CFCs TOP 10 "Ontario Summer Rankings" week 1: Can the Lions roar be stopped? (video)

We apologize to everyone for not releasing our ‘pre-season’ rankings. We decided to put our efforts in team previews instead. We will try to do better next year.

This is the first edition of our ‘Ontario Summer Rankings’ for 2012. Lots of great coaches, lot of great players, and great fans. We look forward to your opinions…anonymous or not. Negative, positive or whatever.

2011 CFC ‘SUMMER ONTARIO RANKINGS’

VARSITY (UNDER 20)

Toronto Thunder (1) [1-0] OVFL

Defeated Pickering Dolphins 44 to 7. Back from pre-season injury, Jayde Rowe paced the offense with 101 yards and 2 touchdowns on 12 carries. Coach DiMaria hopes his squad continues their winning ways against another cross-town rival this week.

Essex Ravens (2) [1-0] OVFL

Defeated Brampton bulldogs 35 to 7. Rookie QB Mike Mallendar threw two TD passes and ran for another. First year RB Eli Fera rushed for 113 yards and received 81 yards in the win. Play #3 Hamilton Ironmen in a big game this weekend.

Hamilton Ironmen (3) [1-0] OVFL

Defeated Halton Cowboys 56-0. Head coach Rob Underhill was pleased with his QB Alex Hill and the depth of his 2nd and 3rd string players in the victory. When looking ahead to this weekend’s game against Essex Underhill said “We’ve got our work cut out for us. They have a pair of 1,000 yard rushers in their backfield, so we need to stop the run if we want to win. We also can’t be one-dimensional. We have to disguise some things on offense if we want to be successful.”
Picture: (Under fire. Ironmen quarterback Alex Hill avoids the rush to find the open man)

London Junior Mustangs (4) [1-0] OVFL

Defeated Sault Sabercats 42 to 13. In his head coaching debut in the OVFL, Chris Bertoia led his squad to an impressive victory over the Sabercats. QB Colin Drennan threw 4 touchdown passes in the victory, two of them to big-time player Nate Behar.

Mississauga Warriors (5) [1-0] OVFL

Defeated Niagara Spears 35 to 17. QB Marcus Hobbs was efficient in the win over a strong Spears team. RB Lukas Gavac was the difference maker with 181 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns.

Kingston Grenadiers (6) [1-0] OVFL

Defeated Myers Riders 16 to 12. The defense led the way in the four quarter comeback victory. In the final minutes of play it was Hayden Peters’ clutch field goal that sealed the win.
Picture: [Limestone District Grenadiers quarterback Tyler Filson throws for a pass during their season opener against Ottawa Myers Riders on home field at Loyalist Collegiate & Vocational Institute.
Filson threw for 120 yards and ran for one touchdown. (Photo By: Eric Healey)]

Twin Cities Predators (7) [1-0] OFC

Defeated Burlington Stampeders 29 to 28. Not as athletic as last years OFC champions, however have one of the bigger line play in summer football this season.

Burlington Stampeders (8) [0-1] OFC

Lost to Twin Cities Predators 29 to 29. Like their OFC brethren from Twin Cities, they are not as athletic as the 2011 squad but still have some great players and tremendous coaching.

Metro Toronto Wildcats (9) [1-0] OVFL

Defeated Newmarket Bucs 50 to 0. Head Coach Frank Panos was happy with the week 1 victory. “We were able to wear them down by forcing some 3 and outs and sustaining drives on offense”. It is the defense that will have to have a plan to shut down Rowe and the Toronto Thunder.

Myers Riders (10) [0-1] OVFL

Lost to Grenadiers 16 to 12. After a good showing in an exhibition game against Vanier College, the Varsity Riders were futile on offense, due in part to the Grenadier defense. Head Coach Max Palladino and his squad look to rebound this weekend in the ‘battle of Ottawa’ against Scott Westlake’s Cumberland Panthers.

Honourable Mentions:

Sault Ste. Marie Sabercats [0-1], Guelph Bears [1-0], Cumberland Panthers [1-0], Etobicoke Eagles [1-0], Huronia Stallions [1-0], Oshawa Hawkeyes [1-0].

