Even in a game with a lopsided final score, football is still a game of inches.

The Waterloo Warriors fell a yard short of turning the tide just before halftime, and the Toronto Varsity Blues poured it on the fourth quarter, defeating the Warriors 34-0 in Waterloo's final home game of the 2015 season on Saturday afternoon.

Blues running back Alex Malone led the late explosion with 169 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns, including a 44-yard scamper that proved to be a dagger for the Warriors.

Waterloo quarterback Jordan Cernanec (St. Thomas), making his first career start, went 19-35 with 121 yards and 2 interceptions. Ryan Di Risio (Burlington), playing his final home game as a Warrior, carried the rock 18 times for 101 yards on the ground.

Leading only 10-0 in the dying seconds of the second quarter, Waterloo's Jordan Hoover (Sault Ste. Marie) picked off a Dallon Kuprowski throw and streaked down the sideline. But instead of plunging into the endzone to make it a 10-7 game at halftime, Hoover was knocked out of bounds just short of the goal line as time expired.

That opened the door for the Blues, who rode their running game to a big advantage late in the game. Warriors linebacker Brandon Corelli (Sault Ste. Marie) had an inspired effort in the losing cause, totaling 12.5 tackles (11 solo), two tackles for losses, and an interception.

The Warriors will now look to finish their season on a winning note when they travel to Windsor to face the 1-6 Lancers next Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 1pm.