The Gaels finally earned their first home win of the season, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
On Sept. 27, the Queen’s Gaels football team hosted the York University Lions in OUA regular-season action at Richardson Stadium. Queen’s was looking to add to their modest 2-game winning streak and delivered, thumping the Lions 57-5.
READ MORE: Gaels football looking to build off momentum against York
This game, however, had even more merit attached. The weekend featured Queen’s Football Hall of Fame Weekend ceremonies, honouring past and present members of the Queen’s football community.
Amid the electric atmosphere, the game came under unique circumstances. Both Justin Pace, ArtSci ’26, and Head Coach Steve Snyder served one-game suspensions following the Gaels’ previous game against the University of Waterloo.
Pace’s suspension came from a hit on Waterloo quarterback Nick Orr. In a statement provided to The Journal by Queen’s Athletics and Recreation (A&R), Queen’s says that Snyder’s sanction from the OUA was given because he “brought an ejected player back to the sidelines for that student-athlete’s safety,” and that while they accept the suspension, they stand by Snyder’s decision.
Instead, the game featured the head coaching debut for Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Ryan Bechmanis, PheKin ’05, who coached in Snyder’s absence.
The game started with sheer dominance from Queen’s, forcing a York punt on the first series of the game that allowed the explosive Queen’s offense on the field. They swiftly pushed the ball down the field, which ultimately led to a field goal.
Queen’s defence was relentless, not giving York an inch, setting the stage for a 94-yard catch-and-run by Russell Weir, ArtSci ’26, to give Queen’s an early 10-0 lead. The first quarter was all Queen’s, with the defence and special teams working together to pin the York offence deep in their own territory and forcing a safety.
The second quarter was no different, as Oliver Jackson, ArtSci ’27 broke through late to sack the quarterback and keep the pressure on the York offense. This pressure translated to the Queen’s offensive side, who, in turn, scored a 29-yard rushing touchdown, courtesy of Jared Chisari, MSc ‘26. After Queen’s and York traded possessions, the Queens offense struck again with a Nathan Falconi, ArtSci ’26, 88-yard touchdown.
Right before the end of the quarter, a throw from York Lions quarterback Keegan Hall was intercepted by Keegan Vanek, ArtSci ’26 on the York 4–yard line with 32 seconds left in the second quarter. Alex Vreeken, Kin ’26, made York pay, firing a touchdown pass to Cedric Smith, ArtSci ’26. The Gaels went into halftime leading 33-2.
The third quarter was more of the same, with Queen’s dominance on both sides of the ball. The Gaels defence came up with stop after stop that the York Lions offense had no answer for. On the other hand, the Queen’s offense continued to shine, with another long Vreeken-Falconi 93-yard connection for a touchdown.
In the fourth quarter, Queen’s offence scored two more touchdowns, coming from Chisari and Falconi respectively, while the Queen’s defence held York to 5 points. The Gaels would finish victorious by a score of 57-5.
On offense, Queen’s mustered up monstrous numbers, including Vreeken’s 394 yards in the air, Falconi’s 258 yards receiving for three touchdowns, and Chisari’s 139 yards rushing for two touchdowns.
Defensively, Brandon Spence, Kin ’27, had a game-high ten tackles, while Ashton Miller-Melancon, ArtSci ’26, added an interception to his impressive season. The Gaels, following their win, move to the seventh spot in the U SPORTS rankings as of Sept. 29.
Next, the Gaels will travel to Guelph to face the Gryphons on Oct. 4 for a 1 p.m., EST start
Tags
Alex Vreeken, Jared Chisari, Steve Snyder, York University Lions
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