October 18, 2014

Varsity Blues break school records in season finale win

The University of Toronto Varsity Blues football team ended their 2014 campaign on a high note, defeating the Waterloo Warriors 61-13 on Saturday, October 18 at Varsity Centre.

Waterloo 0-7

Toronto 2-6

Final

Waterloo (0-7)

Toronto (2-6)

The University of Toronto Varsity Blues football team ended their 2014 campaign on a high note, defeating the Waterloo Warriors 61-13 on Saturday, October 18 at Varsity Centre.

The game saw Toronto break four U of T single season team records. This year's team topped the single-season record for highest net offence (3,165 – 1981), ending 2014 with 3,772 yards. U of T also broke team single-season passing records for most attempts (330), completions (205) and highest completion percentage (62.1%), all topping marks set in 1981.

Fourth-year quarterback Simon Nassar went 12-for-21 for 222 yards and one major, while third-year QB Marcus Hobbs rushed three times for 38 yards and two touchdowns.

Second-year running back Lukas Gavac rushed 12 times for 134 yards and two TDs, with rookie Divante Smith adding a season-high 116 rushing yards on five carries. Fifth-year fullback Dylan Howes added 13 carries for 61 yards and one touchdown, the first of his career.

Fourth-year receiver Boris Isakov made three catches for 73 yards and two majors, while sophomore Llevi Noel notched four receptions for 80 yards. Joseph Willard led Toronto's defence with 8.5 tackles and one sack in the win.

Toronto kicker Eric Hewitson opened the scoring with a 32-yard field goal on the Blues first drive. The Warriors charged back down the field, capping off a 10-play, 75-yard drive with a trick play. Quarterback Jamie Cook hit Blair McKay with a lateral and he found Adam Felinczak in the end zone for the 12-yard TD reception.

The Blues answered the call and, despite some penalty trouble, brought the ball back down the field to set up a 25-yard rushing touchdown from Gavac. Waterloo's Caleb Girard kicked a 22-yard field goal as the two teams remained deadlocked at 10-10 heading into the second quarter.

A nice catch from Bradfield set up a Gavac two-yard rushing major five minutes into the second quarter.

On the next U of T drive, Nassar hit Noel, who streaked down the field for a 69-yard gain, which broke U of T's team record for highest net offence in a single season. That set up a two-yard rushing major from Hobbs.

After Hewitson hit his second field goal of the day, another 32-yard strike, Gavac came up with two rushes of 32 and 37 yards to set up another short TD from Hobbs. Hewitson kicked a 22-yard field goal and Toronto led 37-10 at halftime.

Isakov had two touchdown receptions in the third quarter. Nassar connected a 36-yard pass with Isakov three minutes into the frame and Blues back-up quarterback Chris Jugovic hit him with a 25-yard pass with 6:25 remaining in the quarter. The Blues were up 54-10 heading into the fourth.

Toronto added another major early in the fourth quarter as fifth-year fullback Dylan Howes punched it in for a one-yard TD.

The Blues end their 2014 season with a 2-6 record and await their final spot in the standings following a bye week next Saturday.