CFC50 FINAL Rankings: Historic finish as National Title lands in Saskatchewan for the first time

The CFC50 National Title is heading to Saskatchewan.

After thousands of high school games across the country, we finally reached the finish line with OFSAA anointing nine new bowl champions in Ontario, and a thrilling finish in the BC AAA Varsity finals that came down to a failed two-point conversion attempt in the final minute. With flawless records, there’s a solid case to be made for Laurier and Vancouver College as the number one program in the nation, but after much deliberation there was no denying Miller their spot on top of the podium as the 2022 CFC50 National Champions. The Marauders are currently riding a 12 game winning streak dating back to last year when they finished as the third ranked team in Canada, and they were simply sensational all season outscoring their opponents 331-61 with a perfect 9-0 record en route to bringing home their second straight Saskatchewan 6A provincial championship. A golden generation has paved the way to three provincial titles in the past four seasons at Miller with stars like QB Brady Vindevoghel, RB Carter Ashman, WR Kenton Appel, OL Kyle Magnien, LB John Grace and DB Chase Murray helping the Marauders finally reach the CFC50 summit as the first program from Saskatchewan to ever earn the right to call themselves the National Champions.

The day finally arrived for Huron Heights to step aside as the top ranked team after a heartbreaking loss to Laurier in the OFSAA Western Bowl. It was a hard hitting contest with neither team ready to give an inch, and it came down to a good old fashioned Canadian standoff. It looked like we might be heading to overtime with the game gridlocked at 12-12 in the final frame after Huron Heights tied it up on a field goal with 5 minutes left, but that’s when complete chaos ensued. Huron Heights was forced to punt the ball into the end zone, and instead of attempting a return, Laurier decided to punt the ball back to the Warriors to avoid giving up a single point, which set them up perfectly in scoring range with 1:51 left on the clock. It looked like a massive mistake, but nobody could’ve predicted what was coming next as the Rams forced a fumble on the following play to regain possession at their own 30 yard line and plenty of time to put themselves in scoring position. With ice running through his veins, QB D.J. Fonti went to work connecting on passes with WR Ben Kurbegovic and WR Van Taylor to get into Warriors territory, then ultimately it came down to the coaching staff to decide whether they’d attempt a field goal, or bank on a rouge from punt formation. With no time left on the clock, the Laurier staff decided to go with the latter, and it turned out to be the right decision as K/P Brayden Rivard booted the ball to the back of the end zone where Huron Heights elected to attempt a return instead of kicking the ball back out and were stopped just inches shy of reaching safety handing the Rams a 13-12 victory. It was a finish you had to see to believe, and you couldn’t have written a more dramatic story for Laurier’s first ever appearance at the OFSAA Bowl Festival.

REGISTER NOW FOR THE CFC TRYOUT AND SHOWCASE (BORN 2004-2012)

We now head to BC where we couldn’t have asked for a better conclusion to the season with Vancouver College and the defending champions G.W. Graham fighting until their final breath in the AAA Varsity finals at BC Place. It was a low scoring affair with both defences showing up when it mattered most as the Fighting Irish took a 7-6 lead going into halftime, and then the special teams unit changed the momentum for Vancouver College with ATH Michael Joseph taking a blocked field goal back to the house to increase their lead to 13-6 going into the fourth quarter. It looked like their slim advantage would be enough to prevail until the dying moments when G.W. Graham QB Lucas Feaver connected on a massive pass with WR Christian Beck that put them on the doorstep. With only 33 seconds left on the clock, WR Braeden Macdonald took an end around to the end zone to bring the Grizzlies within one point, and then it was decision time for the coaching staff. Instead of going for the single point, they decided to bet the farm on a two-point conversion attempt, but sadly their gamble didn’t pay off with Vancouver College coming up with a clutch sack to secure their second provincial title in three seasons, and the fifth in their program’s long history. It was a dramatic ending to a chaotic season in Canada and we couldn’t have asked for a better showcase to finish the year.

We wrap-up this high school season with our final recaps from the OFSAA Festival that provided shocking results and nail-biting finishes. While the Huron Heights and Laurier game stole the show, it wasn’t the only wild finish at this year’s Festival with the Simcoe Bowl providing an ending fit for Hollywood. Bear Creek took a 24-23 lead with only 40 seconds remaining on a gutsy scramble by QB Justin Cunningham, but it wasn’t meant to be for the Kodiaks as a long kickoff return setup the game winning field goal by WR/K Mitchell Grebenc to claim a 26-24 victory. It’s the fourth OFSAA bowl for Holy Trinity who are still unbeaten at the provincial level.

