September 22, 2012
Warriors hold on for win over Lions
The York University Lions football team played its Homecoming game at York Stadium on Saturday (Sept. 22), against the visiting Waterloo Warriors and saw their last-minute comeback fall short in a 23-22 loss.
The win was Waterloo's first since 2009, bring their record to 1-3 on the season. The Lions are also 1-3 after the defeat.
The win was Waterloo's first since 2009, bring their record to 1-3 on the season. The Lions are also 1-3 after the defeat.
With Waterloo leading 23-11 after three quarters, the Lions mounted an exciting fourth-quarter response. Quarterback Myles Gibbon of Montreal found Jonelle Tolbert of Mississauga, Ont., for a 24-yard touchdown pass, Tolbert's second of the game, with 4:30 remaining in the frame.
The Lions defence then clamped down on the Warriors offence, preventing a return drive and forcing a safety, bringing the Lions' within three points of the Warriors with 1:46 remaining.
They then opened their next drive on their own 12-yard line and raced down the field and into scoring position. Gibbon made a play for the end zone, but his pass was intercepted by Waterloo's Harrison Mair of Vancouver with just 0:29 remaining in the game. The Warriors then played out the clock, conceding another safety against the Lions on the final play of the game, bringing the final score to 23-22.
Gibbon finished 24-of-37 for 352 passing yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Tolbert was the leading receiver with 98 yards on 10 catches.
The Warriors split their offence between quarterbacks Jamie Cook of Collingwood, Ont., who was 6-for-6 for 124 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions, and Brian Chris of Waterloo, Ont., who threw 14-for-26 posting 172 yards and one interception.
The Warriors received the ball at the kickoff, and the resulting drive ended with a 79-yard touchdown for Nick Anapolsky of Guelph, Ont., off a pass from Cook just under three minutes into the game. Kicker Jake Fiorucci of Niagara Falls, Ont., kicked in the extra point.
Gibbon led the return drive to respond, finishing up with a touchdown pass to to bring the Lions even with 8:22 remaining in the first quarter. Kicker Heneri Dervishi of Toronto added the extra point.
The defensive game then took the forefront, as the teams would battle each other out to finish the first quarter with seven points apiece.
Fiorucci was able to add a 30-yard field goal with 13 minutes remaining in the half. The Lions' offence struggled to respond, and kicker Dervishi would be forced to take a safety with just a little over seven minutes remaining.
A critical interception by Lion Christ States, of Brampton, Ont., less than a minute later inspired a Lion drive that featured a 20-yard reception for Alex Bughdan of Toronto for a first down, and eventually resulted in a 22-yard field goal for Dervish with 4:27 remaining in the half.
Kellen Aiken of Guelph, Ont., recovered a Warriors fumble to start another aggressive Lions' drive on the Warriors' 42 yard line. Dervishi missed the 26-yard field goal attempt, but added the rouge to bring the score at the half to 12-11 in favour of the Warriors.
Waterloo owned the third quarter, keeping York from registering any points. Fiorucci opened the second half by marking up a field goal just over three minutes in. The team would later add a safety with 6:58 remaining in the quarter. Chris completed a 46-yard touchdown pass to Michael Robson of Pickering, Ont., with just one second remaining in the quarter, to bring a 23-11 Warriors lead into the final quarter.
Third-year linebacker James Tuck of Aurora, Ont., was impressive on defence for the Lions. He led all players with eight tackles, including seven solo tackles, and added two sacks.
The Lions are on the road next weekend in Windsor, Ont., against the Lancers on Saturday (Sept. 29) for a game under the lights, beginning at 7pm. Their next home game is the very first Lions' football night game at York Stadium, on Thursday (Oct. 4), at 7 p.m.
Source: York Sports Info
