The University of Toronto Varsity Blues football team heads into Week 6 with their eyes on the prize as they travel to York Stadium for the 46th annual Red & Blue Bowl game this Friday, October 2 at 7 p.m.

U of T enters the game filled with confidence after defeating the Lions 70-0 last season. Toronto has won the last two Argo Cups, as well as six in the last seven years.  

Despite a 37-18 loss to Queen's this past weekend, dropping Toronto to a 1-3 record on the season, the team remains optimistic and focused on a repeat performance over York.

"The Red & Blue Bowl is always an important game on our calendar," said Varsity Blues head coach Greg Gary. "Both our program and York's program are on the rise in the OUA so the intensity and rivalry just keeps growing each season."

The York Lions, who currently have a record of 1-4, will rely on having home field advantage for this season's Red & Blue Bowl clash.  York has been unable to topple the Varsity Blues since 2012 but with a strong defensive scheme and emerging playmakers on offence and special teams, the Lions are set to welcome U of T for what should be a great contest.

The Varsity Blues will look to the ground game with second-year running back Divante Smith evolving into a serious dual threat in the backfield. Smith currently averages 116 all-purpose yards per game with 358 rushing yards and 106 receiving yards in four games so far this season. With a blend of power and balance that allows him to work inside, to a mix of breakaway speed and soft-hands that give him an edge in the open field, Smith has turned into a player opponents now game plan for.

Success on the outside will be tough to come by for Smith though as York presents a tough matchup with a group of aggressive defensive backs ready to fly around the field. Led by sophomore Connor Pritty, the ball-hawking secondary sits third in the OUA in interceptions with eight, while also representing four of the Lions top eight tacklers.

Following the Red & Blue Bowl, the Varsity Blues return to Varsity Centre for their final home game of the season on Thursday, October 8 against the Western Mustangs. Meanwhile, the Lions will head to the nation's capital to take on the Carleton Ravens on Friday, October 9. Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m. kickoffs and both games will be streamed live on OUA.tv.

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