After a tough loss to Laurier on Sept. 5, the Gaels are looking to reassert their status as a top team.
On Sept. 13, the Queen’s Gaels football team will travel to Toronto to play the University of Toronto (U of T) Varsity Blues at 4 p.m.
The Gaels are ranked ninth in U Sports as of Sept 8. Two big contributors to their success come from both sides of the ball. On the defensive side, Justin Pace, ArtSci ’26, is tied for the lead in total tackles with 22.0 in three games. On the offensive side, Alex Vreeken, Kin ’26 is Second in total yards by a quarterback, only trailing the U of T quarterback Scott Bennett.
The Varsity Blues are 1-2 this season after a devastating loss in overtime to York last week. Both of Toronto’s losses have been in but they boast the fourth-highest points-for in the OUA, led by their quarterback and OUA touchdown leader Bennett.
Head Coach Steve Snyder met with the media on Sept. 11 to talk about the upcoming game, saying that their focus is “certainly this week,” rather than looking in the rear-view mirror. He recognized the history of the matchup dating back over 100 years, saying, “Being on the road into Toronto, a team that we share a historical background with, we take very seriously.”
The Queens Gaels football team is looking for its 16th straight win against U of T since 2008. It has been a one-sided affair for the Gaels, and the team is looking for some stability going into week four of the season.
When asked about playing two highly ranked teams in the past three games, Snyder discussed the value of learning from the past, adding that his team “learned a lot and can apply it to our preparations.” The Gaels have played the first and third ranked teams in U Sports in Laurier and Western, respectively, to begin the season.
The Gaels look to build for a deep playoff run, with Snyder telling the media that the focus for the next six weeks will be on looking forward, shaking off their losing record, and making the playoffs.
Tags
Alex Vreeken, Justin Pace, Steve Snyder, Varsity Blues
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