Box Score The University of Toronto Varsity Blues football team opened their 2011 regular season with a 38-5 loss to the Windsor Lancers on Labour Day at Alumni Field.

The loss marks Toronto’s eighth straight to Windsor, dating back to a 13-11 Blues victory on Oct. 13, 2001. A rocky first half would see all but three of Windsor’s points accounted for as the home team took a 35-5 lead into halftime.

Toronto saw glimpses of hope in the second half, highlighted by third-year defensive back Kevin Kinahan’s first of two career interceptions – one of which he returned for 69 yards. The Whitby, Ont., native added five solo tackles to his first game as a starter.

Veteran linebacker Scott Smith had a team-high six solo tackles, while sophomore lineman Zack Lukings had four tackles and one sack on the day.

Fifth-year quarterback and Toronto native Andrew Gillis went 14-for-24 and 183 yards with second-year running back Aaron Milton of Whitby, Ont., accounting for 43 of Toronto’s 58 rushing yards. Third-year receiver Paul de Pass (Ajax, Ont.) led all players with 61 receiving yards in the loss.

Toronto’s special teams unit struggled early as Windsor’s Shea Pierre (Mississauga, Ont.) returned the opening kick-off 104 yards for the first major of the afternoon. Third-year running back Mitch Dender then returned a punt for a 73-yard touchdown on the Lancers next change of possession to give the home team a 14-0 lead after 2:19 of action.

The Blues got on the board as Windsor conceded a safety at the 5:50 minute mark of the first quarter. Austin’s Kennedy’s 1-yard touchdown run was answered by a Toronto rouge as the Lancers built a 21-3 lead after the first 15 minutes of play.

Shomari Grant and Paul Lefaive scored on 3- and 43-yard runs, respectively, early in the second as Toronto dug themselves a big hole going into halftime down 35-5.

Neither team was able to muster much offensive in the final two quarters. The Lancers would add a rouge and single in the fourth quarter to make the final score 38-5.

Grant led all players with 112 rushing yards and one touchdown, while quarterback Sam Malian had 107 passing yards on 12 completions for the Lancers. Third-yard defensive back Jermaine Simpson led all players with seven tackles.

The Varsity Blues return to the field next Saturday, September 10 as they travel uptown to vie for their fourth consecutive Argo Cup in the 42nd annual Red & Blue Bowl versus the York Lions at York Stadium. Kick off is set for 1 p.m.

The Blues return to Varsity Centre for their home opener on Saturday, September 17 when they host the Guelph Gryphons, also at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast nationally live on University Rush on TheScore.

Tickets for the home opener can be purchased here or by calling 416-946-3811.

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