With a playoff spot still on the line, the Varsity Blues football team put forth a valiant effort but fell just short in a 39-30 loss to the Ottawa Gee-Gees at Frank Clair Stadium on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 18).
Blues quarterback David Hamilton (2139) became only the second Toronto pivot to pass for 2,000 yards in a season, finishing the day 23-of-37 for 250 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception. The only other person to have accomplished this feat for the Blue and White is 1981 Hec Crighton-winner Dan Feraday (2656 in 1981; 2227 in 1980).
Hamilton also had 59 yards rushing with a third of those yards tallied on a 20-yard touchdown run for the Blues first score at the end of the first quarter, cutting the Gee-Gees lead to 10-7.
In their final game for the Blue and White, fifth-year receivers Mark Stinson (Calgary, Alta), Jeff LaForge (Ottawa, Ont.) and Cory Kennedy (Metcalfe, Ont.) put on a show and helped their fellow graduate Hamilton build a 23-10 lead through two quarters in an attempt to upset the heavily-favoured Gee-Gees.
Co-captain Stinson led the Blues receiving corps with eight catches for 98 yards, scoring the Blues second touchdown on a 20-yard reception to put the visitors up 14-10 five minutes into the second quarter.
Kennedy, the Blues all-time pass receiver, added to his total with six receptions (153) for 92 yards and one touchdown. The Ottawa-area native (Metcalfe) hauled in the Blues third major of the day and helped increase the Blues lead to 23-10 heading into halftime.
The third quarter was all Ottawa. The Gee-Gees score 14-unanswered points, stifling the Blues aerial attack to take a slight 24-23 lead at the end of three quarters.
With Ottawa up 32-23, LaForge capped off a never-say-die drive with a 10-yard reception for the major to pull Toronto to within two points. Battling a hamstring injury, LaForge caught five passes for 32 yards in his final collegiate performance.
However, the excitement was short lived as Ottawa quarterback Josh Sacobie (Fredricton, NB) and the Gee-Gees running game drove the home team back down the field for the final score of the game, officially ending the Blues season.
