*******UPDATED JULY 28th @ 06:00 EST*****
It’s playoff time!
The first round of the playoffs began this past weekend in both the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL) and the Ontario Football Conference (OFC).
In the OVFL wildcard round, the Scarborough Thunder, Mississauga Warriors and Cambridge Lions were all victorious. All three teams advance to the next round.
Here are the matchups for the next round of playoffs in the OVFL:
| Sat Aug 2nd | 12:00pm |  Brampton Bulldogs BT |
 Niagara Spears BT |
Chinguacousy Park | |
| Sat Aug 2nd | 12:00pm |  Myers Riders BT |
 Pickering Dolphins BT |
Minto Field, Nepean Sportsplex | |
| Sat Aug 2nd | 01:00pm |  Essex Ravens BT |
 Cambridge Lions BT |
St. Thomas of Villanova High School | |
| Sat Aug 2nd | 08:30pm |  Metro Toronto Wildcats BT |
 Cumberland Panthers BT |
Esther Shiner Stadium |
As for OFC Divisional Semi-Finals, the Hamilton Hurricanes and Brantford Bisons won Doug Dittmer Conference games. Meanwhile, the North Halton Crimson Tide and Huronia Stallions were victorious in Mike Ramsay Conference tilts.
Here are results for Round 1 OVFL and OVC Varsity Division playoffs.
(NOTE: At press time not all stats/scored were received; therefore, this page will be continued to be updated as more information does become available)
ONTARIO VARSITY FOOTBALL LEAGUE (OVFL):
SCARBOROUGH THUNDER 41, CUMBERLAND PANTHERS 37:
At Mary Ward Field, Amir Zeisler scored two touchdowns and rushed for 173 yards on 24 carries as the Scarborough Thunder got by the Cumberland Panthers 41-37.
Both Rakeem Simms (120 rushing yards on 11 carries) and Shomari Murdock-Reid (50 receiving yards on three receptions) each tallied two majors in the win. Daynar Facey added three PAT’s.
Antoine Lyte-Myers registered seven tackles while Dylan Laird added three solo and eight assisted tackles for the Thunder.
As for the Panthers, Kurleigh Gittens Jr scored three touchdowns (including a touchdown scored on a kickoff return) and amassed 144 yards on 11 receptions. Darius Beckford added a major.
Pivot Justin Poitras completed 15 passes in 35 attempts for 235 yards and four passing touchdowns in the loss. Jonathan Meyer added a 38 yard field goal and four PAT’s.
On defense, Patrick Madore recorded a sack as well as three solo and seven assisted tackles. Matthew Perry registered three solo and eight assisted tackles. Matt Cook added five solo and six assisted tackles. Kadeem Pierre registered four solo and four assisted tackles.
MISSISSAUGA WARRIORS 22, SSM SABRECATS 21:
At Loyola Catholic Secondary School, Nate Hobbs completed 15 passes in 35 attempts for 301 yards and two passing touchdowns as the Mississauga Warriors edged the SSM Sabrecats 22-21.
Jarid Liberman amassed 160 yards on five receptions for the Warriors. Dante Browns added two field goals (41 & 15 yards) and two PAT’s.
On defense, Dylan Clarke caught an interception as well as registered seven solo and an assisted tackle in the victory.
CAMBRIDGE LIONS 58, LONDON JR MUSTANGS 0:
At Jacob Hespeler Field, James Roberts completed 25 passes in 34 attempts for 274 yards and two passing touchdowns as the Cambridge Lions earned a 58-0 shutout victory over the London Jr Mustangs.
Alexander Salytchev tallied two majors, had 64 yards on three receptions and 43 rushing yards on seven carries. Jacob Metcalfe (103 rushing yards on four carries), Tyler Gibner (35 yard rush) and Simon Beeksma (48 yards on three receptions) each scored a touchdown in the win.
Kieran Burnham was successful on all eight conversion attempts for the Lions. Ashton Pilkey recorded three solo sacks as well as three solo and six assisted tackles on defense. Devin Keeling caught an interception as well as added four solo and four assisted tackles.
As for the Mustangs, Cole Kussman rushed for 112 yards on 18 carries while Danny Mundt racked up 101 rushing yards on three carries. Noah Olynyk caught an interception as well as six solo and an assisted tackle. Donovan Selmes added four solo and two assisted tackles I the loss.
KINGSTON GRENADIERS 31, METRO TORONTO WILDCATS 28:
At Esther Shriner Stadium, Dylan Fisher completed 18 passes in 331 attempts for 299 yards and a passing touchdown as the Kingston Grenadiers edged the Metro Toronto Wildcats 31-28.
Nathan Thompson tallied a major for the Grenadiers. Jeremy Pendergast racked up 181 yards on seven receptions. Michael Bashall added a 38 yard field goal and was successful on four conversion attempts.
