Temperatures reached record highs across the province and that means playoff time in the OVFL and OFC, affectionately known as “the grind”. With the contenders separated from the pretenders, last weekend was the kickoff to the postseason in both leagues and as we saw fortunes can change on a dime.
The defending champs in both the OVFL and OFC are still alive. In the OVFL the London Jr. Mustangs enjoying a bye weekend and in the OFC the Hamilton Hurricanes got their revenge knocking off the Burlington Stampeders 41-24, on the strength of Michael Chris Ike’s 307 yards rushing.
Things get even more contested this weekend as the OFC is down to four and the winners advance to the big game. In the OVFL, the first round is behind us and now the heavyweights join in on the fun. All in all should be a great weekend of football.
OFC CONFERENCE FINALS:
#7 HAMILTON HURRICANES 31 #3 GUELPH JR GRYPHONS 30 – Nobody would argue the importance of the QB position in football and one of the many reasons these two teams are playing in the OFC South Final is the play each have received from their respective pivots. Hamilton’s Zack Beno and Guelph’s Dakota Brown have both displayed skill and the ability to manage game that belies their youth. Neither team is reliant solely on their QB, far from it but when called upon both consistently deliver and when needed can take control of the offense and lead their club to victory. But the QBs won’t be the keys, it will be the defenses and the big story could be Hamilton running back Chris Michael Ike vs. the Guelph D. The Guelph D is the OFC South’s best but in the August heat, Michael Ike will be the difference.
.#4 PETERBOROUGH WOLVERINES 38 #8 NORTH HALTON CRIMSON TIDE 13 – The Wolverines were head and shoulders above the rest of the OFC North and will cruise to the division crown this weekend. With a ferocious defense and an offense loaded with weapons like Cam Gilmore, Ryan McNamara, Nick Clarkin and plenty of others the Wolverines could be the North’s best chance for an OFC crown in a few years.
OVFL CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS:
#5 NIAGARA SPEARS 28 CAMBRIDGE LIONS 17 – DBs Reid Wiley and Jason Porter make throwing against the Spears a dangerous prospect. The Lions are good and RB Elvis Sanchez is amongst the best, but the Spears’ skill at secondary should allow them to dedicate more defenders to shut down Sanchez and the Lions ground game and that will be the difference.
#2 MYERS RIDERS 38 OSHAWA HAWKEYES 28 – This one will be closer than many expect, this edition of the Hawkeyes is for real and if Myers comes out flat an upset could be in the making. That’s a big IF though, coach Matt Kassner’s teams are always well prepared and with JP Cimankinda in backfield…. .Look for the defending Wettges champs to feed the Hawkeyes a steady dose of Cimankinda and while Oshawa QB David Maecker keeps the Hawkeyes in any game, the Riders pull away in the fourth.
#1 LONDON JR MUSTANGS 30 ETOBICOKE EAGLES 17 – Another one that will be closer than some expect, the Eagles finished 2015 5-3 and seemed to get stronger each year and although not quite amongst the Adam Conference elite, they established themselves as the “best of the rest”. Capable of the upset here, the Eagles should not be taken lightly. Problem is London is the “best of the best” The Eagles keep it close in the first half, but by the beginning of the fourth quarter the result will no longer be in doubt.
#8 CUMBERLAND PANTHERS 21 #6 TORONTO THUNDER 17 – The Panthers pull the small upset here and avenge a week three 21-0 shutout loss.
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