For most of the OUA's final day of regular season football action, it looked like the Waterloo Warriors would get neither of the results that were required for them to make the playoffs.  

Waterloo needed a victory over the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, coupled with a Guelph loss at Carleton. However, the Warriors never held a lead through the first three quarters in Toronto, while the Gryphons built a two-score lead over the Ravens with just over two minutes to play.  

But, thanks to 13 unanswered fourth-quarter points, the Warriors held up their end of the bargain. And thanks to a miracle in the nation's capital, the black and gold will play on into the postseason.  

Tal Ibrahim (Niagara Falls, ON/) and Justin Succar (Niagara Falls, ON/) scored fourth-quarter touchdowns to help lead Waterloo to a come-from-behind 26-21 win over the Blues at Varsity Stadium in Toronto. Meanwhile, Carleton scored two majors in the final minute of play to storm back and shock Guelph 29-27, which left the Warriors and Gryphons with identical 3-5 records for the season. Because of Waterloo's head-to-head win over Guelph in week 6, the Warriors claimed the tiebreaker and the seventh and final playoff spot in the OUA.  

Waterloo kicker Cole Crossett (Metcalfe, ON/) starred in the dramatic season finale win, hitting 4 of 5 field goals, including a 43-yard bomb in the first half. Quarterback Nick Orr (Caledon, ON/) went 17-31 for 269 yards through the air, while veteran receiver James Basalyga (Thunder Bay, ON/) caught 5 passes for 109 yards. Marcus Hoegl (Burlington, ON/) had a career day with 6 catches for 105 yards for the black and gold.  

The defense was once again led by Tyson Hergott (Waterloo, ON/), who had four solo tackles and his eleventh sack of the season. Anasu Latmore made the biggest defensive play of the day, coming up with an interception to snuff out Toronto's final drive. 

The game began as a defensive battle, but the Blues found the scoreboard first when Scott Barnett hooked up with Christopher Joseph on a 12-yard major late in the first quarter. The Warriors looked poised to respond, but their 11-play, 75-yard drive was stymied on a third-and -goal from the Toronto three-yard line, keeping Waterloo behind 7-0 after the first. 

Early in the second quarter, Crossett hit a 43-yarder despite some troubles with the snap - the veteran kicker had to pause and restart his kicking motion, yet still drilled the long kick to make it 7-3 Toronto. The Blues answered right back with another major, this time from Barnett to Jake Oseen, to lengthen the lead to 14-3. Crossett ensured the Warriors came away with points on each of their final drives of the half, hitting field goals of 24 and 35 yards to cut the deficit to 14-9 after 30 minutes of play.  

Early in the third, another promising long Waterloo drive once again stalled deep in Toronto territory, setting up a 13-yard kick for Crossett's fourth field goal of the day. Later in the quarter, Crossett missed a 46-yarder, but kicked it through the end zone for a single, cutting the Blues lead to 14-13 heading into the fourth.  

Toronto looked to strike a decisive blow early in the final quarter, when Luka Stoikos rattled off a 43-yard touchdown scamper to make the score 21-13. But, with their playoff hopes ticking away, the Warriors found a way to mount a comeback in at the most crucial point of their season.  

First, the defence forced a two-and-out after an Orr interception, giving the ball back to Waterloo. Then, on a third-and-one from midfield, and the Blues loading up the box to prevent a QB sneak, Orr handed off to Ibrahim who broke through a gaping hole in the line. Instead of plunging ahead for a single yard to move the sticks, Ibrahim had a 56-yard touchdown run, and Waterloo was within a point, trailing 21-20. 

The Warriors' defence forced yet another 2-and-out, setting up Orr and the offense in great field position. The visitors opened the drive with a highlight-reel catch from Basalyga for 34 yards, and, four plays later, Succar took a pitch on a sweep play and scored from 6 yards out. The two-point conversion failed, making the score 26-21. 

After holding Toronto again, the Blues had one final possession from their own 20-yard line with under two minutes to play. Barnett drove his team into Waterloo territory, but Latmore's interception ended the Blues' hopes.  

At the same time as Latmore was salting away his team's win, the Carleton Ravens were piecing together a miracle comeback against Guelph. The Ravens scored a major with 59 seconds to play, and then completed an outrageous three-play, 92-yard drive with a 41-yard touchdown from Tristan Lefebvre to Frederik Hachey with just 12 seconds left. In the blink of an eye, Guelph saw their 13-point lead evaporate, just as the Warriors were completing their victory in Toronto to claim the final OUA playoff spot.  

The Warriors will now get a chance to redeem themselves in the battle of Waterloo, as they'll visit the second-seed Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in round one of the OUA playoffs next week. Kickoff from University Stadium is slated for 1pm next Saturday, October 28.