The University of Toronto Varsity Blues football team will be vying for their fifth consecutive Argo Cup as they get set to challenge the York Lions this Saturday, September 23 in the 48^th annual Red & Blue Bowl at York's Alumni Field.
 
The rivalry game with the cross-town rivals dates back to 1970 with the Blues holding a 30-17 head-to-head record against the Lions, including last season's 45-18 victory, which marked the eighth win for the Blues in the last nine years.
 
Kick off: 1 p.m.
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Toronto currently sits in eighth place in the OUA with a 1-3 record following last weekend's loss to the visiting Guelph Gryphons. The winless Lions are close behind in ninth with an 0-3 record as they conclude their bye week.
 
For the Varsity Blues, defence has been key with the team ranking second in the province in total tackles and third in fumble recoveries. The fast and aggressive unit has been led by third-year defensive halfback Nick Hallett, who sits fifth in the OUA with 29 total tackles, while adding three tackles for loss, one sack, one fumble recovery, and two breakups.
 
Hallett's disruptive presence has been contagious at all levels of the defence with third-year linebacker Lamar Foyle registering 22.5 tackles and fourth-year defensive end Carter Gladman recording 17.5.
 
The defence will look to key on York's running back tandem of Jesse Amankwaa and Kayden Johnson, while also pressuring Lions quarterback Brett Hunchak. Last season, Johnson set a new Red & Blue Bowl record with 32 carries for 207 rushing yards. Despite the strong showing a season ago it has been Amankwaa in the lead role this season as he has accrued 195 yards on 36 rushes through three games so far.
 
As for Hunchak, the highly touted quarterback has had a rough start to 2017, having already matched his single-season interception total of seven in just three games played.
 
Offensively, the Blues continue to look to break out of their own shell utilizing the quarterback tandem of third-year pivot Connor Ennis and second-year athlete Clay Sequeira.
 
"We're going to use the both of them because they both bring something unique to the position and they have really supported each other," said U of T offensive coordinator Marky Surya. "Connor has been so reliable and may have just played his best game this past week and Clay brings a dynamic component to the position that we really want to take advantage of."
 
The duo will look to an array of receiving weapons that include second-year target Nick Stadnyk (14 rec – 178 yards) and first-year receivers Will Corby (8 rec – 142 yards) and Jaykwon Thompson (8 rec – 102 yards).

Following the Argo Cup showdown the Varsity Blues will look to take advantage of their bye week as they then welcome the McMaster Marauders to Varsity Stadium on Thursday, October 5. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Advanced tickets are on sale here.

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