#CFC10 SUMMER RANKINGS – VARSITY (6): Unbeaten teams fall & for the first time all season… a new #1!!

Things just got a WHOLE lot more interesting at the midway point of the 2015 Varsity Ontario summer season. The two-time OFC champion Hamilton Hurricanes, who hadn’t lost in two and a half years, fell 26-8 to the Guelph Jr. Gryphons. With the loss, the Canes and perhaps the OFC South’s air of invincibility took a hit leaving the OFC title up for grabs. The Burlington Stampeders now remain the only unbeaten team in the South improving to 4-0. Due to field issues the Stamps played on Tuesday and again Sunday winning both in impressive and lopsided fashion, first knocking off the Brantford Bison 42-14 then following up with a 43-13 win over Forest City.

The Peterborough Wolverines remain the class of the OFC North with a 4-0 start of their own, looking very impressive in the process. The Toronto Jr. Argos also sport a 4-0 mark but are in need of a “statement win” to put them amongst the OFC’s elite. In a game that schedule makers couldn’t have gotten better, the second half of the OFC season kicks off with the South leading and third ranked Stampeders hosting the fourth ranked Wolverines. It has all the makings of a classic.

In the OVFL, the Niagara Spears and Myers Riders remain the leagues only unbeaten teams, both winning in very familiar yet different fashion. Myers hammered Oshawa 62-28 bringing their season mark to 4-0 outscoring opponents 215-63 in the process. Niagara on the other hand improved to 4-0 themselves with a 27-24 overtime win against previously unbeaten Cambridge. The Spears have yet to win a game by double digits and have only outscored their opponents by 22 total points in their four wins.

When the dust settled the Niagara Spears ascended to top spot in this week’s #CFC10 Rankings, with Myers, Burlington and Peterborough all staking their own claim to top spot. The Hurricanes dropped to seventh, but along with #5 Essex have very realistic title aspirations and remain in any playoffs/championship discussion. London remains on the cusp of the #CFC10, waiting to pounce should anyone slip up. It would be surprising not to see them crack the #CFC10 in the weeks to come.

No doubt, the home stretch is going to be crazy and the #CFC10 sure to change, but at the official midway point here are the week 6 #CFC10 Summer Rankings.

 

 

VARSITY (UNDER 20) TOP TEN RANKINGS – WEEK 6 (previous week’s ranking in parenthesis)

1) NIAGARA SPEARS (2) 4-0 OVFL (won 27-24 @ Cambridge) Look up the expression “living on the edge” and you’re sure to see a 2015 Niagara Spears team photo. The Spears won their second straight three point win and with three of their four wins being one possession games and the other being single digits the Spears haven’t had a chance to breathe….until now. The Spears were in this position last season but couldn’t stay there for long but this season should be different as their schedule, which was brutal in the first four weeks becomes more “user friendly” in the second half of the season. It’s really quite impressive when you think about it….the Spears have beaten two top fives and a top ten in their first four games. Not a better resume in the province. Next up: Etobicoke

2) OTTAWA MYERS RIDERS (3) 4-0 OVFL (won 62-28 vs. Oshawa ) Myers improved to 4-0 and have yet to be challenged this season. Once again the class of the OVFL’s Wettges conference, Myers will be favoured in the rest of their regular season games but unlike the first half of the season however they will have to be sharp. Start the Jacob Spinella watch now. QB Spinella an award winner at the recent Ontario Prospect Challenge has fired 22 touchdowns against 3 interceptions so far this season. Spinella who possesses a cannon for an arm and lighting quick release will no doubt be a hot commodity for CIS scouts in the upcoming months. Speaking of hot commodities, receiver Phil Iloki has averaged an unearthly 36.8 yards per catch and has eight touchdowns on only 14 catches. Somewhere Al Davis is smiling. Next up: #10 Kingston

3) BURLINGTON STAMPEDERS (6) 4-0 OFC  (won 43-13 vs Forest City) The game of the week in Ontario features these Stampeders hosting the fourth ranked Wolverines in a battle of undefeated OFC divisional leaders. The Stamps have yet to be tested, outscoring the opposition 123-25 in their first three games, running over them in the process. That should all change with the Peterborough coming to town.  Next up: #4 Peterborough

4) PETERBOROUGH WOLVERINES (7) 4-0 OFC (won 47-25 @ North Halton) Peterborough will be fighting for conference bragging rights in the aforementioned game of the week. Often seen as the “weaker” conference, the Wolverines have a chance to balance the scales with a win in this dream crossover matchup. Next up: @ #3 Burlington

5) ESSEX RAVENS (5) 4-1 OVFL (won 31-9 vs. Hamilton Ironmen) Are the Ravens following last year’s script, opening week loss to Niagara then running the table to the finals? The OVFL game of the week features these Ravens hosting #8 Cambridge. Next up: #8 Cambridge

               PHOTO CREDIT: Sean Allen Brant News

 

6) GUELPH JR. GRYPHONS (NR) 3-1 OFC  (won 26-8 @ Hamilton Hurricanes) After losing their opener, the Jr. Gryphons have banged off three straight, the most impressive being the road win against the then #1 ranked Hurricanes. A bit of redemption for a Guelph team that was perhaps one stop away from a possible win last season against the Canes. Next up: @ Nipissing

7) HAMILTON HURRICANES (1) 3-1 OFC (lost 26-8 vs. Guelph) The Hurricanes biggest scare last year came from Guelph, this time the Gryphons finish the job handing the Hurricanes their first loss. Even though the Canes tumble to the seventh spot, something tells me the Canes are far from out of the championship hunt. Next up: @ Oakville

8) CAMBRIDGE LIONS (4) 3-1 OVFL (lost 27-24 vs. Niagara) With #5 Essex up next the Lions have to bounce back from their heartbreaking loss and do so in a hurry. Next up: @ #5 Essex

9) TORONTO JR. ARGOS (9) 4-0 OFC (won 17-13 @ Sudbury) Some feel the Jr. Argos should be ranked higher, others think they aren’t top ten material, despite the 4-0 record. All that debate will cease in a few weeks with big games against Huronia and Peterborough on the horizon. Next up: @ Forest City

10) KINGSTON GRENADIERS (10) 4-1 OVFL (won 44-28 vs. Markham) The Grenadiers are one point away from being unbeaten, but they face a HUGE test in undefeated defending champ Myers. Next up: #2 Myers

***Honourable Mention***  London Jr. Mustangs (OVFL), Metro Toronto Wildcats (OVFL), Sault Ste. Marie Sabercats (OVFL), Durham West Dolphins, Huronia Stallions (OFC), Brantford Bisons (OFC)