The York University Lions football team took the field on Friday night, senior night, with another added layer to their helmets – the Lion logo. Frist the stripes, then the logo, were earned from their first two wins of the season, an incentive put forth by head coach Dexter Janke.
Friday night signified the final Lions home game of the 2024 campaign before their last game of the year next weekend at McMaster, in what will be a crucial game for York as they continue to strive towards their first OUA playoff appearance since 2004.
Following a triumphant win over the Waterloo Warriors last weekend that pushed their record to 2-4 on the season, the Lions team looked to earn a second straight win over a Guelph Gryphons team that boasted a 5-2 record coming in.
The Gryphons opening drive saw multiple completions to Vyshonne Janusas that led them down the field, but the Gryphons were forced to punt due to a massive sack by Lions defensive lineman Sterling May. A huge run by Melchis Ilunga pushed the Lions up to midfield, where a long catch and run by Malachi Morrison pushed them to the Gryphons thirty yard line. The Lions drive then stalled out, as the Lions settled for a rouge off a missed field goal by Tucker Almert to open the scoring and put York up 1-0.
The Lions got the ball back at their 30-yard line after another defensive stop, but a Guelph sack forced them to punt it away. Working from their own 40, a long run by Guelph's Donavin Milloy pushed the Gryphons into the red zone, where a third down run into the end zone by quarterback Marshall McCray put Guelph up 7-1.
The next drive saw a long bomb completed to Hayden Farrar push the Lions to around the Gryphons, which was followed by Avery Ford caught a pass that pushed the Lions into the red zone. The Lions came away with a field goal off the foot of Almert that made it a 7-4 game. On Guelph's next drive, however, a 75-yard touchdown pass from Tristan Aboud to receiver Willem Arseneau shocked the Lions and put the Gryphons up 14-4 on just one play.
Off a Lions two and out, Guelph regained possession, where Aboud again found Arseneau for a touchdown, this time down the left-hand side that made it a 21-4 game. Getting the ball back and getting down the field to Guelph's thirty yard line with the help of Gerren Hardisty and Ilunga, the Lions were turned away due to a sack from the Gryphons, with no points put up on the board aside from another York rouge off the punt that made it 21-5. Following two failed drives by each team, it was Guelph who was able to sneak in a field goal from Ben Lane in the dying seconds of the corner to make it a 24-5 game at halftime.
York, looking to get back into the game, took the ball to begin the second half and gaining great field position at the Guelph forty five yard line with the help of a couple of penalties, including one at the end of the half, but the offence stalled out again. York's defense responded with a stop of their own, but the offense continued to struggle, and a punt left Guelph at the Lions 40. Aboud connected with Arseneau again for a deep pass down to the red zone. However, a third down run by Guelph was stopped just outside the goal line, and the Gryphons came away empty-handed.
Regaining the ball, the Lions forced their way out of their own territory into the Guelph red zone off a huge gain from Avontae McKoy. Shawn Lal then fired a touchdown pass into the middle of the end zone, also caught by McKoy, making it a 24-12 game and giving the Lions some life. After a punt forced the Gryphons deep in their own territory, Janusas had a huge run to get back across midfield. Janusas then caught another screen pass from Anoud and ran it into the end zone with the help of his blockers, regaining the 19-point lead of 31-12.
The Lions wasted little time in the fourth as Lal found Avery Ford deep downfield for a touchdown on the first play of the final frame, making it 31-19 and giving the Lions some light as time wound down. The Lions defense held strong and forced a punt, giving the ball back to the Lions, but the offense went two and out, giving the ball back to the Gryphons. Guelph seemed content to kill the clock on this drive, but the Lions defense got a stop and got the ball back with five minutes left in regulation. On a crucial scoring drive, the Lions went two and out again, and elected to allow a safety on third down, making it 33-19. Guelph again took the ball and methodically worked their way downfield, , killing most of the remainder of the clock. The Lions Riley Berfelo recovered a late fumble from Milloy, and while they put a nice drive together, they couldn't cut into the lead on the final series, falling 33-19.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Lions will look to rebound next week on the road at McMaster. The game will have heavy playoff implications, with a Lions win plus a Carleton loss to Laurier punching their ticket to the dance. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 pm on Saturday October 19th, with coverage on OUA TV.
