****UPDATED AUG 27th/14 @ 12PM EST***
The following are recaps from this past weekend’s action in the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) and the Ontario Football Conference (OFC)
OFC Week 2:
HAMILTON HURRICANES VS AKO FRATMEN
The Hamilton Hurricanes hosted the Windsor AKO Fratmen in their home opener Saturday evening. Hamilton coming off of a win over the Burlington Braves in week one while AKO was just starting their season after a week on bye. AKO was the first to put points on the board from a 42-yard field goal courtesy of Steven Schott. AKO may have had the first points on the board but it wasnβt overly long before the Hurricanes kicked a field goal to tie it up, and eventually take the lead with a touchdown from Adam Christopher. Hamilton would take their second win of the season after a 22-6 finish over Windsor.
GTA GRIZZLIES VS BURLINGTON BRAVES
The GTA Grizzlies fell to a 0-2 record after the Burlington Braves came back from a 17-point deficit in the second half. GTA held the Burlington Braves off throughout the first half, and put up 17 points with two touchdowns from Robert Priestnall and Kevin Kitamura with a field goal. Burlington would return the favor and hold the Bears off in the second half as they took the lead and win. The Braves move to a 1-1 record after a 24-17 victory.
Β (Source: Β Becca Luden)
OTTAWA SOONERS VS LONDON BEEFEATERS
Both Ottawa and London kicked off their 2014 season this weekend after having a BYE the first week. London scored early with a touchdown from Chuck Wall just over 1:30 into the game. The Beefeaters would put up another 6 with a touchdown from Christian Ridley. London may have had an early start but the tables would turn as the Sooners held off London for the duration of the game. With three touchdowns, and a couple safeties the Sooners would start their season on a high note with a 24-17 final.
PFC Week 2:
The PFC on Sunday the Edmonton Wildcats remain the only undefeated team, while the Saskatoon Hilltops and Winnipeg Rifles each claim their first win.
A defensive struggle in a rain drenched Regina on Sunday afternoon as Wildcats beat the Thunder 19-14 gaining just 276 yards of total offense.
Anthony Myroon led the charge on the ground with 23 carries for 103 yards and a score.Β Quarterback Jordan OlsonΒ carried six times for 33 yards.Β Through the air he finished nine of 19 for 157 yards and touchdown.
Olsonβs favourite target was Brad Quartel who caught four passes for 92 yards and caught the only touchdown pass.
The Wildcats defense was solid, forcing seven Thunder turnovers.Β Jahlani Knorren intercepted two passes, while Ryan Dorman, Kirena Thomas and Luc Catellier each had one.Β Thomas and Keaton Hoddinott each recovered a fumble.
The Cats also gathered five sacks and Brett Morrow had seven tackles, three assists and forced a fumble.
This Labour Day long weekend the Wildcats (2-0) will have a bye before finally playing their home opener on September 7th when they welcome in the Winnipeg Rifles (1-1) at noon.
Sunday afternoon the high powered Thunder offense was virtually non-existent gathering just 156 total yards in the wet, cool temperatures.
Quarterback Jaeden Marwick finished four of 18 for 54 yards, but did score a rushing touchdown.Β Colton Klassen scored the other major on the ground, carrying the rock 18 times for 80 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball the Thunder did forceΒ four turnovers.Β Royce Hanna and Brandon Whitehouse both intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble.Β Ryan Warner had five tackles and Terry Giovannetti chipped in with four.
The Thunder (1-1) will have a bye this weekend before playing in Saskatoon on September 6 when the Hilltops (1-1) unveil the newly refurbished βSaskatoon Minor Football Field.β
Speaking of the Hilltops, they scored their first victory of the season on wet and rainy Sunday afternoon, squeaking by the Edmonton Huskies 19-13 without getting an offensive touchdown.
The Hilltops used 260 yards on the ground to wear out the Huskies defense.Β Wayndel Lewis carried 18 times for a game high 177 yards, quarterback Jared Andreychuck carried six times for 65 yards.Β He also completed 10 of 22 for 125 yards.
Just nine seconds into the first quarter, Bobby Ehman recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown.
From there kicker Brett Thorarinsson was a perfect 4-4 in field goal attempts, including hitting from 42 yards out.
Defensively the Hilltops were led by Cole Benkic and Justin Filteau who each had six tackles.Β Austin Thorarinson intercepted a pass and Blake Hermann recovered a fumble.Β Quinn Pierce chipped in with five solo tackles.
The Hilltops will have a bye this week before the reopening of the Gordie Howe Bowl after a number of great renovations including a new name.Β The βSaskatoon Minor Football Fieldβ will open September 6 when the Hilltops (1-1) host their Provincial rivals, the Regina Thunder (1-1) at 7:00pm.
The Edmonton Huskies got in a hole early and couldnβt dig themselves out after allowing a touchdown just nine seconds into the game.
