The York Lions football team ended their season on a high note Saturday as they picked up a win against their cross-town rivals the Toronto Varsity Blues by a score of 31-15. A big second quarter in which they scored 28 of their 31 points was all the Lions needed for the victory. With the win, the Lions pull closer to the Blues in Red & Blue Bowl history who still hold the edge 31-18, but the Lions hold on to the bragging rights for another season.
 
The Lions got on the board first after Toronto conceded a safety on their first possession. A fumbled snap by Toronto quarterback Vince Luccisano led to sack by defensive end Rossini Sandjong-Djabome that pinned the Blues deep in their own territory and led to them kneeling down in endzone for the safety. The next score came on a rouge on a punt by Lions kicker Dante Mastrogiuseppe, which gave the Lions a 3-0 lead four minutes into the opening quarter.
 
There was no scoring for the remainder of the first quarter as a defensive battle between the two rivals ensued. The Blues got on the board at the 13-minute mark of the second quarter with a 36-yard field goal by kicker Ethan Shafer to pull even at 3-3.
 
York responded on the next possession with a long drive capped by a touchdown pass by quarterback Brett Hunchak to receiver Luther Hakunavanhu. Hunchak completed key passes to receivers Alex Daley and Eric Kimmerly on the drive before finding Hakunavanhu in the Blues end zone on a highlight-reel 34-yard scoring play. After stopping the Blues on their next drive, the Lions kept the momentum going with another long drive that found them going for it at 3^rd and goal on the U of T three-yard line. Hunchak found his brother Colton Hunchak who slipped into the end zone after a key block from tight end Nikola Kalinic.


 
Defensive back Kadeem Thomas then took over on defense for the Lions, intercepting Luccisano on consecutive possessions to set the Lions up in Toronto territory on both occasions. York capitalized on the turnovers with two touchdowns, the first on a Kayden Johnson one-yard touchdown plunge and the second on a fake field goal attempt, that saw Lions quarterback Noah Craney find Kimmerly in the end zone for the first touchdown pass of his York career. A huge second quarter by the Lions led to them putting up 28 points and take a 31-3 lead into half time.
 
The Blues picked up a safety as the only scoring play in a quiet third quarter, which the Lions punctuated with goal line stop at the end of the quarter to keep the score 31-5. Linebackers Ian Lawrence and Matt Dean both broke up passes to stop the Blues on second and third down plays respectively to keep Toronto out of the endzone. Toronto scored their first touchdown of the game at 11:13 of the fourth quarter when running back Maxwell Gymiah broke through the Lions defence for a four-yard touchdown run. A Shafer field goal made the score 31-15 with five minutes left in the game, but a third Thomas interception of the game with 2:35 left sealed the Lions victory.
 
Thomas' three interceptions sets a new Red & Blue Bowl record, breaking the previous record of two by three other players, while he also contributed one tackle and broke up another pass. Also standing out for the Lions on defence was senior linebacker Ian Lawrence who had a tremendous day in his last game in a Lions uniform. Lawrence had six tackles, one interception and broke up three passes, while Damian Jamieson and Jacob Janke also had strong games picking up five tackles each.
 
Offensively, Hunchak completed 26 of 38 passes for 303 yards and two touchdowns, while Johnson had 14 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown. Daley led the Lions receivers with seven catches for 96 yards.
 
With the win, the Lions finish the season with a 3-5 record and in a tie for eighth place in the OUA standings. The three wins mark the Lions highest win total since they had three in the 2005 season and gives them two consecutive victories in the Red & Blue Bowl after a 41-16 victory last season. The Lions will retain possession of the Argo Cup for at least one more year.