Football Canada Cup: Day 2 game predictions

The national Under-18 championship, the Football Canada Cup (FCC), is entering day 2 of competition.Ā Ā All games are being played at Western Universities TD Waterhouse Stadium.

Since reformatting to the U-18 age category in 2010, Team Quebec has been the most dominant team, winning the 2011 FCC and coming 2nd in 2010 to Saskatchewan.Ā Ā This is how we see the day two games unfolding.

Wednesday July 18th

Game 5 – Nova Scotia vs. ManitobaĀ (10am)

Nova Scotia needs to find a way to muster some offense and Manitoba has to have a better start then game one.Ā Ā If Manitoba can feed off the good second half they had against Ontario West we like their chances.Ā Ā If Nova Scotia can produce on offense we like theirs.Ā Ā Coaching composure weighs heavily in favour of one side.Ā Ā We like the Manitoba running back combo of Alex Taylor and Blair Mattes.

Manitoba 23 Nova Scotia 18

Game 6 – New Brunswick vs. Ontario East (1pm)

New Brunswick returned to the tournament with a sort of ‘baptism by fire’.Ā Ā The football gods may have been watching and decided to end the game for them (it was not a forfeiture – as reported on other mediums).Ā Ā New Brunswick does have a solid running back (Fred Hammond) but very little else that can pressure an oppositions defense.Ā Ā If Ontario East can work on their ‘sports psychology’Ā Ā they should win this one.Ā Ā Ontario East has to find some simpler ways of distributing the ball in their pass game, especially to Malcolm Carter.

Ontario East 32 New Brunswick 7

Game 7 – Quebec vs. Saskatchewan (4pm)

Saskatchewan played the best 7 minutes of football of any team in the tournament.Ā Ā Against Quebec that same performance will find you in losing column.Ā Ā Team Quebec may have a better offensive line and better defensive unit then they had in last year’s tournament.Ā Ā Add to that the big play ability of QB Michael Arruda, these guys will be difficult to beat.Ā Ā If Saskatchewan can get game one second half composure from Noah Picton they should compete well.Ā Ā Will have to have a better performance in the run game to give themselves a chance.

Quebec 36 Saskatchewan 12

Game 8 – Alberta vs. Ontario West (7pm)

This will be the game of day 2.Ā Ā Both teams are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball.Ā Ā Alberta’s Will linebacker Troy Hansen was all over the field on defense and specials.Ā Ā Ontario West got good production from their linebacking core (Walden et al) and from DBs Parisotto and Johnson.Ā Ā There were some holes in the defense that coaches hope to fill.

This game may will come down to one position – Quarterback.Ā Ā Which of the four that played on Sunday is yet to be known.Ā Ā Alberta QBsĀ Merchantand Rowe were more mobile then the Ontario duel of Roberts and VanWynsberghe, but they were more successful with the long ball.Ā Ā Flip a coin.

Alberta 27 Ontario West 25

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