Lions to open against Queen’s in 2018 OUA football season

York U Lions

Ontario University Athletics (OUA) announced its 2018 football schedule with the road to the 110th Yates Cup kicking off the weekend of Aug. 25.

For the sixth straight year, the York University Lions will begin at home on opening weekend, this time against the Queen’s Gaels on Sunday, Aug. 26.

They will also be home in Week 3 against the Windsor Lancers, Week 6 against the Waterloo Warriors and Week 8 against the Carleton Ravens.

The highlight of the road schedule will come in the season finale, when the Lions travel downtown to face the rival Toronto Varsity Blues in the 49th Red & Blue Bowl. The Lions reclaimed the Argo Cup with a dominant 41-17 victory on home field last year and will be looking to wrap up the regular season with another big win in 2018.

The road schedule begins with a trip to Guelph, Ont., to face the Gryphons on Labour Day weekend, in Week 4 they will head to London, Ont., for a tough contest against the defending Yates Cup and Vanier Cup champion Western Mustangs, and Week 5 will see them travel to the nation’s capital for a game against the Ottawa Gee-Gees.

The Lions will not face the Laurier Golden Hawks and McMaster Marauders this year, and their bye will come in Week 7 on Thanksgiving weekend.

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. 27, followed by the semifinals on Saturday, Nov. 3. The “Quest for the Cup” will end on Saturday, Nov. 10 with the 110th Yates Cup.