It has been 15 years since the University of Toronto Varsity Blues have won three games in back-to-back seasons.
But that is exactly what they are looking to do this Saturday when the 2-1 team travels to Ottawa for a 1 p.m. ET kick off with the Gee Gees.
Last year, victories against Wilfrid Laurier, York, and a big upset of Ottawa sent the Blues to a 3-5 season.
Now, having already defeating York and Guelph in the past two weeks, Varsity will be looking to down the Gee Gees for the second year in a row.
A 40-35 victory for the Blues last year was their first win over a nationally ranked opponent since 1997. Ottawa was ranked No. 2 in the country going into that Week 5 matchup.
Last week’s outstanding performance against Guelph should provide some momentum for the Blues as they head to the nation’s capital.
Blues quarterback Andrew Gillis made two great plays with under two minutes remaining to help seal a 21-12 victory in the Blues home opener against the Gryphons.
He was 12-for-28, passing for 173 yards and three interceptions. But the fifth-year pivot had two huge touchdowns and 52 yards on the ground that proved to be the difference in the game.
Running back Aaron Milton added a rushing touchdown in the Blues offensive explosion. The three touchdowns against Guelph were the first majors of the 2011 OUA season for the team.
On the other side of the ball, senior linebacker Wilkerson Desouza was awarded CIS defensive player of the week honours following his monster performance against Guelph.
Desouza made 11 tackles on the afternoon, along with stripping Gryphons full back Tim Berta on the Blues’ one-yard line early in the third quarter.
That was the closest the Varsity defence allowed the Gryphon offence to the end zone. Guelph’s lone touchdown came on a blocked punt.
Ottawa will be looking to bounce back after a demoralizing 41-13 loss to the second-ranked Western Mustangs.
The Gee Gees were hanging tough, knotted up at 6-6 in the third quarter. But a succession of turnovers ended up costing them, allowing Western to build an insurmountable lead.
They will look to hand the ball off to Brendan Gillanders, who has run for 366 yards in three games this season. The running back is ranked second in rushing yardage provincially, one spot ahead of Milton.
The game can be seen live from Frank Clair Stadium on the Streaming Sports Network Canada.