The University of Toronto Varsity Blues fell 35-15 to the visiting Ottawa Gee-Gees on Friday night (Sept. 25) at Varsity Centre.

Ottawa’s Cyril Adjeitey’s 162 receiving yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns would spoil the Blues minor football night celebrations. Adjeitey (Ghana) scored two touchdowns on 71- and 66-yard receptions, respectively, in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach for the hometown squad.

For the second time in as many weeks the Blues came out strong, stopping the Gee-Gees on every occasion in the first quarter. They then took an early lead when second-year kicker Andrew Lomasney (Toronto) knock in a 15-yard field goal to put home team up 3-0 with 4:51 remaining in the first quarter.

Ottawa replied with two Matt Falvo field goals to take the lead midway through the second quarter, and with two minutes remaining in the half, fourth-year Ottawa running back Matt Todd (Ottawa) scored the first touchdown of the game on a 1-yard carry into the end zone.

Toronto answered back in the dying seconds of the first half as quarterback Andrew Gillis (Markham, Ont.) connected with first-year slotback Paul de Pass (Ajax, Ont.) for his first touchdown pass of the season, a 30-yard strike, to get the Blues to within six (15-9) going into halftime.

Falvo (Welland, Ont.) would add his third and fourth field goals in the third quarter to help his team build a 21-9 lead heading into the final frame.

With the Gee-Gees up 35-9, Toronto scored its second touchdown of the game when Jansen Shrubb (Toronto) tossed a beautiful 83-yard touchdown pass to rookie Ben Sharpe (Renfrew, Ont.), who tippy-toed down the sideline for six with 2:20 remaining in the game.

Things got interesting when Toronto’s Andrii Feshanets (Mississauga, Ont.) recovered Lomansney’s on-side kick to put the Blues within striking distance. However, the drive would stall at Ottawa’s 27-yard line and the Blues would turn the ball over on downs with under a minute left in the contest.

The Blues (0-4) travel cross town for the 40th annual Red and Blue bowl against the York Lions (0-3), next Saturday, Oct. 3rd. Kick-off is scheduled for 1 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:

The OUA’s leading rusher Jordan Wilson-Ross (Alliston, Ont.) left today’s game with a left shoulder injury.

Blues Brandon Miller led the team with career-high eight tackles, including a huge hit coming in the first quarter, resulting in a 14-yard loss.