The Waterloo Warriors football team broke out of their offensive slump, piecing together a spirited comeback from a 15-point halftime deficit on Saturday afternoon against the Toronto Varsity Blues. But unfortunately for the hosts, the Blues got just enough big plays at the right time to escape with a win.
Toronto running back Adam Williams erupted for 249 yards rushing and two scores, and the Blues got a 105-yard kick return touchdown from Luka Stoikos as they hung on to a 32-24 victory on Alumni Black and Gold day at Warrior Field.
Coming off back-to-back losses where they were held without a touchdown, the Warriors' offense piled up 557 total yards of offense, and they controlled the ball for almost 35 minutes of game time. But the Blues forced four turnovers that snuffed out promising Waterloo drives, including an interception in the end zone early in the second quarter, and a pick that effectively ended the game with the Warriors looking for the tying score.
Nolan Kaban (Calgary/) had his most efficient day as Waterloo's starter, completing 33 of 44 passes for 411 yards and a touchdown, while adding 20 yards rushing and a score on the ground. James Basalyga (Thunder Bay/) hauled in 8 balls for 146 yards, and Gordon Lam (Kitchener/) caught 10 passes for 109 yards. Evan Basalyga (Thunder Bay/) also hauled in a 21-yard touchdown reception for Waterloo for his first career OUA touchdown.
Nick Sua rushed for 94 yards and a touchdown for the Warriors, but Williams was the story of the day on the ground – the veteran Blues tailback had four carries over 20 yards, including a 68-yard touchdown early in the second quarter.
The Blues jumped out in front 9-0 after the first quarter, courtesy a conceded safety and Williams' first touchdown run of the day. Toronto extended its lead to 16-0 on the huge 68-yard run from Williams in the second, before Cole Crossett's (Ottawa/) 32-yard boot made it 16-3. A Crossett single and a Samuel Henke field goal made the score 19-4 at the half, as Waterloo's touchdown drought extended into its tenth quarter.
But the Warriors made adjustments at the half, and they immediately paid dividends – Kaban capped off an 8-play, 88-yard drive with his touchdown to Evan Basalyga (Thunder Bay/) to cut the deficit to 19-11. Another Henke field goal from 34 yards out pushed the score to 22-11 after three quarters, setting up what would be a wild finish.
Early in the fourth, with the Warriors driving, Owen Cassie picked off Kaban and gave the visitors the ball back. But just two plays later, the Warriors flipped the script when Tyson Hergott (Waterloo/) forced a fumble that was recovered by Liam Mutunga (Scarborough/), giving the Warriors possession at midfield. It was part of a massive game for Hergott, who finished with a sack, 2 tackles for lost yardage, and a pass breakup to go along with his forced fumble.
The Warriors took advantage of Hergott's game-changing play, as Kaban plunged in from 2 yards out to cut the deficit to 22-17. The two-point conversion failed, but the Warriors were within one score.
However, the Blues swung momentum back their way without even running a play from scrimmage – on the ensuing kickoff, Stoikos ran it back 105 yards for a major, and Toronto once again had a cushion. But there was no quit in the Warriors, and they struck back on their next possession – this time, with a clinical 5-play, 95-yard drive that Sua punctuated with a 21-yard touchdown run to make it 29-24 with just under 7 minutes to play.
Williams and the Blues milked the clock in an attempt to put the game away with a touchdown, but Jack Hinsperger (Waterloo/) and the Waterloo defense forced Torionto to settle for a 12-yard field goal. Down 8 in the closing minutes, the Warriors marched all the way down to the Toronto 24, but Kaban was picked on a desperation third-down play to give the Blues the victory.
The loss pushes Waterloo to 1-4, and sets up a huge game on a short week – the Warriors will look to climb back into the playoff race when they host the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks for the Battle of Waterloo on Thursday, October 6 at 6 pm.
