Two weeks….that’s what’s left until we head into the second season, the knockout phase affectionately known as the postseason. In both the OVFL and the OFC first place is up for grabs in each conference and in three of the four conferences, contenders go head to head this weekend in what should be the most exciting weekend so far. The Burlington Stampeders and Guelph Jr. Gryphons will do battle with the winner clinching first in the OFC South and home field throughout the playoffs. In the OFC North Peterborough can clinch the regular season crown with a win on the road against Toronto while the Jr. Argos need a win to keep any hope of a conference title alive. In other OFC action the defending champion and previously top ranked Hamilton Hurricanes find themselves in a do-or-die situation as they square off against the Twin Cities Predators with the winner advancing to the postseason.
In the OVFL London can clinch the Adam Conference title and complete an undefeated regular season with a win at Laurier University against the Cambridge Lions. The Lions still have a shot at the Adam Conference title with a win, but with a loss they would almost certainly have to play in the wildcard round. In the Wettges the Toronto Thunder have faint title hopes, but are guaranteed the first round bye. The Thunder will be taking on the Kingston Grenadiers who are fighting to stay alive and a win guarantees an invitation to the big dance. Also of note will be the Oshawa/Durham West game. The winner gets home field in round one, the loser could find themselves in a tie-breaker scenario for the remaining spot.
All in all this should be one amazing weekend of football throughout the province and if you get the chance, be sure to check out the action near you.
#1 BURLINGTON STAMPEDERS (6-0) @ #5 GUELPH JR GRYPHONS (7-0)Β – Sat. July 11th 13h00 University of Guelph
THE MATCHUP: Both teams come into this one unbeaten and looking for a conference title and both have looked dominant along the way. The Gryphons have blown out everyone with the exception of Hamilton who they knocked off 31-24 back in week five. QB Dakota Brown leads an offense that can run and pass and features the exciting Riley Boersma who can burn you at receiver or returning kicks. Boersma has already been in the endzone 13 times this season and is the type of player that can change the momentum of a game in a single play.
The Burlington Stampeders have looked like a team on a mission in 2015. After being upset in the conference final last season, the Stamps have been on a rampage and have looked untouchable. QB Kurtis Rourke leads an offense that can quickly put points with Noah Griffith and Michael Lehmann doing damage catching the ball and Nathan Langley running it.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN: The Stamps have too much firepower, the Jr. Gryphons should make it interesting but Rourke will have another big day as the Stamps pull away.
FINAL SCORE: BURLINGTON 37 GUELPH 22
#4 PETERBOROUGH WOLVERINESΒ (7-0) @ #6 TORONTO JR ARGOS (6-1)Β – Sun. July 12th 14h00 St. Mikes
THE MATCHUP: The Wolverines not only have looked like the conference’s top dog but have looked like a championship contender in the process. Outscoring opponents 351-53 the Wolverines have owned the OFC North in 2015. The Wolverines can score points in a hurry at any point in a game. The Wolverines boast players like Nick Clarkin one of the league’s more exciting players, able to burn you any time he touches the ball, Cameron Gilmore a throw back player who is the definition of the hammer not the nail and Keegan Crough a scoring machine.
For the Toronto Jr. Argos they need a win if they want to open the playoffs at home. After a 38-8 loss in week two, the Jr. Argos have run the table and still have an outside shot at first.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN: The Wolverines are the real deal and win this one running away, Toronto is good, Peterborough is at a different level.
FINAL SCORE: PETERBOROUGH 45 TORONTO 17
#2 LONDON MUSTANGS (7-0) @ #8 CAMBRIDGE LIONS (5-1)Β –Β Sun. July 12th 15h00 Laurier University
THE MATCHUP: The Mustangs can clinch first with a win on the road against the 8th ranked Lions this weekend at Laurier University. The 2nd ranked Mustangs have looked like the best team in the OVFL and a strong argument can be made that they are #1 in Ontario. Tazie Vang Bell and Chase Brown the Mustangs ground game is as good as they come and in the July heat can be deadly. Defensively Daniel Valente is the front runner for the defensive MVP with 5 picks, four fumble recoveries and four touchdowns. Valente is a one-man highlight real and opposing offenses best know where he is.
The Lions don’t have as many weapons as the ‘Stangs, but the weapons they do have are second to none. Linebacker Jack Hinsperger leads the defense and Elvis Sanchez has made a name for himself in 2015. If the Lions have any chance Hinsperger and Sanchez will have to come up big, particularly Sanchez. This one can easily turn into a track meet and they need Sanchez to keep up.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN: The Mustangs will win a high scoring affairs. With more depth and more explosiveness, when the dust settles the ‘Stangs will finish the 2015 regular season unbeaten.
FINAL SCORE: LONDON 35 CAMBRIDGE 30
DURHAM WEST DOLPHINS (3-3) @ OSHAWA HAWKEYES (3-3)Β –Β Sat. July 11th 16h00 Oshawa Civic Stadium
THE MATCHUP: The winner clinches a playoff spot in this one. At all levels there has been somewhat of a Hawkeye resurgence in 2015 and the JV Hawkeyes are poised to punch their ticket for the postseason. Moshen Al-Tamimi and Liam Potter are a couple of ballhawks who lead an underrated defense and offensively QB David Maecker leads the way. Maecker is one of the league’s best passers with 1207 yards in the air, while boasting 13 TDs and only 4 picks. For the Dolphins they will need their defense to hold in this one. LB Cristian Claros-Ayala is a tackling machine (42 tackles and 43 assists) who can play smashmouth football if you run at him and has the range to track you down if you run away.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN: The Hawkeyes have more weapons and force more turnovers, a close one but the Hawkeyes advance to the postseason
FINAL SCORE: OSHAWA 31 DURHAM WEST 22
#10 HAMILTON HURRICANES (4-2) @ TWIN CITIES PREDATORS (3-3)Β –Β Sat. July 11th 16h00 Laurier University
THE MATCHUP: Easy to understand what is at stake here….win and you’re in! Pretty simple, but hard to believe that the reviously top ranked Hurricanes would be in this position, but that just talks to the great depth in the OFC South this year. The Predators are trying to return to their status of OFC elite from several years ago and a win Saturday would go a long way in accomplishing this.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN: The Canes will win in convincing fashion and will begin their defense of the OFC crown.
FINAL SCORE: HAMILTON 36 TWIN CITIES 18
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