Highlighting the top high school teams from coast to coast, the 2011 CFC ‘top 25’ high school Week 1 poll has been released. Last year’s #1 Raymond Comets lost their first game since November 2007 last weekend against the Salisbury Sabres, led by QB Matthew Bonaca. Last year’s #2 team, CollΓ¨ge Notre-Dame Cactus, won their opener during the remnants of Hurricane Irene.
The first few weeks of the poll are more difficult as provinces vary in start times. Expect ‘week 2’ to be released on Sunday or Monday September 11/12; and then on a weekly schedule thereafter.
Top picture: 2011 Collège Notre-Dame Cactus team picture
CLICK HERE for all the HIGH SCHOOL SCORES / SCHEDULES from coast to coast
Top 25
1 CollΓ¨ge Notre-Dame Cactus β Montreal (1-0)
– Finished #2 in last years poll and are looking to defend their 11th provincial title; have 4 players on the team who won gold at the Football Canada Cup (meaning they can play again next year) – Laurent Rondeau (DB), Fraser Baikie (OL), Louis-Mathieu Normandin (WR) and Mathieu Betts (DL) β opened with a 28 to 2 victory over St-Jean-Eudes Sunday during a visit from Hurricane Irene β thankfully the Cactus run the βrain-proofβ Wing-T. Big game this Saturday against SΓ©minaire Saint-FranΓ§ois Blizzard.
2 Spruce Grove Panthers β Spruce Grove, AB
– This is Alex Samiaβs team. Starting at QB as a grade 10 last season expect him to lead his Panthers a long way in Alberta. City champions in 2008 and 1997.
3 Vancouver College Fighting Irish β Vancouver
– Last years provincial champs are looking for big things againβ¦and those big things start with the big men up front where they return 4 of 5 starters β Terrance Gamit (all-conference) OC, Brydon Bowers (all-BC), LT – Justin Sanvido and Daniel Laventure return from a successful Football Canada Cup (FCC)β¦can they replace the quarterbacking of Jeffrey Tichelman? Play non-conference game this Friday at South Kitsap, Washington.
4 Γ. sec. CurΓ©-Antoine-Labelle les Loups – Laval, QC (1-0)
– Exploded in their opening game with 77 points against E. sec. Pointe-Levy. Xavier Owens QBs the Wolves this year. Keep your eye out for Benjamin Gingras and Philippe Gange. Play College Jean-Eudes Saturday.
5 Catholic Central Crusaders (CCH) – London, ON
– Defending City Champs ran out of gas against Herman in the playdowns last year playing too many games in a short period of time. May have been second best team in the province. Returning for a βvictory lapβ strong armed QB Austin Geddes who will distribute the ball to George Johnson and Myles Rombough. Dylan Shervill, Gabbie Mikhail and Nick Vanin will be the top defenders.
6 Cardinal Newman Cardinals β Stoney Creek, ON
– Will be lead by QB Alex Hill as the power in Hamilton shifts from the public schools to the catholic schools
7 Oak Park Raiders β Winnipeg
– Graduated star running back Nic Demski but always are able to retool. One of the better coached teams in the country with Head coach Stu Nixon, Defensive Coordinator David Black and Offensive Line coach Brett MacNeil.
8 Centennial Chargers – Saskatoon
– Led by Team Sask QB Jared Andreychuk; Offensive Line is led by Kyle Paposi who was playing provincial rugby this summer and not football. Open season tonight.
9 Herman Griffins – Windsor, ON
– Austin Lumley will be the top QB in Windsor and will have a good RB in Jaydon Gauthier to hand the ball off to
10 St. Andrew’s Saints β Aurora, ON
– Loaded with talent but they were last year as well. Running back Yannick Harou should be one of the top in the province; Lost heart breaker to UCC last year in conference finals. LB Chris Houston is one of the best at his position in the province.
11 Nelson Lords β Burlington, ON
– Top grade 12 QB in Ontario with Will Finch; bolstered by junior graduates who won the Metro Bowl. Will play Mother Teresa (London) in an exhibition game.
12 Lakeshore Gators – Port Colborne, ON
– Coach Rocky DiPiertro always buts together a strong squad and this year should be no acception
13 Bev Facey Falcons β Sherwood Park, AB
– Defensive Lineman Troy Weissbach is coming off a strong Football Canada Cup where he helped his province win a silver medal. Sawyer Barth will anchor the offensive line and Bryson Wishloff-Dobush will carry the ball behind that offensive line. Jordan Letkeman will quarterback the secondary.
14 Riffel Royals β Regina, SK
– Led by Team Sask and FCC All-star Ryan Rilyk and Team Sask LB Lance Pitka
15 Mother Teresa β London, ON
– Size, a strong running game and defense will have to make up for the fact they will be starting a new QB. Players to watch include Adam Sinclair (RB), Tommy Marshall (FB), Matt Van Praet (OL), Zack Mallough (DL), Hector De La Rosa (DE), and Jacob Park (DB).
