It's been a long time since the football team has been on campus, but the York University Lions will be back in the friendly confines of York Lions Stadium Saturday afternoon, with the added spice of Homecoming set to bring an extra kick to the Lions' game ahead of their contest with the McMaster Marauders.
 
The game comes with York sitting at an 0-4 record, coming off the loss of the Argo Cup for the first time since 2016 on Saturday as the rival Toronto Varsity Blues won the 51st  Red & Blue Bowl 25-2 at Varsity Stadium.
 
While the loss gave the Blues the victory, the Lions still had some positive takeaways from that contest, building momentum into the next game.
 
The Lions' best statistical play came from their defenders in their most recent contest, with Lions linebacker Kevin Musai leading the way. He made life difficult on the Blues' offensive line, registering a team-high six solo tackles – twice as many as any of his teammates. It was the highest number of solo tackles in a game for a Lion in 2021, and a season best for Musai, who previously had four in his Sept. 25 game against Carleton.
 
Over the course of the 2021 campaign, the Lions defensive leaders in tackles have been Desi Dixon Jr. (23) and Dawson Davis (19), but rookie defensive back Rickey Parsons has also turned heads on the defensive side of the ball, third on the Lions in total tackles (18).
 
York's offence will be aiming for a bounce-back game when they take the field to play the Marauders, after the Blues held them to two points in the Red & Blue Bowl in last week's contest.
 
However, statistically, Noah Craney was the better of the two quarterbacks against the Varsity Blues and has put together a solid season as the Lions starter. In the Red & Blue Bowl, Craney went 13-for-27 with 133 yards, his longest being a 34-yard pass. Toronto's quarterback Clay Sequeira threw for 116 yards.
 
Neither team was able to get much offence going throughout the afternoon and the Lions actually led the Blues in that category, 311-177. But turnovers did them in as the Lions had seven, compared to just one for the Blues.
 
Avontae McKoy was the other rookie head-turner for the York offence in the game, putting himself in the statistical lead amongst all York rushers with 93 yards in the loss. McKoy has the team lead with 128 yards over three games.
 
At this point in the season, each game has playoff implications. After McMaster's 22-0 loss at the hands of the Laurier Golden Hawks last week, they will be in desperation mode. They are the only sub-.500 team in the OUA West, and need a win over York to keep pace with fourth-place Windsor and fifth-place Waterloo, who are each 2-2.
 
York and McMaster will kick-off at 1pm at York Lions Stadium and on OUA.tv. In addition to Homecoming, York's Ambassador Program will also take place.