On September 13, the Blues took on the Queen’s Gaels at Varsity Stadium, falling 6–44 in a hard-fought match against the Gaels’ well-practiced agility. The Blues last faced the Gaels on September 9, 2023, where they suffered a 9–42 loss. 

What happened? 

The game began with the Blues receiving the kick. Fifth-year receiver Jake Oseen set the tone early on, with a hard tackle just seven seconds into the game. 

Still, the Gaels drew first blood, as fourth-year kicker Tyler Mullen converted a 32-yard field goal with 10:03 minutes left in the first quarter, bringing the score to 3–0. The Blues fired back, with fourth-year kicker Sam Henke drilling a 30-yard field goal at 4:34 minutes to tie things up at 3–3, proving that the Blues weren’t going to back down. 

However, late in the quarter, momentum shifted when Queen’s quarterback Alex Vreeken connected on a 27-yard touchdown pass with 1:19 minutes remaining, and the Gaels scored the ensuing extra point, giving them a 10–3 lead at the end of the first quarter. 

Still, Toronto kept fighting. Henke struck again with a powerful 28-yard field goal at 7:19 minutes in the second quarter, bringing the score to 10–6 and narrowing the Gaels’ lead. Yet Queen’s scored a 14-yard touchdown pass just before halftime, putting them ahead 17–6 at the break. 

The third quarter proved particularly difficult for the Blues’ defence. Gaels running back Jared Chisari scored on a 5-yard run, stretching the lead to 24–6. Despite the Blues’ struggles, various players saw individual success. Linebacker Elia Lini led all players with eight tackles, while quarterback Scott Barnett had 213 passing yards. 

Oseen continued to shine as a key playmaker, finishing with 11 receptions for 112 yards, while Chris Joseph added five catches for 67 yards. Joseph was recently named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Athlete of the Week, following a standout performance where he tied the U SPORTS single-game record for receptions for the second time this season.  

Sadly, despite the Blues’ efforts, Queen’s closed out the third quarter with a touchdown and an extra point, bringing the score to 31–6. They added another 13 points in the fourth quarter with two field goals and a touchdown, sealing a 44–6 victory. 

What’s next? 

With the loss, the Blues’ record dropped to 1–3 on the season, and they are currently ranked tenth in the OUA. However, with the season only halfway through, Toronto still has plenty of time to mount a comeback. 

The Blues returned to Varsity Stadium on September 20 for a matchup against Windsor University, where they lost to the Lancers 14–34. They will face Wilfrid Laurier University away this Saturday, on September 27.