Unfortunately, week one for the York Lions’ football team didn’t go exactly as planned. While you’d have to be clinically insane to believe the Lions were going to defeat the Queens Golden Gaels – who are ranked second in the nation — last weekend, the 52-1 drubbing they received exceeded even all of my most pessimistic expectations.
However, week one is in the past, and the Lions can now move forward knowing it should only get easier from here.
“Last season, the Lions led by quarterback Myles Gibbon finally stood up to Laurier, but fell just seconds short of victory.”
York now focuses their attention to the Laurier Golden Hawks, who also lost their season opener, falling to the Guelph Gryphons 21-7.
Before last season’s contest, the Golden Hawks had dominated the Lions the previous two years by a combined total of 124-21. Last season, the Lions led by quarterback Myles Gibbon finally stood up to Laurier, but fell just seconds short of victory, losing on a last-minute touchdown by Laurier. Still, the Lions at least proved they could compete on the same field with the Golden Hawks, setting up a great match-up this season.
Heading into this early game, both teams are still in the process of forming a team identity by which to live for the rest of the season. Neither team did much for the cause in their week one games, both running into defensive walls.
The Gaels were able to hold the Lions’ offence to 5.1 net yards per pass play, containing the Lions’ aerial attack to just 114 yards all game. Gibbon finished the game 10-19 for 100 yards, throwing an interception along the way. York’s run game fared a bit better finishing the game with over 100 yards, including rushes of 14 yards by Gibbon, a 13 yarder by Errol Brooks, as well as a 10 yard run by Connor Anderson. Where the Lions really stumbled was on the scoreboard, failing to register their first touchdown of the new season.
The Golden Hawks’ offensive woes included 103 yards passing, along with losing 31 yards on four quarterback sacks. Laurier’s offense also failed to tally any majors, with their only touchdown coming on a 38-yard interception return by Felix Odum.
“York might hold a slight advantage in the running game, after showing bursts of success against Queens.”
Along with their pick-six, the Golden Hawks defence was able to hold Guelph’s star quarterback Jazz Lindsey in check for most of the game, limiting him to just 117 yards passing. Preventing the big play on defence was Laurier’s Achilles’ heel, surrendering five separate double-digit gains. York showed a knack for the big play against Queens, racking up seven gains of 10 or more yards. Laurier is the presumed favourite coming into York Stadium, but if the Lions can capitalize on big plays, it could play a heavy factor in swinging the odds in York’s favour. On the flip side, York’s defence must do their best to limit the other team’s offence after allowing 52 points and a bunch of big plays against the Gaels.
York might hold a slight advantage in the running game, after showing bursts of success against Queens. Guelph gave Laurier fits all day, carving up their defence for 218 yards along the ground. After losing OUA all-star Kyle Exume, the Lions are still trying to form a new identity in the backfield, but the coaches proved they are not going to shy away from deploying their run happy offense seen in recent years, running the ball 61 per cent of the time against the Gael. Success running the ball will be key if York wants to escape Saturday’s game with a win.
Another factor not to be overlooked is that the Lions will play their real home opener at York Stadium, after opening up the year at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke. It should not be underplayed how much the comforts of home can help a team during a week of preparation.
Coming into this year’s contest, both programs are on the move in terms of power within the OUA. While York seems to be ascending in the OUA ranks, no longer a team coaches can sleep on, the Laurier Golden Hawks find themselves in a bit of a rut, no longer the dominant team they once were, but they still possess their strong winning tradition that won’t be held down for very long.
If last year’s contest is any indication of what’s to come, it should be a close, hard fought battle until the final whistle. York has the task of proving that they are truly competing for a playoff spot this season, while Laurier looks to reassert their dominance over the Lions, proving last year was only a minor blip in the radar. A lot is at stake for both teams on September 7, as a loss could come back to haunt either one come playoff time, but if one thing’s for sure, when the dust settles, each team will have a much clearer image of where they stand among the OUA ranks.
Ryan McCabe
Sports and Health Editor
Week one statistics v.s golden gaels
114 NET PASSING YARDS 323
219 NET RUSHING YARDS 110
16 FIRST DOWNS 18
62 TOTAL PLAYS 55
0 SACKS 5
31:24 TIME OF POSSESION 28:36
Lions’ stats leaders
passing – myles gibbon, 10-19, 100 yards
rushing – myles gibbon, 12-54 yards
receiving – jason charland 3-42 yards
tackles – james tuck, corey bellerdine, 4.5
