After securing the Lions’ first win since 2021, Head Coach Dexter Janke continues to make a name for himself, as the Lions secured their first home win against the Waterloo Warriors since 2019 in front of York alumni who once laced up a pair of cleats for the university teams themselves.
The game got off to a rough start, as the Lions were down 14-0 as early as the 08:17 mark. Waterloo’s early lead did not discourage them though, as the Lions were able to complete a comeback to win 39-24, courtesy of a masterclass by Shawn Lal who threw four touchdown passes and ran 150 yards. This was Lal’s first start of the season, replacing Matt Linn who was out due to an injury.
Gus Banka, who played for the Lions between 1972 and 1975, shares his thoughts on the game: “I was thrilled! It’s amazing what [Janke and his coaching staff] have done for the program in one year; they picked up some good players and they deserved to win today’s game. It was really exciting because we have not seen this in a long time.”
Looking ahead, the Lions face the Guelph Gryphons, who are currently 5-2. The Lions look to keep up their momentum and go head-to-head with the Gryphons today, with kickoff at 7 p.m., on Grad Night.
