto since 2007.
The 43rd annual Red and Blue Bowl was held last Saturday afternoon in front of 1,821 fans at St. George’s Varsity Centre, where the teams played for the Argo Cup. The Lions claimed the Cup through their evident ground superiority—they outgained Toronto with 261 to 78 yards rushing.
The damp, chilly game appeared to be in York’s hand when they were pushing a 30–9 lead at halftime, but the Blues closed the gap in the second half. Fifth-year kicker Andrew Lomasney scored the only first-half points for the Blues, hitting two field goals of a respective 23 and 32 yards.
The Blues once again employed the dual quarterback system, having second-year quarterback Richard Quittenton split his duties with the backup quarterback, third-year Simon Nassar.
Quittenton scored the team’s first touchdown at the end of the third quarter on a one-yard quarterback sneak. First-year running back Ashton Nelson scored on a nine-yard touchdown sprint, bringing the score as close as 30–24, before York’s fifth-year running back Kyle Exume powered in his third and final major of the day with an 18-yard rush. Exume also led all rushers, with 142 yards on 24 carries and three scores, and 15 yards on three catches. York’s quarterback, Myles Gibbon, also gave a solid contribution on the ground. He had 135 yards on 15 rushes, threw the ball for 215 yards passing on 12 of 28 attempts, and scored a touchdown and three interceptions.
UTM’s fourth-year defensive lineman Abi Olusoga stood out with seven solo tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble. Third-year lineman Justin Marra provided two solos, and fifth-year running back Stephan Boroniec finished with a solo and an assisted tackle.
The Blues are now at 2–5. They will head to Kingston to play against the Golden Gaels of Queens, who are currently ranked fourth at 5–1, in their final regular season game this Saturday at 1 p.m.