Fourth-year quarterback Clay Sequeira amassed a career-high 542 all-purpose yards as the University of Toronto Varsity Blues dropped a narrow 33-30 decision to the Waterloo Warriors in their 2019 season opener on Sunday night (Aug. 25) at Warriors Field.

FROM HEAD COACH GREG MARSHALL:
 
"Our players kept battling. We gave ourselves a chance at the end and we came up a little bit short but hopefully this is the start of doing something positive. Next week against Windsor is big game and hopefully we can clean up some of the things that gave us problems today and be just a little bit better to get a win."
 
"Clay was very good. He had some great throws. He did well. He managed the offence. I think he threw one pick. He took care of the ball pretty well so I thought that he did a nice job and he's only going to get better the more comfortable he gets in the system.
 
TORONTO STATS:
 
Sequeira went 29-for-50 for 471 passing yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing six times for 71 yards on the night.
 
He found six different targets as Nolan Lovegrove recorded eight receptions for a career-high 135 yards and one major, sophomore Michael Lehmann had nine catches for 99 yards and fourth-year veteran Nick Stadnyk hauled in three receptions for 91 yards and two majors. Third-year standout Will Corby also made four catches for 72 yards and one TD.

FB: TOUCHDOWN! Clay Sequeira connects a 39-yard pass with Nick Stadnyk for the Blues first TD of 2019!

Toronto trailing 23-10 with 7:48 to go in the third quarter. pic.twitter.com/B9pgyisTNj

— U of T Varsity Blues (@Varsity_Blues) August 26, 2019

FB: TORONTO TOUCHDOWN! @nolanlovegrove1 with the 36-yard touchdown reception! The Blues are trailing 26-16 with 6:47 to go! pic.twitter.com/vNyCEIqYIf

— U of T Varsity Blues (@Varsity_Blues) August 26, 2019

FB: Waterloo responds to take a 33-23 lead with 1:08 to go.

WATCH Nick Stadnyk's second TD of the game! pic.twitter.com/EXSOuWIZbM

— U of T Varsity Blues (@Varsity_Blues) August 26, 2019

 
Second-year defensive back Tolu Ahmed led the Blues with 7.5 tackles, while Jordan Gillespie had four tackles and one interception for a 40-yard return and Kalvin Zhou notched another interception for a 16-yard gain.

The interceptions are coming fast and furious in Waterloo, including a pair from the @Varsity_Blues against a QB who had only two all of last season!#WeAreONE | #TORvsWAT pic.twitter.com/soDoLGBI4J

— Ontario University Athletics (@OUAsport) August 26, 2019

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
Down 21-3 after the first quarter, the Blues conceded only a safety in the second quarter and trailed 23-3 at halftime. U of T came out of the break andcharge, as fifth-year veteran Nick Stadnyk scored his first-of-two 39-yard receiving touchdowns to close the gap to 11 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
After a Warriors field goal, Sequeira found Nolan Lovegrove, who scored on a 36-yard touchdown reception and, on the ensuing drive, a wide-open Stadnyk notched his second major of the game. Waterloo spoiled the comeback attempt, scoring on the next possession. Third-year standout Will Corby made a beautiful catch for a 34-yard major with 24 seconds to go, but the clock ran out before the Blues could complete the comeback.


 
UP NEXT: The Blues host the Windsor Lancers in their 2019 home opener next Sunday, September 1 under the lights at Varsity Stadium. Kick off is set for 7 p.m. Get your tickets online in advance and save!