Well, here we are the final stretch. It’s been a great year and although the end is near, it ain’t over yet!! The Ontario Football Conference will crown a new JV champion as neither of last year’s participants will be back this time around. Defending champion Hamilton fell this weekend in the OFC South final, while 2014 OFC North champ Clarington suffered a mass exodus and finished 0-8 this season.
The Ontario Varsity Football League is down to their version of the final four with the conference championships being held this weekend. Unlike the OFC, both the champs and runners-up are still alive in the OVFL. Defending champion and top ranked London hosts #5 Niagara in the Adam Conference final, a rematch of a week four 39-33 London win in overtime. Expect much of the same this weekend. In the Wettges, defending conference champ Myers will host the sixth ranked Toronto Thunder in a rematch of Myers’ season opening seven point win.
It’ll be interesting to see how these last two weeks play out and where everyone will fall in the final #CFC10 rankings.
JUNIOR VARSITY (UNDER 17) TOP TEN RANKINGS – WEEK 12 (previous week’s ranking in parenthesis)
1) LONDON JUNIOR MUSTANGS (1) 8-0 (1-0) OVFL (won 31-0 vs. Etobicoke) London cruises to the conference final on the strength of Chase Brown’s 210 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Next up: #5 Niagara (Adam Conference Final)
2) OTTAWA MYERS RIDERS (2) 8-0 OVFL (1-0) OVFL (won 49-34 vs. Oshawa ) JP Cimankinda finished the 2015 regular season with 2127 yards rushing and 29 TDs, both OVFL records. So how was his 2015 playoff debut? 245 yards and two scores on 25 carries. Next up: #6 Toronto Thunder (Wettges Conference Final)
3) GUELPH JR. GRYPHONS (3) 8-0 OFC (2-0) (won 35-17 vs. Hamilton) The Griffs are one win away from a perfect season. Offensively Dakota Brown, Jason Lefkas and Tommy Nield all scored, while Reid Martin had a pick six for the D. Next up: #4 Peterborough (OFC Final)
4) PETERBOROUGH WOLVERINES (4) 8-0 (2-0) OFC (won 31-17 vs. North Halton) The Wolverines pulled away in the 3rd quarter, up 24-3 entering the final frame. Nick Clarkin offered the highlight of the day with his 105 yard punt return. Next up: #3 Guelph (OFC Final)
5) NIAGARA SPEARS (5) 7-1 (1-0) OVFL (won 41-7 vs. Cambridge) Running back Cole Burniston scored twice in the win. The Spears now get a shot at redemption in the form of London. Next up: @ #1 London (Adam Conference Final)
6) TORONTO THUNDER (6) 7-1 (1-0) OVFL (won 57-35 vs. Cumberland) The Thunder win a shootout and sweep Cumberland, setting up a rematch with #2 Myers. Next up: #2 Myers (Wettges Conference Final)
7) HAMILTON HURRICANES (7) 6-2 (1-1) OFC (lost 35-17 @ Guelph) The defending champs fall.
8) CUMBERLAND PANTHERS (9) 6-2 (1-1) OVFL (lost 57-35 @ Toronto Thunder)
9) BURLINGTON STAMPEDERS (10) 7-1 (0-1) OFC (season finished) Lost 41-24 vs. Hamilton in OFC South Semifinal
10) NORTH HALTON CRIMSON TIDE (8) 7-1 (1-1) OFC (lost 31-17 @ #4 Peterborough)
Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.
