The York University Lions football team suffered a 52-8 loss to the Guelph Gryphons at Alumni Stadium in Guelph, Ont., on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 22) in a battle for the sixth and final playoff spot in the OUA standings.
The Gryphons, who are the defending Yates Cup champions, clinched the berth after the Ottawa Gee-Gees came back to defeat the Queen's Gaels 42-41 in overtime.
The Gryphons jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter and added another 17 points in the second for a 27-0 lead at halftime.
The Lions got on the board on their first drive of the third quarter when running back
Kayden Johnson (Kerrobert, Sask.) caught a six-yard pass from quarterback
Brett Hunchak (Calgary) to complete a five-play, 48-yard drive. They added another point on the ensuing kick-off when kicker
Nick Naylor (Abbotsford, B.C.) sailed the ball into the wind and out the back of the end zone for a rouge.
However, Guelph scored again on its next drive and added another two points on a York conceded safety in the frame, and tacked on another 15 points in the final quarter for the victory.
Johnson finished with 114 all-purpose yards, counting 53 yards on 12 carries as well as 61 yards on three catches in the game. Hunchak went 18-of-39 for 196 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Guelph's leader on the day was running back Johnny Augustin, who picked up 133 rushing yards on 22 carries and a pair of touchdowns, both in the first half. Fellow running back Mack Jones had 141 yards on 16 carries.
Gryphons quarterback James Roberts finished 10-of-16 for 177 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception.
The Lions' season is now finished, while the Gryphons will travel to Hamilton, Ont., next weekend to face the McMaster Marauders in an OUA quarter-final match-up on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 29).
