Gaels reignite historic rivalry and win redemption.
The Queen’s Gaels football team travelled to Toronto on Sept. 13 for a matinee clash against one of Canada’s oldest football rivalries, the University of Toronto (U of T) Varsity Blues. Both teams were looking to bounce back after losses the previous week.
READ MORE: Game Preview: Queen’s football to face University of Toronto on Saturday
Queen’s started off strong, with their defence forcing an early stop to the game. The offence quickly found its rhythm, driving downfield to set up a 32-yard field goal by Tyler Mullan, ArtSci ’26. U of T responded on the next drive, marching for over five minutes before tying the game with their own field goal.
Nathan Falconi, ArtSci ’26, put the Gael’s ahead late in the first quarter with a 27-yard catch-and-run touchdown, and Queen’s never gave that lead back. After another long drive by the U of T offence ended in a field goal, the Queens’ defence shut the door. Their performance was highlighted by two John Corscadden interceptions in just over a minute, and that second setting up another Falconi touchdown, this time connecting Alex Vreeken, Kin ’26, to the pylon.
Queens led 17-6 at halftime and didn’t look back, scoring two touchdowns, one thanks to a Jared Chisari, MSc ’26, 6-yard rush and a catch by Falconi for his third of the game. The defence swarmed U of T, forcing punt after punt, as well as another interception, caught by Ashton Miller-Melancon, ArtSci ’26. Both sides of the ball contributed to a 31-6 lead after three quarters.
The Gaels would drill two more successful field goals by Mullan, as well as another touchdown by Chisari for a convincing 44-6 victory over the Varsity Blues.
Justin Pace, ArtSci ’26, leads U Sports with 28.0 total tackles, including 7.0 in Saturday’s game. It was a total team defence affair, as 22 different Gaels contributed to tackles and three interceptions against Scott Barnett, one of the top-ranking quarterbacks in the OUA.
On the offensive side, Chisari totalled 183 yards on the ground, which contributed to two touchdowns, as well as another 43 in the air. Vreeken threw three touchdowns, all caught by Falconi, who had four catches for 74 yards.
Queen’s football will travel to Waterloo to face the Waterloo Warriors on Sept. 20, for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
Tags
Ashton Miller-Melancon, Football, Nathan Falconi, U of T
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