The York University Lions football team won its third straight Argo Cup with a thrilling 34-14 victory over the Toronto Varsity Blues in the 50
th Red & Blue Bowl under the lights at Alumni Field on Friday night.
The Lions came into the contest as the underdogs while still looking for their first win of the season but they put forth a tremendous effort and dominated every facet of the game to cruise to the triumph over their crosstown rivals. Despite running 11 fewer plays, the Lions racked up 140 more yards of offence and had four more first downs than the Blues.
The Blues, who were 2-4 entering the contest and had lost their four games by only a combined 25 points, had the OUA's best passer under centre in Clay Sequeira, but he was bothered all night long by a Lions defence that was relentless for four quarters. He completed only 16 of his 38 passing attempts and finished with only 151 passing yards, by far his lowest total of the season, and was sacked four times and threw two interceptions, both to
Jacob Janke and one of which was returned for a touchdown.
It was a special night for many as it was the seniors honoured pre-game who led the team to victory. Quarterback
Brett Hunchak made a triumphant return from injury to start his final game at home, going 18-of-29 for 271 yards and one touchdown. Running back
Bryan Deans had the best game of his career, compiling 82 yards (41 rushing, 41 passing) and scoring his first career touchdown.
On defence, Janke controlled the middle of the field all night and
Alexi Brazeau had 1.5 sacks, on back-to-back plays to push Sequeira back 13 yards.
The Lions put together a near-perfect drive on their first possession, capping it with a one-yard touchdown rush by
Darnel Jarrett for the first of his career and an early 7-0 lead. The Blues responded two possessions later when Sequeira found Nolan Lovegrove on a 13-yard completion to tie it 7-7, but that was as close as they would get. Three minutes later
Alex Daley caught a six-yard pass from Hunchak for the major, capping a six-play, 89-yard drive.
The Lions led 14-7 after the opening quarter and never looked back.
Dante Mastrogiuseppe, also making a return after missing the last four games with an injury, kicked a 17-yard field goal in the second quarter for a 17-7 halftime lead, and Janke's pick-six accounted for the only points in the third. Mastrogiuseppe added another field goal, this time from 37 yards, early in the fourth and Deans scored on a two-yard rush with just under three minutes remaining.
The Blues added a touchdown with no time left on the clock to round out the scoring.
The Lions will look to close their season on a high note next weekend when they travel to Kingston, Ont., for the last game of the year. Kick-off is set for 1pm on Saturday at Richardson Memorial Stadium.
