The University of Toronto Varsity Blues (0-3) held the University of Guelph (2-1) within their grasps for the first three quarters of Friday night’s football game (Sept. 18) but would eventually fall to Gryphons 53-25 at Varsity Centre.

Nick Fitzgibbon’s 150 yards rushing and four second-half touchdowns would ultimately be the demise of the Blues.

Zachary Hord (Barry, Ont.) recovered a George Gretes’ (Toronto) fumble in the end zone for the Blues first touchdown of the 2009 season. This, following a Rob Maver (Brampton, Ont.) 24-yard field goal and a Gryphons safety, left Toronto with a 7-5 lead after the first 15 min.

Maver’s second field goal of the game came with 2:36 remaining in the half to give Guelph a slim 9-7 lead.

The second half would prove to be a much different story and both teams went on an offensive surge.

Fitzgibbon capped off Guelph’s opening drive of the third quarter with a 32-yard run down the left sideline. Toronto responded with a solid seven play, 83-yard drive of their own that finished when Gretes took a direct snap and scored on a 1-yard carry.

“We have to play four quarters that’s something that we have to work on and that the coach mentioned in the locker room just now,” said Blues player of the game Andrew Gillis. “We have to stay in the game for 60 minutes and we can’t take any time off.”

Dave Honig (Sarnia) rounded out the Gryphons scoring in the third quarter with a 21-yard reception with 1:38 left to put Guelph up 25-14.

With three more runs of 12, three and four yards respectively, Fitzgibbon, the fourth-year running back from Puslinch, Ont., would put the game out of reach despite the Blues valiant effort to keep up with high-scoring pace.

Blues kicker Andrew Lomasney (Toronto) nailed a 32-yard field goal and back-up quarterback Jansen Shrubb (Toronto) hit Jonathan Wright (Belleville, Ont.) with a beautiful 64-yard pass for Toronto’s third touchdown of the night.

The Blues are back at home next Friday night, Sept. 25, as they host the Ottawa Gee-Gees. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite Toronto teams, please visit the home of the Varsity Blues at http://www.varsityblues.ca

Notes:

Gryphons quarterback Justin Dunk (Guelph, Ont.) went 23-of-33 for 351 yards and two touchdowns. The 351 yards amassed tonight moves Dunk into seventh place on the CIS career leaders board (regular season) with 8758.

Blues quarterback Andrew Gillis (Markham, Ont.) was 13-of-26 for 155 yards passing and also ran 11 times for 93 yards.

Drew Meerveld (Guelph, Ont.) had 11 receptions for 141 yards in the loss.

Toronto’s Willie Sharpe (Renfrew, Ont.) led all players with nine tackles.