Comeback falls short as Varsity Blues clipped by Ravens 19-16 in Ottawa

In search of their first road with of the season, the Varsity Blues football team fell just shy of that goal in a 19-16 loss the Carleton Ravens on Saturday afternoon.

Toronto's record falls to 1-2, while the Ravens find themselves 3-1 after four weeks of OUA action.

In what seemed to be a defensive battle and tied 0-0 after the first quarter of play, was quickly broken when the Ravens kicker Michael Domagala nailed a 41-yard field goal two minutes into the second.

The Blues then got behind the eight ball, spotting the home team 13 more points before the end of the first half and went into the locker room trailing 16-0.

Toronto quarterback Simon Nassar (Toronto) would get his team back in the game following the halftime break.  He took the offence and marched 88 yards, on 13 plays, for the Blues first major of the game.  Veteran Boris Isakov, of Toronto, was on the receiving end of a five-year pass in the end zone to pull within nine.

On the kickoff, first-year kicker Anthony Iafrate (Toronto) would knock the ball nine yards deep into the Ravens end zone. Returner Tune Adeleke elected to take a knee, giving up the single.

Toronto's defence stood tall on the next Ravens drive, forcing a two-and-out and leaving Nassar with decent field position following the punt.
10 plays later, Marcus Hobbs bull rushed his way in from one-yard out to pull the Blues to within two. Toronto was unable to convert the two-point attempt so it remained a two-point ball game, 16-14.

On the ensuring Ravens drive, veteran safety John Connors would intercept a Jesse Mills pass to set up a short field situation for the Blues.  Toronto managed to get the ball in field goal range, however, Iafrate would push it wide left, only scoring the rouge. 

Carleton would get the insurance needed on their next possession when Domagala tucked in his fourth field goal of the game, extending the lead to 19-16.
Nassar was 20-40 on the day for 206 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Isakov led all receivers with 89 yards, on seven catches. 

Two rookie linebackers, Adrian Bernard and Matt Renaud, led the Blues much-improved defence with 7.5 tackles each.

The Blues are home to long-time rival Queen's Gaels next Saturday, September 26.  It is the Hall of Fame game at Varsity Stadium and the football program will be honouring the 1965 Yates and Vanier Cup winning team.  Kickoff is 1pm.

Source: Toronto Varsity Blues