Box Score Trailing 31-16 with 3:34 remaining, the Varsity Blues football team rallied to bring the game within two points, but fell just short in a 31-29 loss to the Guelph Gryphons on Saturday, September 22 at Alumni Stadium.
 
The loss moves Toronto to 1-3, while the Gryphons improve to 3-1 after Week 4 of OUA football action.
 
Sophomore quarterback Simon Nassar came into the game to replace an injured Richard Quittenton and proved he has what it takes to play with the best. Down by 15 with under three minutes to go, the Toronto native connected a 25-yard strike with Thunder Bay, Ont., native Todd Inkila to bring the game within reach.
 
U of T’s defence shut down Guelph’s ensuing drive, giving Toronto the ball back with 1:48 to go. It looked grim for the Blues but a 15-yard Gryphons pass interference penalty gave Toronto new life.
 
Nassar completed the 12-play, 57-yard drive with a 27-yard pass to third-year receiver Paul de Pass (Ajax, Ont.), who scored his second major of the day. Unfortunately for the Blues, the Gryphons came up with a huge stop on the two-point convert attempt and secured the victory in front of a boisterous homecoming crowd.
 
Nassar went 8-for-13 and 106 yards and two majors, while Quittenton (Ajax, Ont.) was 6-of-13 for 54 yards and one TD, and also rushed 10 times for 54 yards before leaving the game.
 
Rookie running back Ashton Nelson (Brampton, Ont.) came up with a game-high 106 rushing yards on 17 carries. De Pass led the Blues with five catches for 67 yards and two majors, while Inkila ended the game with three receptions for 36 yards and one touchdown.
 
Second-year linebacker Dylan Gordon (Cambridge, Ont.) had a breakout game with a team-high 7.5 tackles, while defensive lineman Everton Williams (Toronto) recording seven in the loss.
 
Both teams combined for 351 yards in penalties on the day - Toronto whistled for 18 penalties (153 yards), while the Gryphons were flaged 11 times for 198 yards.
 
The Varsity Blues return to action next Saturday, September 29 when they travel to Waterloo, Ont., to take on the Warriors. The Blues return home Thanksgiving Saturday, October 6, when they host the Ottawa Gee-Gees at Varsity Centre. Game time on both days is set for 1 p.m.

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