Connor O’Neil led the defense as he caught an interception as well as registered five solo and an assisted tackle. Dylan Bell also caught an interception as well as accumulated three solo and an assisted tackle in the win.
ONTARIO FOOTBALL CONFERENCE (OFC):
BRANTFORD BISONS 24, GUELPH GRYPHONS 12:
Stats not available at press time
NORTH HALTON CRIMSON TIDE 41, TORONTO JR ARGOS 34:
Stats not available at press time
HAMILTON HURRICANES 61, HURONIA STALLIONS 44:
Game summary courtesy of John Metcalfe
Hurricanes will host the Brantford Bison in the Doug Dittmer conference final
- Time Team Scoring Play Convert Running
1st 5:15 Ham Osayi Iginuan, 10 yard run Caleb Girard Ham 7-0
1st 7:56 Ham Caleb Girard, 35 yard field goal n/a Ham 10-0
2nd 3:54 Ham Quincy Reid from Liam Putt, 12 yards Caleb Girard Ham 17-0
2nd 8:54 Ham Emmett Putt from Liam Putt, 16 yards Caleb Girard Ham 24-0
2nd 9:59 Ham Emmett Putt from Liam Putt, 30 yards Caleb Girard Ham 31-0
2nd 14:46 Ham Michael Ciavarella, 78 yard punt return Caleb Girard Ham 38-0
3rd 6:20 Burl Connor McQuilkin from Nathan Rourke, 10 yards Connor McQuilkin (2 pass) Ham 38-8
3rd 9:57 Burl Connor McQuilkin from Nathan Rourke, 7 yards Mitchell Baker (2 pass) Ham 38-16
3rd 13:46 Burl Connor McQuilkin from Nathan Rourke, 89 yards 2 pt. no good Ham 38-22
4th :55 Burl Nathan Rourke, 1 yard run Connor Knight (2 pass) Ham 38-30
4th 3:03 Ham Osayi Iginuan, 45 yard run Caleb Girard Ham 45-30
4th 5:43 Ham Jake Williams from Liam Putt, 31 yards Caleb Girard Ham 52-30
4th 5:43 Ham Caleb Girard, kick off rouge n/a Ham 53-30
4th 9:06 Ham Caleb Girard, wide field goal rouge n/a Ham 54-30
4th 12:46 Burl Troy Downton from Nathan Rourke, 11 yards Connor McQuilkin (2 pass) Ham 54-38
4th 13:54 Burl Nathan Rourke, 1 yard run 2 pt. no good Ham 54-44
4th 14:20 Ham Osayi Iginuan, 33 yard run Caleb Girard Ham 61-44
HURONIA STALLIONS 37, SUDBURY GLADIATORS 13:
The Huronia Stallions Varsity team took on their northern rival the Sudbury Gladiators on Saturday with a berth in the Conference Finals on the line. The Stallions entered the game riding a four game winning streak which they were determined to extend to five. Sudbury had just posted an impressive win over first place North Halton and were hoping to ride that momentum forward into the playoffs. The Stallions started the game with a strong defensive stand forcing a Gladiators punt. They followed that by hammering Sudbury with a ground attack led by tailback Matt Howe and fullback Jake Allen. Howe scored the game’s first touchdown and finished with 12 carries for 100 yards and 2 scores. Allen had 72 yards on just 4 carries. Sudbury managed to keep the score tight early in the ball game with the Stallions holding a 14-7 lead midway through the second quarter. This was extended by a Adam Zussino to Mitchell French touchdown throw and catch and a Devin Mcguirk field goal at the end of the half. This gave the Stallions a 24-7 edge. The intensity of the rivalry boiled over in the third quarter with several players on both sides sent to the sidelines by the referees to cool tensions. The Stallions defence continued to stymie the Sudbury offence with a strong effort punctuated with key interceptions by graduating player Brandon Johnston and fellow all-star nominee Caleb Nunes. Fraser Olson and James Ayers anchored the defensive line with Olson posting 4 tackles and Ayers posting 6 tackles and a quarterback sack. Johnston and Allen were also the top Stallions players on Special Teams. Quarterback Adam Zussino had an outstanding game with 12 completions on 17 attempts for 238 yards and 3 touchdowns. The latter two touchdowns were caught by James Stevenson and Dylan Beck. Sudbury scored a late touchdown but it was too little too late as the Stallions earned a 37-13 victory. The Stallions will seek their fourth consecutive Northern Conference Championship this weekend on the road against North Halton. They were embarrassed by the Crimson Tide in the regular season and are steadfast in their resolve to right that outcome and continue their Northern Conference dominance.
Photo Credits:
OVFL Wildcard – OVFL Website
Brantford Bisons – Mike Krason
Hamilton Hurricanes – Jennifer Silvestri
Huronia Stallions – Shelby Koomen
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