The York University Lions football team will look to bounce back in its second home game of the season this weekend when the No. 9 nationally-ranked Ottawa Gee-Gees come to Alumni Field for the annual Frosh Fest game.
 
Kick-off is set for 1pm and the game can also be seen online on OUA.tv.
 
The Lions have had a tough start to the year with losses to the nationally-ranked Western Mustangs in their home opener and then the Waterloo Warriors on the road on Labour Day. The young squad has struggled to find its rhythm on offence and defence, but the talent is there to make it happen. Quarterback Brett Hunchak is fifth in the OUA with 204.5 passing yards per game, and veteran receiver Adam Adeboboye is ranked sixth in the conference with 90.5 yards per game and is coming off a nine-catch, 173-yard performance against Waterloo.
 
A bright spot for the Lions on defence is sophomore defensive end Rossini Sandjong-Djabome. He had five tackles for loss against the Warriors as part of eight total tackles and two sacks, and he is among the OUA's top 25 in sacks and tackles this season.
 
The Lions will face a strong Ottawa squad that has flown under the radar en route to a 2-0 start to the season and a spot in the U SPORTS rankings. They have played a pair of nailbiters, opening the year with a thrilling 24-21 double overtime victory over the Guelph Gryphons, and last weekend defeating the Queen's Gaels 14-13 on a kick-off return touchdown by Jackson Bennett with 1:46 remaining in the fourth quarter.
 
Bennett's touchdown was their only one of the season as most of their scoring has come courtesy of kicker Lewis Ward. He is tied for the OUA lead with eight field goals and kicked the winning extra point to break a 13-13 tie with Queen's late in the game last week.
 
With the graduation of OUA MVP quarterback Derek Wendel, the Gee-Gees are rolling a new starter under centre in rookie Alex Lavric. The Mississauga, Ont., native has started the year passing for 174.5 yards per game while completing 70 per cent of his passes.
 
Last year when the two squads met the Gee-Gees were also ranked No. 9 in U SPORTS and they went on to a 54-20 victory on their home turf on Thanksgiving weekend. York's last win over Ottawa came in 2012 by a score of 47-36.
 
After Saturday's game, the Lions will be on their bye week and will return to action at home on Saturday, Sept. 23 in their annual Homecoming game and the 48^th Red & Blue Bowl against the Toronto Varsity Blues. The Gee-Gees, meanwhile, will head to Hamilton, Ont., on Saturday, Sept. 16 to face the McMaster Marauders.