Facing off in the 55th annual Red & Blue Bowl, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues football team dropped a narrow 33-32 overtime decision to the York Lions on Saturday, September 6 at York Lions Stadium.

Fourth-year Blues quarterback Scott Barnett had another impressive outing registering three passing touchdowns and 468 passing yards, along with 43 rushing yards.

His favourite targets were once again Chris Joseph and Jake Oseen. Joseph, a third-year receiver from Richmond, B.C., made a Red & Blue Bowl record 19 receptions for 181 yards and two touchdowns, while Oseen, a fifth-year receiver from North Vancouver, made 13 catches for a game-high 201 yards and one touchdown.

Fourth-year running back Jack Nyrose added to the 699 total offensive yards for the Blues with a career-high 125 rushing yard on 14 carries.

Defensively, fourth-year defensive back Lachlan Scardina and fourth-year linebacker Brandon Thibodeau each registered a team-high four solo tackles, with the latter also adding a pass breakup.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Trailing 10-0 early in the second quarter, Toronto's offence came to life. Barnett connected on 11-yard touchdown passes on back-to-back drives – first to Joseph to get the Blues on the board, then to Oseen to take a 14-10 lead with 4:30 remaining in the first half. Sam Henke added a 28-yard field goal and U of T took a 17-10 advantage into halftime.

Despite an action-packed third quarter, neither team could find the end zone. York and Toronto traded field goals, and the Blues conceded a safety as U of T held a 20-15 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

Toronto extended their lead with a 30-yard field goal, Henke's third of the game, to take a 23-15 lead with 8:52 remaining. The Lions evened the score with 3:37 remaining courtesy a Zack Smith touchdown reception, followed by a successful two-point conversion. York then took a 26-23 lead with a 21-yard field goal with just 43 seconds left on the clock, but the Blues responded as Henke nailed a 33-yard field goal to force overtime on the last play of regulation.

OVERTIME: After driving down to the three-yard line on the opening drive of overtime, York's quarterback Keegan Hall scrambled in to take a 33-26 lead. Knowing they had to match the Lions effort, the Blues responded as Barnett connected with Joseph for a three-yard touchdown reception. However, U of T would take a gamble going for a two-point conversion and the win, but would fall just short with an incompletion.

UP NEXT: The Blue return home next Saturday, September 13 when they host the Queen's Gaels at Varsity Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tickets are free for U of T students and can be purchased by the general public at varsityblues.ca/tickets. All OUA football games are also streamed online via oua.tv.