CREATE YOUR CFC PROFILE HERE

The National Capital Bowl between St. Matthew and Northern was a tale of two halves as it looked like the Red Knights would cruise to victory heading into halftime with a 14-3 lead. Unfortunately for Northern the break provided the perfect opportunity for St. Matthew to regroup, and they came out flying in the second half scoring 21 points with RB Hugo Djeumeni leading the way with 292 rushing yards and scoring the final major to help secure a 24-15 victory. It’s the second OFSAA Bowl for the Tigers who made their last appearance at the Festival in 2016.

We had another dogfight take place in the Eastern Bowl with Frontenac and Belle River putting on a fantastic defensive display. The scoreboard read 2-1 in favour of Belle River deep into the second quarter until they finally busted through the Falcons defence in the final minute to take a 9-1 lead into halftime. Staring down a two score deficit, Frontenac wouldn’t be deterred as they finally got the offence rolling with WR Jordan Buick taking a pass into scoring range that setup the Falcons first touchdown strike on a sneak by QB Jet Zakrewski, and then after finding WR Stymest deep down field, it was Zakrewski once again forcing his way into the end zone for his second rushing touchdown to give Frontenac a 15-9 lead in the third quarter. That turned out to be enough to hold off the Nobles who failed to put any more points on the scoreboard against a tough Falcons defence who helped lead the way to the program’s ninth OFSAA banner.

We finish with some shocking results with our first coming in the Central Bowl where St. Patrick proved they were a lot better than the 50th spot on the rankings. St. Roch came into the game as the favourites, but it quickly became apparent that these Fighting Saints shouldn’t have been underestimated racing out to a 10-0 lead at halftime. The Ravens showed signs of life in the second half cutting the score to 13-7, but QB Iene Auger led the troops all day with a pair of touchdown passes to WR Brett Lovis and WR Jouni Kemppainen, while ATH Mannerplaw Winning was a force in all three sides of the game adding three field goals to help secure the Fighting Saints first ever OFSAA title.

CFC100 CLASS OF 2023 3RD EDITION

Lastly we have some blowouts to report from OFSAA beginning with Bishop Tonnos walking away with a 30-3 victory after a dominant performance against A.N. Myer in the Golden Horseshoe Bowl. The Titans were led by RB Isaiah Shields who rushed for an outstanding 265 yards, while DB/FB Elliott Blake added another 77 yards and two majors. Disney couldn’t have written a better fairytale this season with Bishop Tonnos emerging from the shadows in a tough Hamilton Catholic division to claim their first ever OFSAA title.

Korah proved once again why they are considered one of the top programs in Canada with an impressive 52-14 display against Jacob Hespeler in the Northern Bowl. It was clear from the start that the Hawks stood no chance against the Colts, who were relentless in their pursuit of a fourth straight OFSAA banner with the dynamic duo of RB Kaylob Thibodeau and RB Ronan Provenzano putting on a show with seven touchdowns.

Finally Resurrection bulldozed their way to a 56-14 victory over Chaminade College in the Metro Bowl. It was all Phoenix from start to finish with their offensive attack led by QB Cole Henry, who put together a performance for the ages throwing five touchdown passes including three to WR Damian Plauszta to help Resurrection claim their third OFSAA title, and first since 2015.

We end our coverage with a huge congratulations to the Miller Marauders on being crowned the CFC50 National Champions, and a big thank you to every coach and volunteer across the country. The CFC50 rankings wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for all your hard work and dedication to Canadian high school football every season.

Is it September yet?

