Just as quickly as it started, it’s over. I say it year in and year out, the only disappointing thing about the summer football season is goes too quickly. With the next stop being the playoffs, week nine provided plenty of excitement, including a record setting 109 yard touchdown catch by AJ Cook. Although the Spears fell to Cambridge, Cook managed to haul in a post pattern from the slot position and housed it, establishing a new bantam record.
Week nine also saw the Capital City Clash II, but it was truly dΓ©jΓ vu with Cumberland knocking off the defending champion Riders for the second time in three weeks. In another defensive battle the Panthers prevailed again by three points, this time 16-13.
All was quiet on the OFC front as teams prepped for the first round and enjoyed the bye week, but things get serious in a hurry as it’s now time to play for keeps.
BANTAM (UNDER 15) TOP TEN RANKINGS – WEEK 9 (previous week’s ranking in parenthesis)
1) ESSEX RAVENS (1) 8-0 OVFLΒ (won 49-0 @ Mississauga) The Ravens shutout the Warriors in convincing fashion last weekend, finishing the season 8-0 and look like they are in a league of their own. QB Jake Heydon is the league’s best and his stats would be incredible at the varsity level, let alone bantam. Try these numbers on for 2015: 72% completion rate, 1415 yds passing and a staggering 16 TDs vs. 1 INT……wow. Next up: bye
2) BURLINGTON STAMPEDERS (2) 8-0 OFCΒ (did not play) The Stamps head into the postseason unbeaten and the favourite to capture the OFC crown. Josh Munoz leads a ground attack that is second to none, as the Stamps have laid waste to the rest of the OFC outscoring opponents 314-110 in the regular season. Next up: vs. Sarnia – OFC South Semifinals
3) CUMBERLAND PANTHERS (3) 8-0 OVFL (won 16-13) The Panthers clinched the OVFL’s Wettges conference with back-to-back, three point wins over crosstown rival Myers to finish out the regular season. Running back andΒ OPC Participant Jake Asselin finished with an incredible 10.2 yards per carry rushing for 705 yards and 14 TDs on only 69 carries. Next up: bye
4) CAMBRIDGE LIONS (5) 7-1 OVFL (won 24-7 @ Niagara) With the win against the Spears, Cambridge finishes 7-1, clinching the first round bye in the process. The Lions seem to be a notch below Essex and a notch above the rest of the Adam conference evidenced by one telltale stat. In their seven wins they outscored the opposition 326-70….against Essex they were outscored 35-7.Β Next up: bye
5) HURONIA STALLIONS (6) 7-1 OFC (did not play) After a week two loss against Oakville, the Stallions haven’t looked back going unbeaten and winning the OFC North. Β Next up: vs. North Halton – OFC North Semifinals
6) OTTAWA MYERS RIDERS (4) 6-2 OVFL (lost 16-13 vs. Cumberland) The Riders are seven points away from being unbeaten, as history repeats itself as they lose again to Cumberland, again by three.Β Next up: bye
7) FOREST CITY THUNDERBIRDS (8) 6-2 OFC (did not play)Β Β Next up: vs. Twin Cities – OFC South Semifinals
8) TWIN CITIES PREDATORS (9) 6-2 OFCΒ (did not play)Β Next up: vs. Forest City – OFC South Semifinals
9) METRO TORONTO WILDCATS (10) 6-2 OVFL (did not play) Next up: vs. York Simcoe – OVFL Wettges Wildcard
10) NIAGARA SPEARS (7) 5-3 OVFL (lost 24-7 vs. Cambridge)Β The Spears fall to the Lions for the second time this year, dropping to tenth in the process. As mentioned the Spears lone score came via a 109 yard catch and run by rookie SB AJ Cook, who hauled in three passes on the day for 137 yards.Β Next up: vs. London – OVFL Adam Wildcard
Niagara Spears SB AJ Cook #8
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