Zain Rashid | Contributor
Featured Image: Lions narrowly beat Waterloo Warriors to record second win of the season. | Courtesy of York Lions
The Lions football team hosted the Waterloo Warriors on Saturday in their annual Homecoming game. The Lions came out on top after a nail-biting match, which ended with a last-second blocked field goal that sealed the Lions’ victory.
The win over the Warriors is the second of the season for York, ending a two-game losing streak.
The Lions opened the scoring on a spectacular 34-yard run from quarterback Brett Hunchak. Lions kicker Dante Mastrogiuseppe would later add a rogue to extend the Lions’ lead to 8-0.
Ten minutes into the first quarter, the Warriors responded with a touchdown, courtesy of Gordon Lam, cutting the Lions’ lead to just one. With three minutes left in the first quarter, however, the Lions increased their lead to 15-7, as receiver Eric Kimmerly scored another touchdown from a brilliant 59-yard pass from Hunchak.
The Lions maintained their dominance in the second quarter as sophomore receiver Luther Hakunavanhu scored a touchdown in the second minute. They also added a rouge and safety to increase their lead to 26-7, but the Warriors scored another touchdown towards the end of the half, to finish the opening 30 minutes with a 26-14 score in favour of York.
Whatever the Warriors’ coach said at half-time produced a spark, as his Warriors showed some life in the third, trimming the Lions’ lead to just two points.
The final frame featured a thrilling finish, as the Warriors scored a touchdown in the third minute of play, stealing the lead for the first time in the game.
The Lions, however, did not give up, as they responded with a touchdown halfway through the quarter, retaking a three-point lead, courtesy of a five-yard touchdown pass to Colton Hunchak from brother Brett.
However, in the closing minutes, Waterloo, through some clutch passes from Warriors QB Tre Ford, put together a drive which put them in position to attempt a potentially-winning field goal in the final seconds. But, Matt Dean came through for the Lions—literally; Dean broke through the offensive line and dove at the holder, blocking the kick, and sealing the 34-32 victory for the Lions, in front of a raucous crowd.
York’s next game is Friday, October 12, at home against the Carlton Ravens. Kick off is at 1 p.m.
