Jansen Shrubb to Jonathan Wright was a lethal combination on Saturday afternoon (Oct.3), connecting on three different touchdown scores to help lead the University of Toronto Varsity Blues to their first win of the season, 45-27, over the host York Lions in the 40th annual Red and Blue bowl.
In his first start of the season, Shrubb (Toronto) hit 20-of-31 for 322 yards, completing passes of 12, 32 and 80 yards to Wright (Belleville, Ont.). The fifth-year pivot also ran four times for 11 yards and a touchdown.
Wright, a second-year physical education and health major, had a career-high 10 catches, 187 yards, to lead all players, as well as a the longest reception of his career (80 yards).
In similar fashion to their last two contests, the Varsity Blues jumped out of the gates in a hurry, scoring three TDs on their first three possessions of the first quarter. Shrubb drove his squad 46 yards on the first drive, culminating with Wright’s first touchdown reception.
Toronto successfully completed an on-side kick to give themselves great starting position and again, Shrubb led his troops four-play, 42-yard drive, finishing with a 32-yard pass and catch to Wright.
The Blues defence would make another stand, giving the offence another shot at the end zone from York’s side of half. This ended with Shrubb keeping the ball on a one-yard quarterback sneak to put Toronto up 21-0. Kicker Andrew Lomasney (Toronto) added a field goal at the end of the first 15 minutes of play to give Toronto a 24-0 lead.
Midway through the second quarter, Blues kick-returner Matt Morris (Scarborough, Ont.) received a punt and ran it back 67 yards for the fourth Toronto touchdown of the half. York managed to put a dent in the Blues armour and get on the board late in the second quarter as the Blues took a 31-7 lead into halftime.
Both teams exchanged majors in the third quarter. The Lions Jason Marshall (Innisfil, Ont.) returned a punt 70 yards, before first-year quarterback Jordan Scheltgen (Surrey, B.C.) scored his first touchdown of his university career on a one-yard run to give his team a 38-14.
York’s QB Nick Coutu (St. Catharines, Ont.) and wide receiver Johnny Peyton (Dade City, Fla.) hooked up just minutes into the fourth to give the Lions of a glimpse of hope, however 27 seconds later, Shrubb and Wright put the nail in the coffin with a beautiful 80-yard major to put the game out of reach.
York added one more Coutu-Peyton touchdown but it wouldn’t be enough on this afternoon as the Blues win their second consecutive Argo Cup by a score of 45-27.
The Blues are on the road this week as they travel to McMaster University to take on the Marauders, Thursday, Oct. 8. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
NOTES:
Derek Batchelor (Mississauga, Ont.) led all players with 7.5 tackles.
Brandon Miller (Mississauga, Ont.) had 2.5 tackles for Toronto and an interception late in the second quarter and returned it 19 yards.
The Blues held the Lions to 38 yards receiving in the first half of the game.
Toronto had 431 yards of total offence, including 385 in the air.
For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite Toronto teams, please visit the home of the Varsity Blues at http://www.varsityblues.ca.
