Box Score WINDSOR, Ont.- The Windsor Lancers football team made up for a slow start, erasing a first half deficit with 19 points in the final two quarters to get past the Toronto Varsity Blues 26-11 on Saturday evening at Alumni Field.

In a flag-filled affair where the teams combined for over 200 yards in penalties, the Lancers overcame an upstart Toronto squad hungry for an upset to move above the .500 mark for the first time since opening day. The Varsity Blues drop to 1-4 on the season.

Austin Kennedy was held at bay by the Blues throughout the contest, completing just eight of 16 passes for 90 yards and throwing one interception. The Lancers made up some of the missing air yardage on the ground, rushing for 164 yards. Mitch Dender picked up a game-high 89 yards on the ground and one touchdown, while freshman Gilbert Stewart tallied 50 yards and a rushing TD as well.

However, it was the Blues who took an early lead on two field goals in the opening quarter. Kennedy was intercepted on what looked to be a dangerous opening drive that ended deep in Blues territory.

But the Alumni Field crowd was brought to life early in the second quarter, as a Varsity Blues punt was blocked by Frank Renaud at the Toronto 35, picked up by Mike Dubuisson and taken in for a special teams score. However, Windsor was not able to capitalize on the momentum, and the Toronto defense continued to stymie Kennedy, forcing two conceded safeties to take a 10-7 lead at halftime.

Kennedy found some of his rhythm at the 9-minute mark of the third quarter, completing two straight passes for 32 yards. Gilbert Stewart then took the ball for three straight rushes, totalling 19 yards before Kennedy picked up another eight on the next play. The Lancers ground game threaded through the Varsity Blues, as Stewart punched an eight-yard TD run in to put the Lancers back in front.

Dan Cerino notched an 18-yard field goal early in the final quarter to extend the lead into double-digits, and the Toronto offence could not find a spark or a first down throughout nearly the entire quarter. The Lancers defence flexed its muscles as Tai Pham notched four sacks on the evening for a 28-yard loss. Windsor totalled seven sacks, while the Varsity Blues tallied six in response.

The Lancers solidified the victory on a superb Dender rush where the senior running back danced through the Varsity Blues defence for a 49 yard touchdown that put the game on ice.

Windsor will look for its third-straight victory in Waterloo, Ont. next Saturday, where they will take the field against the Laurier Golden Hawks. Game-time is set for 1:00 p.m. The Lancers will return to Alumni Field for their final home regular season game on Saturday, October 5 when they take on the rival Western Mustangs.