The York Lions football team ended the season on Saturday with a hard-fought loss to the Queen’s Gaels by a score of 33-32 at the York Stadium. A brief ceremony was held just before the game to honour the players who graduated this past week.
Defensive lineman Hussein Hazime says it was the most competitive game the Lions have played in the last five years. “We just played the number 10 ranked team in the country and in my opinion, we outplayed them,” he says.
He adds that it was unfortunate that the game didn’t go their way in the final seconds.
The Lions played well offensively in the first half, trailing the Gaels by three points at the end of the first quarter.
The first drive of the game was led by rookie quarterback Brett Hunchak, who brought the ball up in a series of run and pass plays and then managed to get it to Jesse Amankwaa for the touchdown.
The Gaels responded with two touchdowns of their own, after which the Lions’ Nick Naylor scored an eight-yard field goal to bring the score to 13-10 in favour of the Gaels.
Naylor scored two more field goals in the second quarter, keeping the scoreboard balanced as the Gaels scored another touchdown early on.
Then came the most thrilling moment of the game for Lions fans, as Brett Colangelo intercepted a pass and ran 50 yards for a third York touchdown. Their rare halftime lead extended to two points (22-20).
In the second half, the Lions and Gaels continued to play a close game right until the end when, with just two minutes left in game, the Gaels took a one point lead to which the Lions were unable to retaliate.
Although young Lions rookies such as Brett and Colton Hunchak and Amankwaa played another very impressive game, the team ended off the season with a record of 1-7, just one more win than last season.
However, that is still an improvement, if a small one. Hazime, who has played for the Lions for five years, says of the team’s performance that “compared to where it was in the past this is definitely miles in the right direction. We are nowhere near where us players and our coaches need us to be.”
He remains optimistic about the future of the Lions football team.
Hazime is one of the seven graduating players who was honoured before the game, and it was his final game with the Lions. “It was a really emotional feeling going into the last game,” he says.
“Most non-athletes don’t realize the amount of work that goes into playing a varsity sport, especially football.” Describing some of the activities that keep student athletes on a tight schedule, he says that it’s more than a full time job.
“Complete strangers become your family, brothers, and best friends,” he says. He is also appreciative of the support the team has received from the York community over the years.
“Other varsity athletes come out and support us, as well as many students, alumni, staff, family, and friends,” though he reminds the community that “there is no such thing as too much support.”
In Saturday’s game, Hazime completed seven tackles to tie York’s all-time record of 220 career tackles. He also had two sacks in the game, and remains the OUA leader in total tackles and sacks.
Finishing off his own successful career with the Lions, he has some advice for future athletes in the Lions’ football program.
“Stick together, focus, work hard, play hard, win, and most importantly, have fun. It goes by in the blink of an eye.”
Hassam Munir, Sports Editor
Featured image courtesy of York Lions