16 Holy Trinity Titans β Oakville, ON
Balance of power has shifted away from Notre Dame due to graduation and coaching changes. The Titans will look to fill that void and will battle with Nelson and MM Robinson for the crown of one of Canadaβs top football regions.
17 SΓ©minaire Saint-FranΓ§ois Blizzard – Saint-Augustin, Quebec (1-0)
– Opened season with a win over 58 to 7 win over E. sec. de l’Amitie. Samuel Chenard leads the charge on offense at QB and look for defensive linemen Thomas Huot and Vincent Desjardins to lead the defense. Huge game this weekend against #1 Cactus.
18 Henry Wise Wood Warriors β Calgary, AB
– Loaded with athletes like Adam Zajdel, Brandon Waeyen, Hunter Turnbull and Mackenzie Meek, will the Warriors be good enough on the lines to make a run deep into the playoffs?
19 W.J. Mouat Hawks – Abbotsford, B.C.
– LB Jake Heathcote is coming off an impressive Football Canada Cup and should lead the defense which is bolstered by Deion Bain and Nathan Henczel.
20 Citadel Phoenix – Halifax
– Loss many seniors to graduation, the big loss being Jesse Mills who is now at Saint Mary’s. A’dre Fraser will be the explosive offensive weapon this year. Should win Nova Scotia but not as dominating as last season.
21 Mount Douglas Rams β Victoria, B.C. (0-0, 1-0)
– Led by Washington State commit Terrell Davis and QB Jordan Deverill. Just returned from Hawaii where they defeated Kappaa high school.
22 St. Paul’s Crusaders β Winnipeg
– Should benefit from the experience that 10 of their players got when they represented their province at the Football Canada Cup. LB Leon Cenerini and DL Quinn Horton led a very impressive front seven and look for them to do the same with the Crusaders.
23 Salisbury Sabres β Sherwood Park, AB (1-0)
– QB Matthew Bonaca was the biggest reason for Albertaβs silver medal at the Football Canada Cup and that experience should go a long way this high school season. The Sabres defeated the 2010 CFC #1 Raymond Comets 14 to 9 last weekend. The Comets first loss since November 2007.
24 King City Lions β King City, ON
– Upset the Huron Heights Warriors in conference play but lost to a talented team from Courtice in the Metro Bowl Final. Will struggle to replace Nick Shortill (McMaster) but will lead on veterans Sam Montezari , Fabian Nardone and Darian Waite.
25 Fredericton Black Kats – Fredericton, NB
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Honorable mention: THE NEXT 25
British Columbia
Terry Fox Ravens – Port Coquitlam
Centennial Centaurs β Coquitlam
Alberta
Raymond Comets – Raymond (0-1)
L.C.I. Rams- Lethbridge (0-1)
Harry Ainlay Titans – Edmonton
Saskatchewan
Sheldon Spartans – Regina
Holy Cross – Saskatoon
Aden Bowman Bears – Saskatoon
Manitoba
None
Ontario
Crestwood Mustangs – Peterborough
Assumption Lions – Brantford
Superior Heights Steelhawks – Sault Ste Marie
Sydenham Golden Eagles – Sydenham
Villanova – Windsor
Upper Canada College Blues – Toronto
Waterloo Collegiate – Waterloo
St. Paul Patriot – Niagara Falls
St. Marguerite d’Youville
MM Robinson – Burlington
Lasalle – Sudbury
Northern Vikings- Sarnia
Huron Heights Warriors- Newmarket
Donald A. Wilson Gators – Whitby
A B Lucas Vikings – London
Quebec
Externat St-Jean-Eudes – Quebec City (0-1)
New Brunswick
Bernice MacNaughtan Highlanders- Moncton
Nova Scotia
TIE – Sir John A MacDonald Flames – Upper Tantallon
TIE – Horton Griffins β Wolfville, NS
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NOTES:
1) Teams eligible are in the below listing.
2) At least one team per province will be represented always.
3) We encourage your participation, feedback, and criticism.
4) All leagues go to grade 12 except for quebec which are grade 10’s and 11’s. Ontario allows grade 13 players to play. Some provinces limit the total amount of years you can participate in high school football (i.e. Nova Scotia has 3 year maximum). Most provinces are January school years with the exception of Alberta (and Nova Scotia use to be so this class is still on that schedule).
5) List is compiled by CFC high school ranking group. CFC group numbers 20 people from across Canada.
6) In brackets is last weeks ranking. NR = not ranked, HM = honarable mention, NC = No change
LEAGUES IN THE POLL
NOTE: Most provinces have more than 1 tier and therefore there are more teams in each province then what is considered in this poll.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
1) AAA Varsity – 11 man – (18 teams)
ALBERTA
1) TIER 1 (TBD)
SASKATCHEWAN
1) 4A (16 teams)
MANITOBA
1) AAA (8 teams)
ONTARIO
1) Senior / Varsity Tier 1 (TBD)
QUEBEC
1) JUVENILE AAA – DIVISION 1 (10 teams)
NEW BRUNSWICK
1) 12 MAN (11 teams)
NOVA SCOTIA
1) VARSITY (17 teams)
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