Box Score The University of Toronto Varsity Blues football team wrapped up their 2017 campaign with a 59-38 loss to the Queen's Gaels on Saturday, October 21 at Varsity Stadium.
 
The Blues finish the season with a 1-7 record, while the Gaels improve to 4-4 and secure the final playoff spot thanks to a Guelph win over Carleton.  
 
TORONTO STATS
 
In his final game as a Varsity Blue, fifth-year punter TJ Morton broke the OUA record for most punting yardage in a single season, breaking Guelph Gryphons Norman Nasser's 2000 record of 3,621 yards. Morton punted nine times for 417 yards on the day to end 2017 with 87 punts for 3,921 yards. He also rushed twice for 40 yards and recorded one tackle.
 
Second-year quarterback Clay Sequeira went 14-for-26 for a season-high 282 yards and two touchdowns, while also leading the team with 73 rushing yards and two majors on six carries.
 
Fifth-year running back Kaleb Leach rushed 14 times for 67 yards, while sophomore receiver Nick Stadnyk had four receptions for 75 yards and two majors. Third-year receiver Wacey Schell also had three catches for 92 yards.
 
Defensively, fifth-year linebacker Brittley Mokube led all players with nine tackles, while fourth-year veteran Paul Kozachuk had eight tackles in the loss.
 
GAME FLOW
 
Sequeira opened the scoring on Toronto's first drive of the game, capping off an eight-play, 72-yard drive with a 30-yard rushing major.
 
The Blues took a 14-0 lead on their next drive as Sequeira connected a 22-yard pass with Stadnyk. The Gaels responded though as Nate Hobbs found receiver Chris Osei-Kusi for a 73-yard touchdown reception.
 
Queen's evened the score as Hobbs ended a seven-play, 72-yard drive with a 21-yard pass to fourth-year receiver Connor Weir. The game was tied 14-14 at the end of the first quarter.
 
The Gaels extended their lead for good with back-to-back touchdowns early in the second quarter. Hobbs found Matteo Del Brocco in the end zone for a two-yard touchdown reception, and then connected with Jake Puskas for a 13-yard major.
 
After Morton's second punt fake for a first down, the Blues attempted a trick play, but sophomore quarterback-turned-receiver Christian Krcilek was intercepted by Queen's linebacker Nelkas Kwemo for the 61-yard pick six.
 
Nick Liberatore added a 28-yard field goal as the Gaels took a 38-14 lead into halftime.
 
The two teams exchanged touchdowns midway through the third quarter. First, Hobbs found Osei-Kusi for his second major of the day, but the Blues answered back as, on the ensuing drive, Sequeira ran for his second TD of the game, this time from 15 yards out. Queen's was up 45-28 at the end of the third quarter.
 
Hobbs extended Queen's lead early in the fourth off a one-yard rushing major, but Toronto responded as Sequeira found Stadnyk in the endzone for a 36-yard touchdown, his second of the day. Ryan Grandell added a field goal for the Blues from 31 yards and the Gaels rounded out the scoring with a Puskas 15-yard rushing TD.
 
QUEEN'S STATS
 
Hobbs went 32-for-40 for 433 yards and five touchdowns on the day. Puskas finished with 22 carries for 118 yards and one major, while Osei-Kusi made 12 receptions for 173 and two touchdowns. Del Brocco had six catchs for 95 yards and one touchdown in the win.
 
Wesley Mann led the Gaels defence with six tackles.
 
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