OVFL VARSITY (under 20) CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:
#1 MYERS RIDERS (10-0) vs #2 ESSEX RAVENS (9-1):
THE MATCHUP: In a rematch of their 2014 classic showdown, the Myers Riders take on the Essex Ravens for the OVFL Varsity crown. This time last year fans were treated to a nail-biter that came down to Jaegar Prot’s final play rouge which elevated Myers to a 25-24 win and their second straight OVFL crown. Although Prot has moved on both teams paths have been eerily similar to last year’s, with the Riders coming in at 10-0 while the Ravens are the next best thing at 9-1. Exactly like 2014, the Ravens opened the season losing to Niagara only to run the table to the championships.
Essex has always been known for their ability to run the ball behind a big, strong and skilled offensive line and this season was no different. The Ravens finished with 1931 yards rushing, good for third best in the OVFL and are led by Braeden Braccio who was second in the league with 1087 yards on the ground in 2015. What is often overshadowed though, is the Ravens ability to throw the ball. QB Anthony Bonotrin completed 62% of his passes on the year and has a 2-1 INT/TD ratio, passing for 14 scores while Alex Bornais finished in the top ten with 529 yards and eight scores on 29 catches. Bontorin, (who is headed to McMaster this fall) is a six foot-one, 210 pound passer in his second year as the starter and has grown significantly as a quarterback. In 2014 there were other leaders on the offensive side of the ball and Bontorin quietly did his thing. But 2015 is different, sure there are plenty of impact players but there is little doubt as to who the leader is.
Defensively the Ravens are led quarterback tormenter Lowhya Lako who tied for the league lead with nine sacks on the year (8 solo, 2 assists). The six foot-two, 205 pound Lako is a phenomenal athlete that has the power to take on the opposition’s best linemen and the speed to track down the ball carrier. Equally adept at rushing the passer and stopping the run, Lako will be a name the Riders remember by the time the afternoon is done.
For the last three season’s it’s been rather easy to sum up the OVFL’s Wettges Conference, Myers and then everyone else. Once again the Riders rampaged through the conference outscoring opponents, 393 to 111, while posting their third straight undefeated season. The Riders win streak stands at 32 games, but don’t think for a minute this Riders team isn’t just as hungry as their predecessors. As per usual, any conversation about Myers starts with the province’s premier passing game. Once again the Riders aerial attack was lights out and any concerns about QB Jacob Spinella’s ability to move from JV to varsity were quelled almost immediately. The strong-armed Spinella connected on 120 of 195 passes for 2430 yards and 30 TDs during the regular season. His favourite target, receiver Phil Iloki accounted for a third of the Myers receiving yards and touchdowns as he led the league in both categories hauling in 35 passes for 859 yards and 11 TDs.
Myers boasts a QB sack specialist of their own in the form of linebacker Darryl Jean-Baptiste. Jean-Baptiste registered 8.5 sacks and leads a defense that in traditional Myers style swarm to the ball.
WHY MYERS MIGHT WIN: If this one turns into a track meet, the Ravens are in trouble. Built for speed, the Riders have receivers that can stretch the field and a QB with the arm strength to get it to them. Spinella has a lightning quick release and if he gets the ball off quickly and neutralizes the Essex rush, it could be a long day for the Ravens secondary and defense in general.
WHY ESSEX MIGHT WIN: The best way to slow down the Myers air attack is A) Keep them off the field and B) Get to the quarterback. It may seem rather simple, but as we have seen it’s a lot easier said then done. There aren’t a lot of teams in the OVFL that have the talent to execute that plan but Essex is one of them. Defensive linemen Lowhya Lako and Zachary Benson are beasts up front and are better than anything the Riders have seen so far this year. If both have a good days it could spell trouble for Myers. On the other side of the ball, the Riders defense have not been world beaters and Essex is well equipped to go on long time consuming drives.
MYERS PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Jacob Spinella, REC Phil Iloki, LB Akash Bakshi, DB Daniel Barker, LB Darryl Jean-Baptiste, REC Jesse Skucas, P/K Connor Ayre
ESSEX PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB Braeden Braccio, REC Alex Bornais, QB Anthony Bontorin, DL Lowhya Lako, LB Erik Erickson, DL Zachary Benson
WHAT WILL HAPPEN: The Ravens come in looking for revenge and get it. Look for Essex to slow the game down with a potent ground game and Bontorin will extend drives with key conversions throughout the afternoon. Defensively Lako and the gang should make just enough plays to put Essex in a position to win late and the Raven’s veteran quarterback will deliver.
FINAL SCORE: ESSEX 28 MYERS 24
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