CFC OVFL Game of the Week Preview: “We still have to be optimistic about our chances”

It was close but no cigar as the Hamilton Varsity Ironmen fumbled their chance at first win of season.

The growing pains continued in week four for the varsity Hamilton Ironmen of the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL) as they fought hard but dropped the ball too many times and in turn dropped the game against the Halton Cowboys.

Despite being close all game long, it was a rash of turnovers that did in the Ironmen in the 26-11 loss.

“I thought we were in it,” said Ironmen Head Coach Kyle Quinlan of his team. “But a couple turnovers changed the complexion of the game from a two-point game to a couple-score game.”

While the Ironmen could have done without the turnovers, they also could have done with a few more pass completions, finishing the day just 17-40 with the ball in the air. The plan was to air out the ball as the running game has struggled this season, but the efficiency just wasn’t there.

As the varsity Ironmen still look for their first win of the season, the coaching staff now has the challenge of making sure their team keeps their chins up and fights hard each week, even if the wins are coming.

“I think it’s important in this situation to make sure things don’t completely unravel,” said Quinlan. “We still have to be optimistic about our chances and anything can happen in this league.”

“I think the goal is just to get better every week.”

The Ironmen’s week five matchup pits them against the Niagara Spears, a team that is currently among the top-five in the OVFL with a 3-1 record. Quinlan, a former OVFL player himself said he remembers that the Niagara team was always a ‘well coached, well disciplined, big and strong football team’.

The game is scheduled for an 8:00pm start on Saturday June 21st at Kawanis field in Niagara.

Junior Varsity Ironmen top last season win total after just four weeks.

After a disappointing double-overtime loss against Brantford in week three, the junior varsity Hamilton Ironmen bounced back with a dominating 49-0 win over the Halton Cowboys in week four. Now at 3-1 after four weeks, the JV squad has now surpassed their win total from the 2013 season when they won just two games.

“Last year we were 2-16 so we feel like we are in the thick of it now,” explained head coach Ken McGuire. “We’ve got seven of eight points so we are really happy down here, were ready to go.”

The Ironmen will try to keep riding high in week five as they visit the Niagara Spears, a solid team that has just a 1-3 record due to a tough start to the schedule. McGuire is well aware of the situation that Niagara now finds themselves in as they fight to get back to top of the standings and is looking forward to a fantastic game of football.

“They are playing for their playoff lives, so it’s going to be a really great game,” he stated.

The game is schedule for a 7:30pm Friday night kickoff in Niagara at Kawanis field.

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