In what may have been U of T football’s best chance at a win all season, the Blues lost their home-opener 28-25 against Waterloo Saturday at Birchmount Stadium.
Before the game began, both teams were 0-2, each desperately seeking a win. The Blues struck first, just 1:37 into the game. They opened with a four-play 86-yard drive culminating with Mark Stinson’s six-yard scamper into the end zone from the slotback position.
After two misses by kicker Joseph Valtellini in the first quarter, he connected on a 20-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the first half to put the Blues up 10-0.
The second half was all Warriors, as they opened with an eight-play, 85-yard drive and notching their first on the board with an 11-yard touchdown run by Travis Gellatly. Near the end of the third quarter, Waterloo quarterback Jon Morbey found wide receiver Sean Cowie for a 30-yard score. After the Blues offence sputtered and turned over the ball to the Warriors, Morbey showed off his speed with a 75-yard run in the opening minutes of the final quarter.
Trailing 21-10 in the fourth, the Blues responded with a 68-yard drive that found paydirt on Stinson’s seven-yard run for six. U of T quarterback David Hamilton found receiver Tony Mammoliti for the two-point conversion, but the Warriors quickly countered. Morbey found Cowie again for a 16-yard touchdown pass, running the score to 28-18.
With 1:26 remaining, the Blues attempted the comeback, as Hamilton and Stinson connected for a 14-yard score. After Valtellini’s extra-point, the Blues lined up for the onside kick, but the ball would not bounce U of T’s way. Time expired on the Blues, and Waterloo came out with the victory.
Stinson, who accounted for all the Blues touchdowns, received U of T’s game honours with his nine catches for 94 yards and 10 carries for 57 more. Hamilton was 25 for 37 in pass attempts, accumulating 347 yards through the air, with Mammoliti being his main recipient at 138 yards on six catches. Valtellini converted one of five field goal attempts.
Next up, the Blues travel to Guelph to take on the 0-2 Gryphons this Saturday.
