Blues defeat Gryphons in football home opener

Andrew Gillis rushed for two touchdowns in leading the Varsity Blues football team to a 21-12 victory over the Guelph Gryphons in their 2011 home opener on Saturday, September 17 at Varsity Centre.

The win marks Toronto’s (2-1) first over the Guelph (1-2) since 1995.

Leading 14-12 with under a minute remaining, Gillis, the fifth-year veteran quarterback, avenged Toronto’s 2010 season-opening loss to the Gryphons, running 25 yards into the end zone to seal the deal and Toronto’s second victory of the season.

Gillis was 12-for-28 and 173 yards, while rushing seven times for 52 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore running back Aaron Milton led all players with 85 yards rushing and one touchdown.

Fourth-year linebacker Wilkerson DeSouza was named the Score’s player of the game.  The Mississauga, Ont., native recorded a season-high 11 tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in the win.

The Gryphons got out to an early lead when fourth-year veteran Michael Millar blocked Willie Sharpe’s punt in the first series of the game and recovered it in the end zone for the major.

On the last drive of the opening quarter, Gillis led the home team down the field before Milton finished it off with a seven-yard rushing touchdown on the first play of the second quarter.

Toronto built on that momentum in their next series with Gillis once again steering the ship.  The Toronto native connected with veteran receiver Michael Prempeh for a 49-yard gain and then ran it in himself for a one-yard rushing touchdown.

U of T’s defence got in on the action when fourth-year defensive back Dorian Munroe intercepted a Christopher Rossetti pass on Guelph’s ensuing drive.

The Blues held a 14-7 lead at halftime.

The Gryphons drove deep into Blues territory early in the third, after a fake field goal attempt turned into a Jedd Gardner 15-yard rush. However, U of T’s defensive corps held strong with DeSouza forcing a fumble and recovering it on his own one-yard line. Toronto would then concede a safety and maintain a 14-9 advantage heading into the final stanza.

Guelph would kick a field goal early in the fourth to close the gap to two (14-12) and quickly regained possession when Sebastian Howard picked off the U of T pivot.  Toronto’s defence stood tall as both teams exchanged possessions over the next 10 minutes of action.

With memories of their last-second loss to the Gryphons last season, the Blues dug in their heels. A 44-yard reception by third-year receiver Paul de Pass gave the Blues some breathing room and would ultimately set up Gillis’ final touchdown.

The Varsity Blues return to the field Sept. 24 when they travel to Ottawa to take on the No. 9 Gee-Gees.