#CFC10 SUMMER RANKINGS – VARSITY (9): Crazy weekend results in a major shakeup, including new #1!!!

Not only does the second week of July mean temperatures going through the roof, it also means the kickoff for the annual Football Canada Cup. With the best players in the province representing Ontario in the week long tournament, the door opens up for some lesser known talent in both the OFC and OVFL to shine in their absence. At the same time however key players are missed setting the table for an unpredictable couple of weeks. Each year at this time we usually see a result or two that are deemed upsets as rosters undergo temporary changes. Week 8 of the 2015 season was no different as the unranked SSM Sabercats knocked off previously top-ranked and unbeaten Niagara. Ironically enough however it was one of the few games involving #CFC10 teams where neither team was missing players to the Team Ontario roster….go figure.

With the Spears loss, #1 was up for grabs…….well, sort of. The two-time defending champs, still undefeated laid immediate claim to the top spot with their 35-14 road win against the Metro Toronto Wildcats. The Riders are the only undefeated team in the OVFL and one of only two teams in Ontario with a perfect record. The province’s other unbeaten team is the season’s surprise team, the 7-0 Toronto Jr. Argos. Credit where credit is due, the Argos have been shown a lack of respect each week in the rankings and respond each week with wins. Seemingly playing just well enough to win, they do just that….Win. Personally I can’t remember a team with so many close games in a season winning five of their games by a TD or less, including a pair of one point wins. With the win Toronto clinched the OFC North and climbs into the #CFC10 Top 5 for the first time in 2015.

Two teams reentered the #CFC10 Rankings, the Durham West Dolphins after only a one week absence and the Sault Sabercats, reappearing after falling out early in the season. Unfortunately that meant two teams would find themselves dropping out of this week’s rankings and with their respective losses, Peterborough and Cambridge found themselves out of the week 9 rankings. With one week to go, here’s the second to last #CFC10 Summer Rankings for the 2015 regular season.

 

                        QB Jacob Spinella of the top ranked Myers Riders.

 

VARSITY (UNDER 20) TOP TEN RANKINGS – WEEK 9 (previous week’s ranking in parenthesis)

 

1) OTTAWA MYERS RIDERS (2) 7-0 OVFL (won 35-14 @ Metro Toronto ) Like the immortal Ric Flair often said, “If you want to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best”, and folks nobody has beaten the best yet. Perhaps where they deserved to be all season, the Riders return to the number one ranking for the first time since finishing last season as the top ranked team.  Next up: @ #8 Durham West

2) ESSEX RAVENS (3) 6-1 OVFL (did not play) The Ravens climb to the second spot in the rankings with the Spears loss. Following last year’s script to a T. After opening with a loss to the Niagara Spears the Ravens have run the table and look like they could go on a long playoff run. It will be interesting to see how they play this weekend against a dangerous Etobicoke team as the Ravens will be without head coach Glen Mills who is the bench boss once again for team Ontario.  Next up: Etobicoke

3) GUELPH JR. GRYPHONS (4) 7-1 OFC  (won 35-28 vs. Burlington)  The Jr. Gryphons showed just how deep they are with QB Walker Breen getting his first start replacing Team Ontario pivot Alex Douglas. Breen responded and then some firing two TD strikes to Noel Amaya and scampering 45 yards for another score. Nathan Smalls carried the load on the ground scoring twice in the win.  Next up: bye

4) TORONTO JR. ARGOS (6) 7-0 OFC (won 20-13 vs. Peterborough) Dear Toronto Jr. Argos; We formally apologize for underestimating you all season. It won’t happen again. Each week we question the Jr. Argos record and each week they win.   Next up: vs. Oakville

5) NIAGARA SPEARS (1) 6-1 OVFL (won 34-9 @ Hamilton Ironmen) Live by the sword, die by the sword. The Spears opened the season in dramatic fashion pulling out tight games left, right and center. Just as it seemed they were past the dangerous part of their schedule they fall at home to the SSM Sabercats in the game’s dying seconds..  Next up: vs. Mississauga

6) HAMILTON HURRICANES (5) 7-1 OFC (won 45-3 @. Twin Cities) The Hurricanes stamp their playoff ticket and clinch a first round home date at the same time. Although ranked number six, few would argue that the Hurricanes aren’t a top 5 team.  Next up: bye

7) LONDON JR MUSTANGS (9) 6-2 OVFL (won 31-29 @ Cambridge) The ‘Stangs pull out the close win in a battle of #CFC10 teams and now have a week off to prep for a first round playoff game that they will host as the Adam Conference’s third seed.   Next up: bye

8) DURHAM WEST DOLPHINS (NR) 6-1 OVFL (won 28-12 @ Oshawa) The good news…the Dolphins reenter the top 10, the bad news…they face top ranked Myers next week.  Next up: #1 Myers

9) BURLINGTON STAMPEDERS (7) 6-2 OFC  (lost 35-28 @ Guelph) The Stamps finish the season with back to back losses.   Next up: bye

10) SAULT STE. MARIE SABERCATS (NR) 5-2 OFC (won 30-29 @ Niagara) The Sabercats, left for dead after consecutive blowouts earlier have bounced back nicely and are coming off a 30-29 game in which they won with eight seconds to go. With a win this weekend the Soo will host their first round playoff game, an unlikely scenario two weeks ago.  Next up: vs. Cambridge

 

Dropped Out: Peterborough Wolverines (10), Cambridge Lions (8)

***Honourable Mention***  Cambridge Lions (OVFL), Brantford Bisons (OFC), Kingston Grenadiers (OVFL), Peterborough Wolverines (OFC)