Article from the Hamilton Spectator

Larry Moko
The Hamilton Spectator

(Oct 4, 2008)

The Toronto Blues aren't a joke any more.

They showed they were serious about winning from the opening kickoff against the McMaster Marauders last night.

The Blues, who haven't been in the Ontario University Athletics football playoffs since 1995, tried an onside kick to open play at Ron Joyce Stadium. It didn't work, but it was another indication the long-time cellar-dwellers are playing to win - instead of not to lose.

Toronto moved the ball effectively through the air and didn't quit during their 27-19 penalty-filled loss to the Marauders, before a crowd of 3,492. That outcome evened Mac's record at 3-3 and dropped the Blues to 2-4.

Mac opened the scoring on a 32-yard field goal by Andy Waugh. Andrew Lomasney answered with a 22-yard three-pointer for the visitors, before Waugh put another 32-yard field-goal attempt through the uprights with eight minutes left in the second quarter.

A five-yard touchdown run by Joey Nemet and a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Fantham, to a leaping Kevin D'Hollander in the back of the end zone, gave Mac a 20-5 lead at the half.

The Blues, who on Sept. 1 against Waterloo snapped their Canadian-record 49-game losing streak, narrowed the margin on their first possession of the second half. Versatile Mark Stinson took a direct snap and ran in from six yards to a cap a four-play 107-yard scoring drive. On several occasions, such as Stinson's major, Toronto lined up in an unusual formation with five players side-by-side behind their offensive line.

Fullback Ugonna Ihekwoaba replied with a two-yard touchdown on Mac's next possession, jumping as he drove forward.

Stinson got Toronto's final major on a 13-yard pass from David Hamilton, who completed 28 of 45 passes for 341 yards.

Mike Bradwell, a 2007 first-round draft choice of the Toronto Argonauts, made his first start of the season for Mac, after a lingering hamstring injury. He made eight catches for 103 yards, including a 31-yarder.

"I was able to shake off the rust and come through in the second half," Bradwell said. "Toronto has a lot of confidence. Their offence looked good."

"They (Blues) are a scrappy bunch. They're getting better," said McMaster coach Stefan Ptaszek.

Coach Greg DeLaval's Blues were able to gain only 37 yards rushing, however. Mac's total along the ground was 273, with Nemet getting 106 yards on 14 carries. Fantham connected on 18 of 32 passes for 207 yards.

"We control our playoff chances," said Ptaszek.

"If we win our next two games we're absolutely in. We could finish as high as third or as low as fourth if we do that."

Two losses, however, and Mac could miss out on the sixth and final playoff spot.

McMaster's last loss to Toronto was in 1996 -10 games ago.

Mac's next game is Saturday at Waterloo's Knight-Newbrough Field against the Laurier Golden Hawks. It's a 1 p.m. start. The Marauders then conclude their eight-game regular schedule on Oct. 18 against the visiting Windsor Lancers.

Action continues in the OUA today with four games. The televised feature on The Score (12:30 p.m.) matches Laurier (3-2) against the seventh-ranked Gee-Gees in Ottawa. Gee-Gees, also 3-2, are coming off an upset loss last week to the Lancers. Guelph Gryphons (2-3) travel to Waterloo to take on the 1-4 Warriors; the first-place Queen's Gaels put their 5-0 record on the line at York against the 0-5 Lions; while the 3-2 Lancers play the 4-1 Western Mustangs in London. Those are all 1 p.m. kickoffs.