Blues clip Lions with late field goal

Andrew Lomasney bounced a 36-yard field goal in off an upright with 58 seconds left to give the University of Toronto Varsity Blues a 10-8 victory over the host York Lions in OUA football on Saturday.

The field goal was set up by an impressive Blues (1-1) drive that started at their own 26-yard line with just over two minutes remaining. Quarterback Andrew Gillis went six-for-nine on the crucial drive, throwing for 54 yards.

The final nine-yard completion to receiver Alex Pierzchalski gave the Blues a third-and-one on the York 30-yard line, where Lomasney kicked the winner.

York was unable to move the ball into scoring range with the short amount of time remaining, and fell to 0-2.

Gillis finished the day 19-for-39 and 268 yards passing with one interception. He found Pierzchalski nine times for 127 yards. Receiver Michael Prempeh made an impact, making five spectacular catches for 84 yards.

Sophomore running back Aaron Milton also had a nice game, rushing 19 times for 114 yards.

Low scoring from the start

Both teams had trouble scoring through the first three quarters, as the Blues held a 7-2 advantage off the strength of two Lomasney field goals and a single.

York starting pivot Nick Contu was benched before the second half, going just four-for-nine and 21 yards.

Two costly fourth-quarter turnovers by the Blues gave the Lions some late life.

Up 7-2 early in the fourth, Gillis rolled out to his left and tossed up a deep side-line pass. York defensive back Jordan Nugent picked the ball off and energized his squad.

On York’s very next play, second-string pivot Dimitar Sevdin threw a 48-yard strike to receiver Nathaniel Griffith, putting them on the 39-yard line of Toronto.

After failing to convert on second down, York was forced to punt. Kicker Dror David placed the punt in the coffin corner, going out of bounds at the Blues one-yard line.

The kick paid dividends as Toronto was forced to punt back to the Lions, giving York great position around midfield.

Sevdin completed two passes of 18 and nine yards, and fifth-year running back Blair Yachetti added a six-yard run to set David up for a 41-yard field goal, which he made after missing two earlier kicks from a shorter distance.

The three points cut the Blues lead to 7-5.

Fumble gives York a chance

On Toronto’s very next play, Gillis swung a pass out to receiver Rolli Adenmosun, who was hit behind the line of scrimmage by freshman Zack Davis.

The defensive end knocked the ball loose, and recovered the fumble to give York excellent field position at the Blues 23-yard line.

Yachetti carried the ball three times for 14 yards to get the Lions inside the 10-yard line, but a failed second down pass by Sevdin forced David to kick the 17-yard field goal for the temporary 8-7 advantage.

Sevdin went nine-for-22, passing for 131 yards. Yachetti had 23 carries for 83 yards.

Both kickers had a busy day punting the ball. They combined for 22 punts.

The Blues improve their record to 26-16 in the annual matchup between Toronto’s two university football squads.

About this article

By: Greg Houde
Posted: Sep 10 2011 9:51 pm
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Filed under: Amateur Football Sports
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