Nassar, Blues soar over Ravens under the lights

Third-year quarterback Simon Nassar finished the game going 26-of-39 for 343 yards and four touchdowns, leading the University of Toronto Varsity Blues football team to a convincing 50-10 victory over the Carleton Ravensunder the Friday night lights of Varsity Centre (Sept. 27).

BOXSCORE

With the win, the Blues improve to 2-4 and move into a four-way tie for fifth place, while the Ravens drop to 0-5 on the season.

Veteran receiver Paul de Pass closed in on U of T’s all-time career receiving yards record with five receptions for 103 yards. The Ajax, Ont., native is 283 yards shy of Mark Magee’s 2,385 record (1977-81) with two games remaining in the regular season.

Fourth-year receiver Alex Pierzchalski (London) also had a big game, hauling in eight catches for an identical 103 yards to go along with three majors, while Aaron Milton (Whitby) led all players on the ground with 17 carries for a career-high  171 yards and one TD.

“It was really important for the offence to play well,” said Varsity Blues head coach Greg Gary. “We did what we were supposed to do. Our offence has a lot of confidence now. It’s the first time that our entire team came together.”

The Blues wasted no time getting on the board as Nassar connected on a 47-yard strike with de Pass to set up a two-yard rushing touchdown by Milton.

Blues kicker Eric Hewitson added a 41-yard field goal midway through the first frame and Carleton conceded a safety to give Toronto a 12-0 lead after 15 minutes of action.

Marcus Hobbs opened the second quarter with a fake punt, connecting a 13-yard pass with Trevor Harvey for a Toronto first down. The Blues successfully converted with a Pierzchalski 16-yard touchdown reception.

Pierzchalski added his second major of the night, capping off a six-play, 74-yard drive with a 28-yard TD catch. Carleton got on the board late in the first half with a 17-yard Andrew Banerjee field goal and Toronto carried a 26-3 lead into halftime.

Kevin Bradfield opened the second half with a 42-yard punt return, which set up a 10-yard Pierzchalski’s third and final major of the game.

The Ravens struck next as Jesse Mills converted on 3^rd & 8, finding Nathaniel Behar in the end zone for an eight-yard touchdown reception.

The Blues answered back, with Milton leading the charge down the field, picking up 57 yards on three carries to set up a one-yard rushing major by Hobbs.  Toronto led 40-10 heading into the final frame.

Veteran linebackers Dylan Gordon (Cambridge, Ont.) and Chris Johnson each totalled a team-high five tackles in the win.

The Varsity Blues head into a bye week and return to action on Thursday, October 10 when they travel north of the city to take on the Lions at York Stadium. Kick off is at 7 p.m.

Photo credit:  Lindsay Nemeth

Source:  Toronto Varsity Blues Sports Information

Nobody said it was going to be easy for the Carleton Ravens in this, their first year of CIS football in 15 years.

It was no easy task for the Ravens in Toronto on Friday night in their OUA matchup against the Varsity Blues.

Carleton may have had this date and team circled as an opponent they could match up well against.

Toronto came into the contest with a record of 1-4 while Carleton entered the match 0-4 so there was reason for optimism.

Unfortunately for Carleton it was all Toronto in this game as the Varsity Blues defeated the Ravens 50-10.

“We (Carleton) came out flat on Friday night and didn’t compete, it’s that plain and simple,” said Ravens head coach, Steve Sumarah.

“It’s disappointing because we had a good week of practice. But I will give credit to Toronto, they played well and we didn’t.”

Carleton (0-5) trailed 26-3 at halftime then surrendered another 24 points to Toronto (2-4) in the third and fourth quarters.

The Ravens scoring came on a 17 yard field goal by Andrew Banerjee (Regina, SK) and an 8 yard TD pass reception by Nate Behar (London, ON).

Carleton will prepare all week for the Ottawa Gee-Gees and the 2013 Panda Game which will be played on Saturday, October 5 at 1:00PM at Ottawa’s Lees Avenue athletic facility.

Source:  Mike Beasley, Carleton Ravens Sports Information