Hard to believe, but we’re down to one game and then it’s all over. The curtain’s about to fall on what’s been an exciting summer of football at the ever competitive Bantam level and the #1 spot is still up for grabs! The Essex Ravens who had been the top ranked team in the province since week seven, fell last weekend 38-37 in a wild, back and forth affair against the Cambridge Lions. The Lions jumped out to a 14-0 lead only to fall behind 30-14 going into the halftime break. Cambridge came out on fire scoring twice in under 30 seconds to cut the gap to two only to have Essex answer back and take a 37-28 lead into the dying minutes of the game. With only two minutes to go Seth Robertson hauled in a Michael Warner pass to cut the lead to 37-35. After recovering the onside kick, Nathan Warden hit a 30 yard feel goal with only 37 seconds left to give the Lions the one point lead and eventual win. With the loss the Ravens season comes to an end as does their reign at #1, creating a vacancy atop the #CFC10.
If you ask folks around Burlington their should be no vacancy at the top spot. The Stampeders definitely appear to be the heir apparent as they put the final touches on a perfect 11-0 season cruising to the OFC crown with a 57-18 win over Huronia. There was never any doubt as Jacob Adair returned the opening kickoff 91 yards to give the three time defending champs a lead they would never relinquish. The Stampeders were led by running back Niklas Sadanoja who had 194 yards rushing and three scores, while backfield mate Josh Munoz hit the century mark rushing for 100 yards on only 15 carries. With the win the Stampeders completed their fourth straight unbeaten season, impressive to say the least.
BANTAM (UNDER 15) TOP TEN RANKINGS – WEEK 13 (previous week’s ranking in parenthesis)
1) BURLINGTON STAMPEDERS (2) 8-0 (3-0) OFC (won OFC Championship 57-18 vs. Huronia) The Stamps were once again the picture of perfection winning their fourth straight title without tasting defeat.
2) CUMBERLAND PANTHERS (3) 8-0 (2-0) OVFL (won 28-9 vs. Myers) Running back Jake Asselin had 117 yards rushing on only 13 touches and QB Ryan Licandro went 11 of 12 for 213 yards and 3 touchdowns as this one wasn’t close. The Cumberland defense was stifling holding the potent Riders offense to 121 total yards. Next up: #3 Cambridge – OVFL Finals
3) CAMBRIDGE LIONS (4) 7-1 (2-0) OVFL (won 38-37 @ Essex) Do the Lions have anything left in the tank after back to back heart stoppers? Running back James Hinsperger had 193 yards in the win as the Lions successfully avenge their only blemish on their schedule. Next up: #2 Cumberland – OVFL Final
4) ESSEX RAVENS (1) 8-0 (1-1) OVFL (lost 38-37 vs. Essex) Ravens hopes of an unbeaten season fall by the wayside.
5) OTTAWA MYERS RIDERS (6) 6-2 (1-1) OVFL (lost 28-9 vs. Cumberland) The defending champs fall to Cumberland for a third straight game. Myers finished their season 0-3 against Cumberland and 7-0 against everyone else.
6) NIAGARA SPEARS (7) 5-3 (1-1) OVFL (season finished) Lost 7-3 OVFL Adam Second Round @ Cambridge.
7) HURONIA STALLIONS (5) 7-1 (2-1) OFC (lost OFC Championship 57-18 vs. Burlington) Not the ending they wanted, but a great 2015 all the same.
8) FOREST CITY THUNDERBIRDS (7) 6-2 (1-1) (season finished) Lost OFC South Conference final 40-29 @ Burlington.
9) BRAMPTON BULLDOGS (10) 4-4 (1-1) OVFL (season finished) Lost 59-24 OVFL Adam Second Round @ Essex.
10) METRO TORONTO WILDCATS (NR) 6-2 (0-1) OVFL (season finished) Lost 20-19 OVFL Wettges Wildcard vs. York Simcoe.
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