#CFCHSFB PREVIEW (ONT-PEEL): Undefeated #CFC50 South teams meet in regular season finale

CFC#6 Lorne Park Spartans will travel to Mount Carmel to face off against CFC#30 Crusaders. This meeting of undefeated teams will decide first place in the ROPSSAA South and for the right to gain a bye in the first week of the playoffs.

Both the Spartans and Crusaders possess prolific offences. While the Crusaders have averaged close to 26 points per game, the Spartans have scorched opposing defenses averaging 40 points per game. This game could come down to which offence outlasts the other or which defense can consistently come up with stops.

Lorne Park comes into this game raring to go after a bye for the Spartans in Week 5. Lorne Park Head Coach Scott Price believes the bye came at a good time for his team.

“During the past week, we got to go back and watch the film. Sometimes during the grind of a season, you forget to go back and correct the small things you’re doing wrong even though you’re winning.”

Although ensured a playoff spot, the Spartans understand that a good performance against the Crusaders this week is imperative to helping the Spartans gain the necessary momentum needed for the playoffs. Earlier this season, one of the goals the Spartans set out for themselves was to play well enough to earn a playoff game bye.

With one more game to go, Lorne Park is well within reach of obtaining one of their objectives.

“Being able to clinch first place was something we’ve had in our mindset from the start of the season. It’s important to us be able to get the win, clinch home field advantage and earn a first round bye. This is not a do or die game, but we have the opportunity stay out of a quarterfinal game with a good performance this week. At the same time, we know Mount Carmel is an undefeated team and will provide a great challenge this week. So we need to fire on all cylinders if we’re going to get this win,” notes Scott Price.

Mount Carmel will enter Week 6 looking to put the finishing touches on a strong regular season campaign against a tough opponent. In the previous week, the Crusaders defeated the St. Francis Xavier Tigers in front of a home crowd and will look to do the same next Friday in another home game.

However, Crusaders’ Head Coach Jeff Price knows his team will have to come up with stops against the Spartans’ explosive offence.

“This team has had so much success against everyone. They can really move the ball on the ground or through the air with ease. As well, their quarterback situation is one of the best in the province. We just need to find a way to keep him on the backs of his heels. If we can do that, I think we have a chance to stop him.

Coming into this season, the Crusaders believed they would be one the most formidable teams in ROPSSAA.

Thus far, the Crusaders have proven to be a tough match up for their opponents. Now, with Week 6 upon us, the Crusaders have an opportunity to make a major statement before the playoffs begin should they prove capable of defeating the defending ROPSSAA Champions.

“Anytime you can beat LP, it would be a huge confidence boost. In the past, we’ve had some success against Lorne Park in the regular season. The key thing for us this week is remembering what took place last year against the Spartans, where our special teams were a disaster. We would have loved that opportunity to win against this team last season and that gives us a lot of motivation to make a statement about how much we have improved since last season,” says Jeff Price as he conducts his practice.