With playoff implications still on the line, the Varsity Blues are off to battle the No. 6 Queen’s Gaels in Week 8 of OUA football action this Saturday, October 20 at Richardson Stadium.
 
Anything can happen as Toronto, York and Ottawa all hold 2-4 records, while Laurier and Windsor sit at 3-4 heading into the final week.
 
While there are many playoff scenarios, it all comes down to the Blues needing a win over the Gaels this Saturday to have a hope of securing a playoff spot.
 
Toronto, who leads the head-to-head series over Queen’s with an 88-83-4 record, will look to avenge a 13-6 loss to the Gaels last season at Varsity Centre.
 
The Blues last playoff appearance came in 1995, when Toronto fell 32-8 to Laurier in the first round.
 
“We have definitely had our chances to win,” said Varsity Blues head coach Greg Gary. “It all comes down to this last game. Our guys know what they have to do to be successful, now we just have to put all the pieces together and play a solid game of football.”
 
Veteran receiver Paul de Pass leads the Blues with 471 receiving yards and is coming off a career-high 167-yard performance versus York last week. Rookie running back Ashton Nelson (Brampton, Ont.) currently ranks sixth in the OUA with 612 rushing yards.
 
Sophomores Simon Nassar and Richard Quittenton continue to split quarterbacking duties. Nassar currently ranks third among OUA quarterbacks in completion percentage (60.5%).
 
Second-year linebacker Dylan Gordon leads the team with 38 tackles, while rookie DB John Connors has 30 tackles on the year.  Veteran defensive lineman Abbey Olusoga has 26 tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble and is also coming off a career-high eight-tackle performance last week.
 
Third-year Gaels veteran Billy McPhee ranks fourth among OUA quarterbacks, averaging 259 yards a game, while fourth-year running back Ryan Granberg is second in the province with 124 rushing yards per game.
 
Sam Sabourin leads the team with 41.5 tackles, while both Cory Dyer and Stephen Laporte have 30 tackles each in seven games. 

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