#CFC10 PREVIEWS & PREDICTIONS (10): Hot playoff battles in Niagara, Ottawa

With the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL) heading into the playoffs, all the varsity and junior varsity matchups have an intriguing element in different ways.

As the varsity Niagara Spears and junior varsity London Jr. Mustangs come into this weekend with undefeated records, that means nothing.  All teams begin with a fresh slate in the postseason and teams are gunning for supremacy.

Here are a couple of the games that will be the most dramatic from start to finish in the OVFL

:London Jr Mustangs defence Niagara 2015 4

VARSITY:

LONDON JR MUSTANGS @ NIAGARA SPEARS (SATURDAY JULY 23RD @ 8:00PM KIWANIS FIELD):

If their first meeting was any indication, the Niagara Spears and London Jr. Mustangs will provide the most competitve game of the first round of the playoffs.

The Spears came out of that game with an eight point margin of victory a couple of weeks ago. However, the Jr. Mustangs didn;t have their head coach and some of their key players due to the 2016 Football Canada Cup in Winnipeg, including #CFC100 Daniel Valente.

If the Jr. Mustangs want to move onto the next round, the team will have to contain OVFL leading receiver Jordan Terrio, who finished the regular season with 792 yards on 39 receptions and 10 touchdowns.

Equally important for the Jr. Mustangs defence will be to put immense pressure on Spears’ pivot Tre Ford.  During the 2016 regular season, he completed 114 passes in 157 attempts for 1931 passing yards and 24 touchdowns.

Offensively, the Jr. Mustangs will look to Brentyne AndersonBrown and Tazie Vang Bell to carry the load but they have to crack a stingy Spears defence.

On special teams, Tyler Cejvan could be the difference maker in the game but the Spears have Owen Charnock to counter with,

The smallest of mistakes could determine the winner of this one and with the crowd in their favour, the Spears escape from this game with the win.

PREDICTION: Niagara Spears 32, London Jr. Mustangs 30

Hono Iloki Myers Riders

JUNIOR VARSITY

TORONTO THUNDER @ OTTAWA MYERS RIDERS (SATURDAY JULY 23RD @ 2:45PM, BECKWITH SPORTS PARK):

Coming in with momentum into a playoff round can hold an advantage for teams.

The Toronto Thunder head into Ottawa with an added boost of confidence after coming out on top of a tight defensive battle against the Cumberland Panthers last weekend.

In the case of the Myers Riders, they are looking to gain momentum after being stunned by the West Durham Dolphins in the final game of the regular season.

Offensively, the Myers Riders have a couple of viable targets in Hayden Tripp (1117 rushing yards on 133 carries and 19 touchdowns) and #CFCOPC Hono Iloki (477 yards on 34 receptions and eight touchdowns).

However, the Thunder counter with the league’s leading receiver #CFCOPC Kiondre Smith who amassed 537 yards on 28 receptions and three touchdowns during the regular season.

While this might be more of an offensive showcase than the Thunder were accustomed to last week, the Myers Riders will awake start to roll again on home turf.

PREDICTION: Ottawa Myers Riders 42, Toronto Thunder 38

 

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