The York University Lions football team got off to a strong start in its annual Homecoming game but was ultimately defeated by a score of 46-12 by the No. 9 nationally ranked Ottawa Gee-Gees at Alumni Field on Saturday evening.
 
The home squad dominated the first quarter, spending most of it in Ottawa's end and moving the ball well. Basem Attalla got the Lions on the board first with a 22-yard field goal only three minutes in, but his second attempt was short and the third ricocheted off the upright and the Lions led just 3-0 after the opening frame.
 
The script was flipped in the second quarter and it was the Gee-Gees' turn to control play. Ottawa benefitted from good field position on multiple drives and turned that into 23 points on two touchdowns, two field goals, a safety and a rouge. Jordan Burgher scored the first major on a one-yard run three minutes in, Kalem Beaver had a nine-yard touchdown pass from Ben Maracle with 2:17 remaining and placekicker Campbell Fair was good on field goals from 20 and 30 yards. The Gee-Gees also scored a safety when Darnel Jarrett was chased around and then fell in the endzone.
 
Despite Ottawa's strong play in the quarter, the highlight of the frame came courtesy of York rookie returner Jaxon Hume, who had a 107-yard kick-off return touchdown to make the score 20-10 with two minutes left in the half.


 
Ottawa held a 23-10 advantage at the break.
 
The Gee-Gees added to their lead mid-way through the third quarter on a five-yard touchdown catch by Peace Tshilombo and then Burgher found the endzone again one minute after that following a fumble by Jarrett.
 
The Lions got a couple of points on a safety after a bad snap sailed over the head of Maracle and into the endzone but that was as close as they could get. Burgher scored his third touchdown of the game at the start of the fourth and the Gee-Gees rounded out the scoring with a York-conceded safety with 39 seconds left.
 
Jarrett finished with 76 rushing yards on 11 carries, while Burgher had nearly identical numbers with 71 yards on 11 carries but added the three scores.
 
In a battle of back-up quarterbacks, York's Noah Craney was 17-of-33 for 180 yards and one interception. Maracle went 18-for-32 for 233 yards, with two touchdowns and one pick.
 
The Lions fell to 0-5 with the loss while the Gee-Gees are now 3-1 on the year.
 
After two weeks at home, the Lions will head out on the road next week with a trip to Waterloo, Ont., to face the Warriors on Saturday afternoon. Kick-off is set for 1pm at Warrior Field.