Lions drop first road game of 2025 to Gee-Gees

Coming off their first season-opening win in nine years last weekend, the York University Lions football team took to the road for the first time this season Saturday afternoon, as they embarked on a trip east to the nation's capital. 

The Lions duelled with an Ottawa Gee-Gees team also looking to move to 2-0 after they beat the Waterloo Warriors in Week 1.  

The Gee-Gees jumped out to a 10-0 lead after one on a 38-yard touchdown reception by Robin Collioud and a 14-yard field goal by Zachary Copeland. The Lions responded with a 29-yard field goal by Nathan Walker, to make it 10-3 midway through the second quarter. 

After another Copeland field goal – this one from 18 yards – made it 13-3, the Lions eventually recovered a Souleymane Camara fumble, forced by Uzoma Nwabeke and scooped up by Jaden Dicks, deep in their own territory. However, after two Greg Sealy runs set up a third and two, Walker had his punt taken right off his foot by Daniel Briere and returned 31 yards for a touchdown to make it 20-3 Ottawa at the break. 

The Lions engineered a nine-play 48-yard drive on their first possession of the second half, capped off by a Keagan Hall touchdown pass to Avery Ford from 10 yards out to give the Lions life. However, the Gee-Gees added a field goal on the ensuing drive before a 28-yard strike from Josh Janssen to Romeo Lussier set up an 18-yard major to Noah Avery, making it 30-10 late in the third. 

The Lions would add a touchdown late in the fourth on a Hall toss to C.J. Vincent from five yards out, the Gee-Gees held on for a 33-17 win.

LOOKING AHEAD: 

The Lions will regroup and return home next Saturday for the 55th annual Red & Blue Bowl from York Lions Stadium, looking to keep hold of the Argo Cup after last year's 19-17 win at Varsity Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:00 pm.