It was an auspicious start to the year for York athletics as both the football and men’s basketball Lions came up winners on the weekend.
The York Lions football team jumped out to an early 18-3 lead Monday against the Waterloo Warriors and hung on to win 20-16 in the 2005 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) season opener for both teams.
Right: York’s Geoff Gordon sacks Waterloo quarterback Jon Morbey (photo by Andrew Craig)
In front of a crowd of 2,026 at York Stadium, Lions quarterback Bart Zemanek completed 15 of 33 pass attempts for 247 yards with a pair of first quarter touchdowns. York running back Andre Durie rushed for 184 yards on 27 carries but was kept out of the end zone by the Waterloo defence.
After Ian Nichol gave Waterloo a quick lead with a 22-yard field goal, Zemanek threw for two touchdowns, one a 10-yard pass to Ricardo Hudson, the other a two-yard strike to Jocelyn Courcelles before the end of the opening quarter.
Waterloo had success moving the ball in the late stages of the contest but was unable to find the end zone. Strong management of the clock by Zemanek and some solid runs from Durie in the final minutes of the game prevented a Warriors comeback.
The victory in their own stadium came as a welcome change for the Lions who did not win a home game last season despite finishing 3-5 on the year and making the playoffs. The team will travel to Queen’s, which lost its season-opener, next Saturday.
Men’s basketball Lions sweep weekend warm-up games
The York men’s basketball Lions won two exhibition contests against competition from the National Collegiate Athletic Association in weekend games played at the Tait McKenzie Centre. The Lions won 91-78 over the Lake Superior State University Lakers from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan on Sunday after beating Middle Tennessee State University’s Blue Raiders, 77-71, on Saturday.
Right: York’s Tut Ruach, who led the Lions with a game-high 30 points (photo by Andrew Craig)
Last year’s Candian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Rookie of the Year, Tut Ruach, scored a game-high 30 points for the Lions and added seven assists against their NCAA Division II foes from the Sault. Dan Eves, a second team CIS All-Canadian and the OUA East Player of the Year in 2004-2005, recorded 29 points and shot 50 per cent from behind the arc (8-of-16) for the second time in as many nights.
Eves led the Lions offensively against the NCAA Division I Blue Raiders with 23 points and seven rebounds. He shot 7 of 14 from the floor and 5 of 10 from behind the arc. First-team OUA All-Star centre Jordan Foebel recorded 20 points while shooting 9 of 12 from the floor. Ruach registered 14 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.
York opens OUA conference play at home against the Laurentian Voyageurs on Nov. 3.
For more information on York Lions interuniversity sports teams, visit the Sport York Web site.