PAST RANKINGS: PRESEASON WEEK 2WEEK 3WEEK 4WEEK 5WEEK 6WEEK 7WEEK 8WEEK 9 – WEEK 10WEEK 11 WEEK 12WEEK 13

# Last Week School/Team Mascot City Prov. Conf. Rec. Non-Conf. Rec Results
1 2 Miller Marauders Regina SK 9-0 0-0 COMPLETE
2 7 Laurier Rams London ON 10-0 0-0 W 13-12 vs. Huron Heights
3 4 Vancouver College Fighting Irish Vancouver BC 10-0 3-0 W 13-12 vs. G.W. Graham
4 3 Raymond Comets Raymond AB 4-0 6-1-1 COMPLETE
5 5 St. Paul’s Crusaders Winnipeg MB 9-1 0-0 COMPLETE
6 6 Sém. St-François Blizzard Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaure QC 10-1 0-0 COMPLETE
7 1 Huron Heights Warriors Newmarket ON 0-1 7-0 L 13-12 vs. Laurier
8 9 Harry Ainlay Titans Edmonton AB 9-1 2-0 COMPLETE
9 8 G.W. Graham Grizzlies Chilliwack BC 7-2 4-0 L 13-12 vs. Vancouver College
10 10 Charles-Lemoyne Dynamique Sainte-Catherine QC 10-2 0-0 COMPLETE
11 11 St Joseph Guardians Saskatoon SK 7-1 0-1 COMPLETE
12 15 Bishop Tonnos Titans Ancaster ON 10-1 0-0 W 30-3 vs. A.N. Myer
13 12 Dakota Collegiate Lancers Winnipeg MB 8-2 0-0 COMPLETE
14 18 Korah Colts Sault Ste Marie ON 7-1 0-1 W 52-14 vs. Jacob Hespeler
15 16 St. Thomas More Knights Burnaby BC 8-1 1-2 COMPLETE
16 19 Ernest Manning Griffins Calgary AB 4-1-1 2-0-1 COMPLETE
17 20 Salisbury Sabres Sherwood Park AB 7-3 1-0 COMPLETE
18 22 Carson Graham Eagles North Vancouver BC 7-2 1-2 COMPLETE
19 23 St. Andrew’s College Saints Aurora ON 5-0 2-3 COMPLETE
20 24 Notre Dame Pride Calgary AB 5-2 1-1 COMPLETE
21 25 Holy Cross Crusaders Saskatoon SK 5-2 0-1 COMPLETE
22 26 South Delta Sun Devils Delta BC 5-2 3-1 COMPLETE
23 31 St. Thomas Aquinas Flames London ON 6-1 0-0 COMPLETE
24 30 Corpus Christi Longhorns Burlington ON 8-1 0-0 COMPLETE
25 27 Frontenac Falcons Kingston ON 9-0 0-0 W 15-9 vs. Belle River
26 36 London South Lions London ON 5-2 1-0 COMPLETE
27 34 St. John Henry Newman Cardinals Stoney Creek ON 7-3 0-0 COMPLETE
28 14 A. N. Myer Marauders Niagara Falls ON 9-1 0-0 L 30-3 vs. Bishop Tonnos
29 28 Belle River Aigles Belle River ON 8-1 0-0 L 15-9 vs. Frontenac
30 21 Westmount Wildcats Hamilton ON 8-1 0-0 COMPLETE
31 29 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Welland ON 7-1 1-1 COMPLETE
32 32 Citadel Phoenix Halifax NS 8-0 0-0 COMPLETE
33 50 St. Patrick Fighting Saints Thunder Bay ON 8-1 0-0 W 24-13 vs. St. Roch
34 33 St. Matthew Tigers Ottawa ON 9-0-1 0-0 W 24-15 vs. Northern
35 35 College Notre-Dame Cactus Montreal QC 6-5 0-0 COMPLETE
36 13 Jacob Hespeler Hawks Cambridge ON 9-1 0-0 L 52-14 vs. Korah
37 37 Riverview Royals Riverview NB 9-1 0-0 COMPLETE
38 41 Resurrection Phoenix Waterloo ON 10-1 0-0 W 56-14 vs. Chaminade College
39 44 L.C.I. Rams Lethbridge AB 4-1 2-2 COMPLETE
40 43 Holy Trinity Titans Oakville ON 6-2 0-0 COMPLETE
41 45 Holy Trinity Titans Courtice ON 5-0 0-1 W 26-24 vs. Bear Creek
42 17 St. Roch Ravens Brampton ON 5-1 2-1 L 24-13 vs. St. Patrick
43 38 Armand-Corbeil Scorpions Terrebonne QC 6-5 0-0 COMPLETE
44 39 Notre Dame Jugglers Burnaby BC 4-3 3-0 COMPLETE
45 42 Terry Fox Ravens Port Coquitlam BC 5-2 2-1 COMPLETE
46 40 Bear Creek Kodiaks Barrie ON 8-1 0-0 L 26-24 vs. Holy Trinity
47 46 Saint-Jean-Eudes Condors Québec QC 6-4 0-0 COMPLETE
48 49 Northern Red Knights Toronto ON 6-1 0-1 L 24-15 vs. St. Matthew
49 47 St. Joseph Jaguars Ottawa ON 8-1 0-0 COMPLETE
50 UR Leboldus Golden Suns Regina SK 5-3 0-0 COMPLETE

Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.

Comments are closed.