JUNIOR VARSITY (UNDER 17)

Cambridge Lions (1) [1-0] OVFL

Big and talented. This team has it all. Cruised to 67 to 14 victory over the Guelph Bears. RBs Jothan Salfarlie and Danyel Sipes led the way, both rushing for over 100 yards. Special teams and defense played a big part in the victory with 3 touchdowns to their credit. Play a talented Bulldog team this week.

Burlington Stampeders ‘96 (2) [1-0] OFC

Defeated the Sudbury Gladiators 35 to 0. The Stampeders went out to an early 14 to 0 lead and never looked back, as they added to the lead in the 2nd half. Face last years OFC Final foe the Huronia Stallions this weekend.

Mississauga Warriors (3) [1-0] OVFL

Defeated the Niagara Spears 35 to 7. An impressive defensive performance in week 1 saw Gurjant Singh, Brian Lowrance, and Miguel Torres DaSilva have big games. The running game was the difference with Jonathan McEachron rushing for 130 yards and 1 TD, and QB Nate Hobbs adding 2 rushing touchdowns of his own.

Hamilton Ironmen (4) [1-0] OVFL

Defeated the Halton Cowboys 50 to 0. “It was a real team effort. We’ve got a 48-man roster and we got all of them out on the field today in some capacity,” said head coach Ken McGuire of the opening day victory. QB Liam Putt was effective in his first start, taking over from last year’s starter Kyle Van Wynsberghe (now playing Varsity). We will see if the Ironmen can ‘stop the run’ this weekend in Windsor.

Essex Ravens (5) [1-0] OVFL

Defeated the Brampton Bulldogs 42 to 21. The Ravens pounded the ball against a talented Bulldog team, amassing 382 yards as a team. The question going forward is will they be effective enough in the pass game when teams shut down there impressive running attack. Head Coach Chris Moore and his team are ready to answer those questions.

Kingston Grenadiers (6) [1-0] OVFL

Defeated the Myers Riders 19 to 15. Team defense and some ball hawks in the secondary (Connor O’Neil, Farhan Imtiaz, and Manion Anderson) were the difference in the week 1 victory. QB Chase Peck was efficient and effective in the week 1 victory, benefiting from a big pass and run play to Jeremy Pendergast in the opener.

Pickering Dolphins (7) [1-0] OVFL

Defeated the London Jr. Mustangs 22 to 6. A stingy defense led by Elijah Williams, Sharlon Smith, Trevaughan James, and Kamau Farrell-Burke will have to continue its great play this week against the Eagles. The offense was effective, yet needs to establish an identity in the coming weeks.

Cumberland Panthers (8) [1-0] OVFL

Defeated the Markham Raiders 57 to 28. A balanced offensive attack was the difference in Markham on the weekend. The defense will have to ‘clean up’ things if they are to have success against a talented Riders team who are hungry after a week 1 loss.

Toronto Jr. Argos (9) [1-0] OFC

Defeated the Oakville Titans 22 to 7. QB Treyion Charles (OFSAA track star) was the story early in the game but a potential broken leg may jeopardize the rest of his summer season and the fortunes of the Jr. Argos. Argos Head Coach Carlo Onorati has faith in his back up Christian Batista and hopes that the fortune of his team continues against the Sudbury Gladiators this week.
Picture: (QB Treyion Charles deep in Titans Zone)

Myers Riders (10) [0-1] OVFL

Lost to the Kingston Grenadiers 19 to 15. QB Dimitri Morand will have to learn from his week 1 turnovers in hopes of getting his team in the win column in the ‘battle of Ottawa’ this week against the Panthers. RB Julien Moore had a solid game but he and the rest of the offense has to convert in the red zone.

Honourable Mentions:

Twin Cities Predators [1-0], Oshawa Hawkeyes [1-0], Metro Toronto Wildcats [1-0]
NOTE: Toronto Thunder will be included in ranking next week – info not avail at press time

CFC SUMMER RANKINGS:

The CFC summer rankings are compiled 48-72 hours after the last summer game of the weekend. We include the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL) and the Ontario Football Conference (OFC) teams in the rankings.

Contributors to the summer rankings include 15 CFC Journalists covering summer teams, selected non-affiliated scouts, selected OUA coaches, and selected non-CFC journalists.

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