Ontario University Athletics (OUA) announced its 2015 football schedule earlier this week, with the road to the 108th Yates Cup kicking off on Sunday, Aug. 30.
For the third straight year, the York University Lions will begin at home on opening day, this time against the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks at York Stadium. The last time the Lions hosted the Golden Hawks, they christened their new turf field with a 33-20 victory.
The highlight of the home schedule comes in Week 6, when the Lions will host the rival University of Toronto Varsity Blues in the annual Red & Blue Bowl as part of OUA’s Rivalry Week. City of Toronto supremacy will be on the line in the contest, and the Lions will be looking to reclaim the Argo Cup for the first time since 2012. The game will be played under the lights at York Stadium on Friday, Oct. 2.
Following the home opener, the Lions will host their annual Homecoming game in Week 3 on Saturday, Sept. 12 when the University of Guelph Gryphons come to town. The contest will be part of a week-long celebration of York alumni that will also include the Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Friday night.
The Lions will close their regular season at home in Week 8 on Saturday, Oct. 17 with a game against the visiting Queen’s University Gaels, and the team’s graduating student-athletes, part of head coach Warren Craney’s first recruiting class at York, will be honoured before kick-off.
The road schedule includes games against the Western University Mustangs in London, Ont., Week 2, the University of Waterloo Warriors in Week 4, the defending Yates Cup-champion McMaster University Marauders in Hamilton, Ont., in Week 5 and the Carleton University Ravens in Ottawa Week 7 in a night game on Thanksgiving weekend.
The Lions will not face the University of Windsor Lancers or University of Ottawa Gee-Gees this year, and their bye will come in the final week of the regular season.
The regular season will build to the much-anticipated playoffs following the conclusion of games in Week 9. The OUA quarter-finals will take place on Saturday, Oct. 31, followed by the semifinals on Saturday, Nov. 7. Fans can look forward to the 108th Yates Cup on Saturday, Nov. 14, presented by Pioneer Energy.
Week 1 – Aug. 30
McMaster @ Toronto
Western @ Windsor
Laurier @ York
Guelph @ Waterloo
Carleton @ Queen’s
Week 2 – Sept. 6-7 (Labour Day)
Queen’s @ Ottawa
Windsor @ Toronto
York @ Western
Laurier @ Guelph
Waterloo @ Carleton
Week 3 – Sept. 12
Carleton @ Windsor
Guelph @ York * Homecoming
Waterloo @ Queen’s
Ottawa @ McMaster
Western @ Laurier
Week 4 – Sept. 19
McMaster @ Guelph
Toronto @ Carleton
York @ Waterloo
Windsor @ Ottawa
Queen’s @ Western
Week 5 – Sept. 26
York @ McMaster
Ottawa @ Guelph
Windsor @ Laurier
Carleton @ Western
Queen’s @ Toronto
Week 6 – Oct. 2-3
Toronto @ York
Carleton @ Ottawa
Laurier @ Waterloo
McMaster @ Windsor
Guelph @ Queen’s
Week 7 – Oct. 8-9 (Thanksgiving Weekend)
Western @ Toronto
Waterloo @ McMaster
Ottawa @ Laurier
York @ Carleton
Week 8 – Oct. 17
Windsor @ Guelph
Ottawa @ Western
Queen’s @ York
Toronto @ Waterloo
McMaster @ Laurier
Week 9 – Oct. 24
Laurier @ Queen’s
Western @ McMaster
Waterloo @ Windsor
Toronto @ Ottawa
Guelph @ Carleton
OUA Quarter-finals – Oct. 31
6th place @ 3rd place
5th place @ 4th place
Bye – 1st and 2nd place
OUA Semifinals – Nov. 7
Lowest remaining seed @ 1st place
Highest remaining seed @ 2nd place
108th Yates Cup, presented by Pioneer Energy – Nov. 14
Lowest remaining seed @ Highest remaining seed