Blues fall to redmen in classic big four match up

TORONTO – In their first meeting in 18 years, the Varsity Blues football team fell 40-17 to the McGill Redmen in CIS pre-season action today at Varsity Centre.

It’s been 41 years since Toronto lost to McGill. The Redmen defeated the Blues 17-0 on Nov. 8, 1969 to win the Yates Cup. Despite today’s loss, U of T still holds the upper hand with a 95-51-6 head-to-head record.

Both teams got off to a scrambled start as McGill’s Jonathan Collin of Greenfield Park, Que., and Toronto’s Andrew Gillis (Markham, Ont.) each threw for an interception on their first and second drives, respectively.

In McGill’s third series, fourth-year Blues defensive lineman Adam Fehler recovered a Collin fumble to start a seven-play, 58-yard drive down the field. Gillis capped that off when he found rookie receiver Alex Pierchalski (London, Ont.) for a 13-yard touchdown reception.

After four fumbles on their first four drives, McGill got back on track and drove 103 yards down the field with Charles-Antoine-Sinnotte making good on a 48-yard pass from Collin. The game was tied 7-7 heading into the second quarter.

The Redmen took control towards the end of the first half. After taking a one point lead on a rouge in the first three minutes, first-year McGill running back Sean Murphy of Ottawa rallied his troops with a 59-yard rush into the endzone. Redmen kicker Austin Anderson (Canmore, Alta.) would kick two field goals of 28 and 30 yards in the last 35 seconds to give McGill a 21-7 lead.

The Redmen started the second half right where they left off as Murphy scored his second TD of the game on a four-yard run just three minutes in. A 45-yard interception return by McGill’s Joffrey Gorin on the ensuing play would give the Redmen a 35-7 lead and widen the gap for good.

First-year tailback Aaron Milton of Whitby, Ont., would tally Toronto’s second touchdown of the game with a six-yard reception from Gillis.

Gillis was 10-for-22 and two majors, while Varsity Blues player of the game Jonathan Wright made three kick returns for 79 yards, three punt returns for 37 yards and two receptions for 29 yards. Linerbacker Wilkerson DeSouza led Toronto’s defence with five solo tackles.

Murphy rushed nine times for 89 yards and two touchdowns, while Collin threw 11-of-17 for 208 yards and one TD. First-year linebacker Alexandre Banard totalled a game-high six tackles.

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NOTES:
McGill’s offensive line coach, Matthieu Quiviger and Varsity Blues alumni Glenn McCausland performed the ceremonial coin toss before today’s game. Quiviger was a two-time all-Canadian offensive tackle with the Redmen and was a 1994 draft pick of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders. McCausland, a 1994 draft pick of the Ottawa Renegades, was the player of the game in the Blues 1993 Vanier Cup victory.

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