Box Score The Warriors spoiled the York Lions homecoming on Saturday afternoon with a 23-22 victory on Saturday afternoon at York Stadium.  The win snapped an 11-game losing streak dating back to October 24, 2009 in which Waterloo surpassed the Lions 52-3 at Warrior Field.

“It's a great day for Waterloo football,” commented Waterloo head coach Joe Paopao.  “I think we can all now look forward to a positive future for the program.  We did what we had for the win today and I couldn't be more proud of each guy in that locker room.”

Waterloo held what seemed to be a convincing 23-11 lead after three quarters but the York side was determined to give their homecoming crowd more as they mounted a fourth quarter comeback. 

Lions Quarterback Myles Gibbon of Montreal found Jonelle Tolbert of Mississauga, Ont., for a 24-yard touchdown pass, Tolbert's second of the game, with 4:30 remaining in the frame.

The Lions defence then clamped down on the Warriors offence, preventing a return drive and forcing a safety, bringing the Lions' within three points of the Warriors with 1:46 remaining.

They then opened their next drive on their own 12-yard line and raced down the field and into scoring position. Gibbon made a play for the end zone, but his pass was intercepted by Waterloo's Harrison Mair (Vancouver/Vancouver College) of Vancouver with just 0:29 remaining in the game. The Warriors then played out the clock, conceding another safety against the Lions on the final play of the game, bringing the final score to 23-22.

The Warriors split their offence between quarterbacks Jamie Cook (Collingwood/) of Collingwood, Ont., who was 6-for-6 for 124 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions, and Brian Chris (Waterloo/) of Waterloo, Ont., who threw 14-for-26 posting 172 yards and one interception.

For the Lions, Gibbon finished 24-of-37 for 352 passing yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Tolbert was the leading receiver with 98 yards on 10 catches.

The Warriors received the ball at the opening kickoff, and the resulting drive ended with a 79-yard touchdown for Nick Anapolsky (Guelph /), off a pass from Cook just under three minutes into the game. Kicker Jake Fiorucci (Niagara Falls/) kicked in the extra point.

Gibbon led the return drive to respond, finishing up with a touchdown pass to bring the Lions even with 8:22 remaining in the first quarter. Kicker Heneri Dervishi of Toronto added the extra point.

The defensive game then took the forefront, as the teams would battle each other out to finish the first quarter with seven points apiece.

Fiorucci was able to add a 30-yard field goal with 13 minutes remaining in the half. The Lions' offence struggled to respond, and kicker Dervishi would be forced to take a safety with just a little over seven minutes remaining.

A critical interception by Lion Christ States, of Brampton, Ont., less than a minute later inspired a Lion drive that featured a 20-yard reception for Alex Bughdan of Toronto for a first down, and eventually resulted in a 22-yard field goal for Dervish with 4:27 remaining in the half.

Kellen Aiken of Guelph, Ont., recovered a Warriors fumble to start another aggressive Lions' drive on the Warriors' 42 yard line. Dervishi missed the 26-yard field goal attempt, but added the rouge to bring the score at the half to 12-11 in favour of the Warriors.

Waterloo owned the third quarter, keeping York from registering any points. Fiorucci opened the second half by marking up a field goal just over three minutes in. The team would later add a safety with 6:58 remaining in the quarter. Chris completed a 46-yard touchdown pass to Michael Robson (Pickering/) with just one second remaining in the quarter, to bring a 23-11 Warriors lead into the final quarter and the eventual 23-22 win for the black and gold.

For the second straight game Anapolsky led all receivers with 141 catching yards on nine receptions while Robson collected five passes for 92 yards.

Waterloo (1-3) look to continue their winning ways on Saturday, September 29 at their homecoming when they welcome the Toronto Varsity Blues (1-3) who are coming off a close 31-29 loss to Guelph.  The Lions (1-3) travel to Windsor (2-2) for an evening game.