On November 29, the Hanyang University American football team, LIONS, took second place at the ‘Tiger Ball,’ the final match of the National University American Football Championship. Facing off Yonsei University, the LIONS fought a close battle but ended the game with a score of 7-14. Although Yonsei took the crown, the fighting spirit of the Lions, which shone until the very end, resonated as powerfully as any championship trophy. Let’s look back at the photos of the intense day as the team reached the finals for the first time in 13 years.

The Tiger Ball is regarded as the highest stage where national university American football teams compete. On this day, Hanyang University has put up its name on the list of Tiger Ball finalists for the first time in 13 years. Yeo Eon-ron(School of Business Administration, Junior), the president of the LIONS, shared his thoughts: "Since we are standing on the final stage again for the first time in 13 years, the whole team feels the significance deeply. Every member of the squad prepared with great pride and did their absolute best."

The LIONS prepared for this match under the slogan 'Team Over Me.' Yeo introduced the preparation process, saying, "The captains set the standards at the front, and the new members willingly followed them, creating an atmosphere to move as one true team." He added, "I believe the team reached the finals because the faith of each teammate toward our goal gathered, even though everyone's role was different."

In the beginning, the Hanyang University 스포츠토토 베팅샵 seemed to take the lead, going up 7-0. Leading with goals by Kim Min-gyum(Department of Physics, Junior), Hanyang went into a close battle after Yonsei scored 7 points in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Yonsei pushed Hanyang hard and scored additional points. Soon, the game ended 7-14 with the sound of the whistle. Having poured out their best, a sense of regret was visible on the players' faces after the game.

Meanwhile, Captain Seo Jae-hwi(Department of Energy Engineering, Sophomore) stated, "Scoring plays are great, but the most memorable scene was the team playing defense until the very end of the fourth quarter, even when we knew we had very low chances of winning." He added, "We were so exhausted and the flow of the game was unfavorable, but no one gave up. Everyone squeezed out their remaining strength. It felt like they were trying to fulfill their responsibilities for the team until the end, regardless of winning or losing." Seo concluded by expressing his deep affection for the team, saying, "I believe those moments provide us the greatest resonance that playing sports together can offer."

Lim Hyun-seong(Department of Physics, Freshman), who will serve as the captain of the LIONS in 2026, expressed his determination for the coming year. Lim said, "I think reaching second place this year is a great achievement, but much regret remains." He shared his resolve, stating, "As the captain in 2026, the LIONS' next goal is undoubtedly the Tiger Ball championship. I will return with a stronger LIONS, grinding myself out as a captain to meet our goal." We are looking forward to the performance LIONS will show us next year as they challenge for the peak once again.