Malone shines as Varsity Blues win third straight Argo Cup

TORONTO, Ont. - Second-year running back Alex Malone rushed 31 times for a U of T single-game record 315 yards and one touchdown in leading the University of Toronto Varsity Blues football team to a 40-3 victory over the York Lions in the 46th annual Red & Blue Bowl Friday night at York Stadium.

It marks the third straight year the Blues have claimed the Argo Cup, and seventh in the last eight years. Toronto now holds a 28-17 head-to-head record over York since their first meeting in 1970.

A Toronto native, Malone rushed for 222 yards in the first half alone and punched in his lone major of the game early in the fourth quarter.

Blues quarterback Simon Nassar was 13-of-27 for 108 yards and two touchdowns, while veteran receiver Rahul Madan made five catches for 37 yards and two majors on the night.
Rookie linebacker Matt Renaud led Toronto's defence with seven tackles in the win.

First-year kicker Anthony Iafrate got the Blues on the board with a 15-yard field goal 3:47 into the game. Blues quarterback Marcus Hobbs then put the Blues up by 10 when he capped off an 11-play, 53-yard drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown. The Blues were up 10-0 after the first quarter.

Iafrate nailed a 36-yard field goal 11 seconds into the second frame. With just over two minutes remaining in the quarter, Nassar connected a 13-yard pass with Rahul Madan for the major. An Iafrate rouge on the ensuing kickoff would give the Blues a 21-0 advantage at halftime.

York broke the shut out 6:16 into the third quarter with a Nick Naylor 27-yard field goal, but Iafrate responded with his third field goal of the game, this time from 30 yards.

Madan scored his second TD of the game late in the third quarter, as Toronto ended the 13-play, 78-yard drive with a four-yard receiving touchdown.

The Lions conceded a safety and Malone rounded out the scoring with his rushing major early in the fourth quarter.

The Varsity Blues are back at it next Thursday, October 8 when they host the Western Mustangs at Varsity Centre. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

Source: Toronto Varsity Blues