University of Toronto Athletics

The University of Toronto Varsity Blues football team fell 34-1 to the McGill Redbirds in pre-season action on Saturday, August 22 at Varsity Stadium.

FROM COACH DA (Darrell Adams): "When you have so many new guys, you want to have a chance for them to go out and compete and see what's necessary on game day. But even before that, it's the preparation: the mental, the physical, the emotional preparation of this game. It was a great opportunity for us to be able to build off of heading into next week."

"Keith Agba was somebody who comes to mind right away [as standing out today], just bringing the physicality. It was the same thing we saw all week in practice. He'd be somebody I would put my money on to have a great career at U of T."

"I'm looking forward to evaluating all these guys and making some tough decisions next week on who's going to be in the 55 that dress at home against Queen's."

TORONTO STATS: Third-year quarterback Kaleb O'Donoghue went 4-for-7 for 44 yards, while also leading the team with five rushes for 53 yards through less than two quarters of action.

Defensively, first-year linebacker Jackson Moores led the Blues with three solo and two assistant tackles, while also recording a half sack. First-year players Keith Agba, Jackson Pham, Blake Moores and Lincoln Holbrook each chipped in with three tackles apiece.

HOW IT HAPPENED: One safety and two rouges later, McGill's Mario Dellifraine made good on a 34-yard field goal attempt to give the visiting team a 6-1 lead late in the second quarter. The Redbirds found the endzone on the second last play of the first half when Arnaud Dugas connected a six-yard pass with second-year receiver Samuel Macieira and the Redbirds took a 13-1 lead into halftime.

Toronto conceded a safety early in the third quarter and the Redbirds extended their lead when Dugas found Felix Joly for an 11-yard touchdown reception. McGill took a 22-1 lead into the fourth quarter.

Dellifraine added a 15-yard field goal at the start of the fourth quarter. U of T conceded a safety and McGill's Hugo Chevalier added a late TD off a fumbled punt return to round out the 34-1 score.   

UP NEXT: The Blues open their 2026 regular season next Sunday, August 30 when they host the defending Yates Cup champion Queen's Gaels at Varsity Stadium at 7 p.m. Tickets for the game are on sale here.