#CFC10 Summer Previews & Predictions – BANTAM (2): Who will stay unbeaten?

It’s hard to believe that in only the second week of the season, there are already games that can be deemed pivotal or crucial!

However, such is life in both the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL) and Ontario Football Conference (OFC) summer seasons.

The focus this week will be on the OVFL and two key matchups featuring  #CFC10 teams. The 1-0 London Jr. Mustangs play host to the 1-0 Hamilton Ironmen in an early season clash for Adam Conference supremacy.

Also in the Adam Conference the Essex Ravens are looking to stake an early claim on the lead in the standings will try to improve to 2-0 as they face a Mississauga Warriors team that desperately wants to avoid going 0-2 after a tight 20-15 loss to the Jr Mustangs in Week 1.

Here are the Preview and Predictions for Week 2:

London Jr Mustangs logo

HAMILTON IRONMEN (1-0) @ # 7 LONDON JR MUSTANGS (1-0) Sun. May 31st 15h00 TD Stadium

THE MATCHUP: London Jr. Mustangs come into this one on the heels of a tough, season opening 20-15 win against a strong Mississauga Warriors squad.

RB Cameron Guest was an absolute beast amassing 141 yards rushing en route to 238 all purpose yards. However, an area of concern was how one dimensional the Jr. Mustangs’ offense was in Week 1, something which could prove problematic against the Hamilton Ironmen.

Defensively, the ‘Stangs were very stingy. Led by LB Zack Blesity and his eight total tackles (seven solo, two assisted) , the London defense held Mississauga to 17 yards rushing on 11 carries.

As for the Ironmen, they came into 2015 season looking to build on their 2014 campaign in which they were 4-4 on the season. The team certainly made strides in that direction with an 59-0 beat-down of Markham Raiders.

Offensively, the Ironmen were also one dimensional, only putting the ball up four times, but they were efficient completing three of those. Although, when you rush for 290 yards does passing really matter?

Unlike the Jr Mustangs, the Ironmen ground game was by committee with Sito Berrio, Brayden Kelly and Eric Faubert all rushing for over 90 yards with Berrio rushing for three touchdowns, Kelly tallying twice and Faubert once. Faubert, Kelly and Berrio all contributed on special teams as Hamilton scored three times on returns.

On the defensive side, the Ironmen pitched the shutout.  However, was it Ironmen dominance or Markham inefficiency? This week should answer that question.

LONDON PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB Cameron Guest, DL/OL Joshua Mascoll-Medeiros, LB Zack Blesity

HAMILTON PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB Sito Berrio, RB Eric Faubert, RB Brayden Kelly, QB Quincy Vaugn, DB/LB Mason Davidson

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: This one should be good.  Whichever team can shutdown the run will have the inside track, but of course that’s easier said than done! Look for a back and forth battle an old fashioned slugfest as football purists should love this one. Both these teams should make some noise in 2015, but we’ll go with the minor upset as the Ironmen has a little more depth.

FINAL SCORE: HAMILTON 24 LONDON 21

Ironmen-On-Black2

#4 ESSEX RAVENS (1-0) @ MISSISSAUGA WARRIORS (0-1)  Sat. May 30th 12h00 St. Marcellinus CSS

THE MATCHUP: Essex Ravens opened the 2015 season with an impressive 22-0 shutout of a talented Niagara Spears team.

The term “bend but don’t break” defence applied to the Ravens in Week 1 as Niagara Spears were able to get in the red zone, but were routinely stopped when it mattered. Led by tackling machines LB Kaiden Burdick and DL Zack Argent, the Ravens defence forced two turnovers inside their own 10 yard line preserving the shutout.

Offensively, the Ravens displayed a rarely seen balance as RB Justin Pope rushed for 110 yards.  Perhaps more impressive was OPC QB Jake Heydon completing14 of 22 passes for 203 yards and a score. Heydon also added 36 yards on the ground.

It’s only Week 2, but Mississauga Warriors don’t want to fall to 0-2.

With high expectations coming into this year, the Warriors couldn’t move the ball on the ground.  Although QB Christian Smodis passed for 156 yards, he completed only 30 percent of his passes (6 of 20). These numbers won’t get it done against the Ravens’ defence. Therefore,  the Warriors offence needs to improve and fast!

Defensively, the Warriors held London Jr Mustangs in check recording two sacks and an interception and playing well enough for the ‘W’.

MISSISSAUGA PLAYERS TO WATCH: LB Joshua McBain, DB Draven Maiato, OPC RB Israel Brathwaite, DB Malik Henry

ESSEX PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB Justin Pope, OPC QB Jake Heydon, DL Zack Argent, LB Kaiden Burdick, WR Theodore Johnson

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: Essex Ravens are good and will prove too much for the Mississauga Warriors winning on both sides of the ball.

FINAL SCORE: ESSEX 28 MISSISSAUGA 12

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