After a memorable 2019 win in the Red & Blue Bowl, the York University Lions football team looks to defend their Argo Cup title in the 2021 iteration of the contest at Varsity Stadium in Toronto, Ont.
 
This season sees the game as a vital piece of the puzzle for the Lions' playoff aspirations.
 
Saturday's showdown is the first of two meetings between the Toronto rivals, with huge playoff implications on the line. Four of five teams make the playoffs in the East, making this season series vital to earning a post-season berth.
 
U of T sits in fourth place with a 1-2 record and are in possession of the last playoff spot in the OUA East division, while the winless Lions are 0-3 and in fifth place at the midway point of the season.  Both teams are coming off narrow losses to their Ottawa counterparts. The Blues fell 27-24 to the Carleton Ravens on Friday night, while the Lions dropped a 20-17 decision to the Ottawa Gee-Gees on Saturday.
 
York held a late lead over the Gee-Gees; the result of a 64-yard pick-six for rookie defensive back Mack Bannatyne, earning both his first career OUA interception and touchdown on the same play. However, Ottawa scored after the two-minute warning to give them the win in an exhilarating game that just slipped out of the Lions' grasp.
 
Elsewhere on the defensive side of the ball, fellow rookie Raekwon Lewis-Gibbs also registered his first-career interception in the game versus Ottawa, taking the ball for four yards the other way. Kwadwo Boahen led the way with five solo tackles.
 
On the offensive end, five different Lions receivers recorded at least two catches. Leading the way was veteran Alex Daley with six for 95 yards. He also had four punt returns for 89 yards and three kick-off returns for 25 yards.
 
Third-year Lions quarterback Noah Craney posted his best game as a starter thus far, going 23-for-38 for 266 yards on the evening, with his longest pass coming on a 27-yard throw to Alfred Olay, which kicked off a drive to the Ottawa end zone resulting in York's first scoring play of the game.
 
After his 43 rushing yards against Ottawa, Darnel Jarrett has taken the statistical rushing lead for the Lions after just his second game of the season, logging 62 yards on the 2021 campaign.
 
Lions defenders will need to keep an eye on the Varsity Blues' offence, including OUA-leading Will Corby who sits first in the province averaging 101.7 receiving yards per game. Fifth-year Toronto quarterback Clay Sequeira is averaging 261 total yards per game, third in the OUA. This despite the Blues sitting fifth in the OUA East playoff picture.
 
Lions fans are encouraged to attend the game to get behind York on the road. Advance tickets are on sale here. Proof of vaccination is required. For fans who are unable to attend, the game will also be streamed live on OUA.tv.