KINGSTON, Ont. (Oct. 29, 2022) – Queen's Football advanced to the OUA semifinals with a 41-13 win over the Toronto Varsity Blues Saturday afternoon at Richardson Stadium.

The Gaels jumped out to a 10-0 first quarter lead in front of a large Homecoming crowd at Richardson, and would hold on for the 28-point victory in the OUA quarterfinal matchup.

The Varsity Blues kept it close through three quarters, outscoring Queen's 7-3 in the second quarter and trailing by just a score late in the third quarter before a 70-yard touchdown run by Jared Chisari gave Queen's Football a 14-point lead they wouldn't relinquish. Queen's Football outscored the Varsity Blues by 14 points in the final quarter on their way to the big 28-point win.

"It was obviously a great win," said Head Coach Steve Snyder after the game. "This time of the year you're going to be in for a battle and we knew that. We have a lot of respect for them and what they're capable of doing. We knew we were going to have to play the long game, we knew the game might go right into the fourth so our team was prepared for that. The big thing is, even though we threw an interception for a touchdown and we allowed that big punt to be converted for a first down, the guys just stayed steady. We knew it was going to be a long game and we just had to play it one play at a time."

Chisari (Naples, N.H.) would add another highlight reel touchdown run in the fourth quarter and led Queen's Football's offence with 11 carries for 180 yards and a two touchdowns.

"Obviously my first year being here, but seeing all the alumni back and the stands fill up like that, it's great to be a part of," Chisari said of the big crowd after the game. "The Oil Thigh at the end and everything, it's definitely a fun thing to be a part of."

Alex Vreeken (Kingston, Ont.) finished the game 15-22 for 186 yards passing and a touchdown.

It was another strong game from Queen's Football defence, giving up just six points to the Varsity Blues' offence.

Five players tied for the team lead in tackles in Ethan Martin (London, Ont.), Liam Sutherland (Ottawa, Ont.), Walter Karabin (King City, Ont.), Owen Stewart (Vancouver, B.C.), and Silas Hubert (Hastings, Ont.).

Stewart also finished with two tackles for a loss and a sack.

Ashton Miller-Melancon (Dorval, Que.) and Justin Pace (St-Lambert, Que.) each finished with an interception.

"We started off really well," Miller-Melancon said of the team's play in the playoffs. "We had a good week of preparation. The coaches and our preparation really put us in a great position to be able to react to what was being done by Toronto on the field, and put us in a great spot where we could go out and make plays."

With the win, Queen's Football advanced to the OUA semifinals where they will host the Ottawa Gee-Gees next weekend, Saturday, Nov. 5 at 1 p.m. at Richardson Stadium, with a spot in the Yates Cup on the line. The Mustangs will host the Laurier Golden Hawks in the other OUA semifinal.