The York University Lions football team hung tough throughout the game before coming up just short in a 26-17 loss to the No. 9 nationally-ranked Ottawa Gee-Gees on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field.
 
The Lions took the lead with 4:56 remaining in the third quarter on a six-yard touchdown catch by Jesse Amankwaa that made the score 17-16 and held it until there was just under six minutes remaining in the game, when Ottawa's Lewis Ward kicked what turned out to be the winning field goal to give the Gee-Gees a 19-17 lead. Donald Shaw added a rushing touchdown with 41 seconds remaining for the final points of the game.
 
"I thought they battled," head coach Warren Craney said about his team's performance. "Our coaches had a good game plan and we executed it almost flawlessly. If we could have been a little more disciplined, I think we could have won this football game. We definitely deserved a better fate. I'm proud of how they battled after last Monday's disappointment, they could have easily turtled seeing the No. 9 team in the country show up. They are a resilient group and really came to play."
 


Not much happened in a slow first quarter that ended with the Gee-Gees leading 1-0 after a missed field goal by Ward went through the back of the end zone. York also had a missed field goal in the frame by rookie kicker Dante Mastrogiuseppe.
 
Mastrogiuseppe bounced back early in the second with a 27-yard field goal to give the Lions an early lead. However, the Gee-Gees scored a touchdown on their next possession, a one-yard passing play caught by Tyler McLaren, to lead 8-3. The Lions conceded a safety on the next drive for a 10-3 Ottawa advantage.
 
With 1:19 remaining in the half, the Lions evened the game again at 10 apiece when Eric Kimmerly scored a 13-yard touchdown after evading multiple tackles, and the two teams remained tied heading into halftime.
 
The Gee-Gees came out flying to start the third quarter and ended a solid drive with a 23-yard field goal, and they extended their lead to 16-10 with another field goal at 7:01 from 40 yards out.
 
On York's next drive, Amankwaa broke through the line for a gorgeous 30-yard rush straight up the middle of the field and then scored the touchdown three plays later. It was then the defence's turn to make a big play as Rossini Sandjong-Djabome and Jacob Janke stuffed the Gee-Gees on 3^rd-and-inches at Ottawa's 36-yard line.
 
Mastrogiuseppe had a 29-yard field goal attempt blocked before the end of the quarter but the Lions still led 17-16.
 
Just before Ward kicked his fourth-quarter field goal, York's defence was again impressive. Ward had made a 12-yard field goal, but the Lions were called for unnecessary roughness  and the Gee-Gees were given a first down with the ball on the one-yard line. However, two huge stops by Matthew Skoko and Andrew Smith kept the Gee-Gees out of the end zone and ultimately held them to three points.
 
Amankwaa was tremendous on the afternoon, wracking up 181 total yards and one touchdown. He had 159 rushing yards on 23 carries and also added a pair of catches for 22 yards. Quarterback Brett Hunchak was solid under centre, going 22-of-34 for 263 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 30 yards on the ground and threw for three interceptions.
 
For the Gee-Gees, Shaw led the way with 138 rushing yards on 18 carries and the one touchdown. Quarterback Victor Twynstra was 17-of-33 for 167 yards and the one score.
 
The Lions will now have some time off with their bye week coming up, and will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 23 for their biggest game of the season, the 48^th annual Red & Blue Bowl against the rival Toronto Varsity Blues. Kick-off is set for 1pm at Alumni Field in what is also the team's annual Homecoming game this season.