Latika Verma | Contributor
Featured image: The Ravens were soaring, but the Lions weren’t roaring as Carleton spoiled York’s 2016 homecoming. | Vincent Chen
After losing to the U of T Varsity Blues last week, York’s football team was determined to turn things around against the Carleton Ravens on Saturday.
Unfortunately, the Lions were unable to do so, falling to 2-3 on the season in front of their homecoming crowd.
York’s poor defence proved to be a major factor, as Carleton opened the scoring early in the first quarter with two quick touchdowns.
York quarterback Brett Hunchak was unable to generate much offense, throwing for just 159 yards and completing only 13 of his 30 pass attempts, along with a pair of interceptions.
York opened the scoring in the second quarter with a touchdown courtesy of Kadeem Thomas, which cut the Ravens’ lead in half.
The second quarter was marred by sloppy play, as neither team could do much aside from throw incomplete passes.
Eventually, the Ravens answered York’s touchdown with a field goal by Michael Domagala, which added another three points to their lead.
Just before halftime, Carleton scored their third touchdown of the game on an eight-yard pass from Jesse Mills to Kyle VanWynsberghe with 23 seconds left in the quarter, increasing the Ravens’ lead to 24-7.
The Ravens added another touchdown five minutes into the third, giving them a 31-7 lead.
By the end of the third quarter, the Lions appeared to have given up, and the Ravens continued to pile on the points en route to a decisive 50-7 victory.
“One of the problems is that we have so many talented football players that are just trying to carry the program on their back,” says head coach Warren Craney.
“I think we are hesitant sometimes and we’ve got to do our job [better]. Everybody has got to do their job and we [have to] execute faster,” says first-year running back Khaliel James, who had 57 rushing yards on 10 carries.
The Lions managed just 274 total yards to the Ravens’ 675. They are now seventh in the Ontario University Athletics and have lost their last two games by a combined deficit of 70 points.
It doesn’t get any easier, as two of their next three games are against second-place Ottawa and fourth-place McMaster. The Lions hope to get back to their roaring ways next week when they take on the Gee-Gees in the nation’s capital.
