Gees homecoming game results in
victory against Varsity Blues
AFTER LAST WEEK’S disappointing tangle with the Western Mustangs, a game that resulted in the U of O football team finishing with a losing score of 41-13, the Garnet and Grey were back with a vengeance. Despite the clouds and the dismal 1,834 people in the stands, the Gees rebounded with a 41-0 blowout against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues on their Sept. 24 homecoming game at Frank Clair Stadium.
“I think it was important to come out here and limit our mistakes,” said Gees head coach Jean-Philippe Asselin after the game. “I thought we played well as a team. There are still things we can do a bit better, but in general it was a better performance than last week. We executed better and that makes a difference.”
The first quarter saw a slow start for the U of O, with the Varsity Blues’ speed competing with the Gees defensive line. An interception by second-year linebacker Nick Lecour brought the Gees out of their own end zone and to the offensive for the push. Fourth-year kicker Matt Falvo scored a field goal at the 40-yard line for the first points on the board.
With five minutes left in the first quarter, fourth-year quarterback Aaron Colbon threw 39 yards to third-year receiver Simon Le Marquand, pushing the plays deep into the Blues’ end zone. A one-yard run by third-year receiver Brendon Gillanders resulted in the Gees’ first touchdown. Another 43-yard field goal by Falvo brought the score to 13-0 by the end of the first quarter.
“We had a good game plan. We knew what they liked to do in the red zone and we were able to capitalize on that,” explained Colbon.
An interception by the Gees within the first 30 seconds of the second quarter resulted in a quick turnover. Colbon took advantage of their proximity to Toronto’s end zone with a six-yard strike to second-year running back Franck Ngandui for the touchdown. The Varsity Blues capitalized on the starting line return and ran a touchdown that was called back due to a penalty.
Another interception, this time by Gees third-year defensive back François Rodrigue, brought the Gees back to the Blues’ end zone for the remainder of the quarter. This led to a straight-run touchdown by Gillanders—the score coming to 27-0 by halftime.
“That’s the game plan every week,” said Asselin, remarking on the Gees’ high turnovers. “To protect the ball on offence, to create things on special teams, and turn the ball on defence. I think we executed that on all three sides of the ball and the scoreboard showed that.”
Colbon agreed that the defensive turnovers were what made this win a huge success.
“I think our defence had an amazing game. They did a great job getting us the ball and in great positions,” he said.
The second half started off with another touchdown on the turnover with Ngandui on the hand-off. By the last quarter, both teams were noticeably tired and the game fell to a defensive standstill near the 50-yard line. Rookie receiver Ian Stewart made the last touchdown of the game, diving into the end zone after catching a 32-yard pass from Colbon.
Although the Varsity Blues were the only team who beat the Garnet and Grey in the 2010 regular season, the Gees weren’t ready to give them another win—especially after their defeat to the Western Mustangs last week.
“It’s all about how you bounce back from adversity, and I think we were able to do that pretty well today,” said Colbon.
The Gees (3-1) will face the Golden Hawks (1-3) next weekend at Wilfrid Laurier University on Oct. 1 at 1 p.m.
—Katherine DeClerq