Quarterback Trevor Erdmann finished 24 of 40 for 261 yards and threw a touchdown pass to Yannick LβAbbe, who caught six passes on the day.Β Colton Balicki collected a game high eight receptions for 113 yards.
With the wet conditions in Saskatoon the Huskies turned to the run game, gathering 137 yards.Β Brandon Stewart finished with 21 carries for 97 yards.
Kicker Jonathan Heidebrecht remains perfect on the season, nailing two field goal attempts, including a 49 yarder.
Defensively the Huskies saw an interception from Brendon Modin and six solo tackles from Brandt Kolybaba.Β Clayton Vis was a force, sacking the Hilltops pivot twice.
The Huskies (1-1) will have a bye this weekend before traveling to Calgary to face the Colts (0-2) for their third straight road game on September 6.
The Winnipeg Rifles used a 21 point first quarter and recorded their first win of the season with a 42-21 win over the Calgary Colts at Investors Group Field on Sunday.
Three Rifles quarterbacks combined to finish 12 of 18 for 300 yards and threw four touchdown passes.Β Kurt Goodrich hauled in five passes for a game high 148 yards and caught two touchdown passes.Β Niclas Bembenek caught a 79 yard TD reception and Victor St. Pierre-Lavoilette scored from 28 yards out.
Nine players were used in the Riflesβ running game as Colton Smith led the charge with 11 carries for 30 yards and scored a touchdown.
The Rifles βDβ was solid with four takeaways.Β Jordan Gauthier and Brooks Falloon intercepted passes while Smith and Braedy Will each recovered fumbles.Β Spencer Richie collected the lone sack and three players finished with four solo tackles; Fallon, Will and Chris Brown-Fillion.
This weekend the Rifles (1-1) will face the Colts again (0-2), this time in Calgary in the second half of a home and home.
The Calgary Colts showed a fairly balanced attack on Sunday with 205 through the air and 134 on the ground.
Quarterback Cole Meyer finished 14 of 33 for 205 yards and threw a touchdown to Cole Bazinet.Β Cam Fox hauled in a team high five passes for 42 yards while Jevon Cottoy made three catches for 73 yards.
Fox also rushed 16 times for 98 yards and scored.Β Meyer chipped in with seven carries for 24 yards and a major.
Defensively the Colts intercepted two passes as Vince Greco and Dylan Niedermaier each had one and Eric Chamberland recorded a fumble.Β Β Linebacker Jakub Jakoubek had a game high seven tackles and Tariq LaChance had six.Β Both Chris Friesen and Colten Burr both had a sack.
The Colts (0-2) will now host the Rifles (1-1) on Sunday at 1:00pm in the second half of a back to back.
Lead Photo credit: Β Matt Hamilton
BCFC Week 5:
Week 5 in the BCFC saw the Okanagan Sun, VI Raiders and Westshore Rebels claim victory.
The most exciting game this week across the country was in Nanaimo where the Raiders beat the Langley Rams in a wild back and forth shoot-out 52-44 despite begin down 44-28 late in the third quarter.
Raidersβ receiver/returner Michael Ritchott had a performance that will not be soon forgotten.Β Β He returned the opening kick-off for a touchdown, hauled in a 105 yard touchdown pass and then returned another kick-off 108 yards for a major in the victory.
Quarterback Liam OβBrien finished 17 of 26 for 336 yards and threw three touchdowns.Β Ritchott caught one, Marshall Cook and Arthur Fabbro caught the others.Β Cook finished with six receptions, while Fabbro had four.
Defensively the Raiders stood tall in the late stages of the game, led by Josh Paisley and his eight solo tackles.Β Β Β Dan Dubinski had three stops, three knock-downs and a block and Kyle Vollet had the lone sack.
The Raiders (2-3) head into the bye week, then will host the Valley Huskers (0-5) on September 6 at Caledonia, their third straight road game.
The Langley Rams fall for the first time this season.
Quarterback Dylan Tucker finished 14 of 29 for 188 yards and threw two touchdown passes.Β His favourite target was Malcolm Williams who made a game high eight catches for 115 yards.Β Β Both Dan English and Kyle Pich caught touchdown passes.
On the ground Tucker and Jordan Traversy scored majors as the Rams collected 147 yards.
The Canadian Junior Football League record books were rewritten by returner John Beckerleg who returned his fourth kick-off this season for a touchdown setting the new mark.
The Rams βDβ tallied four sacks as Brandon Klein had 1.5, Saeed Hosain and Ryan Nicholls each had one and Dylan Roper shared one with Klein.Β Β Ethan Schulz recovered two fumbles and Alex Benning had three tackles.
The Rams (3-1) will host the Kamloops Broncos (3-1) on Sunday at 7:00pm at McLeod Park Stadium.
Like the Rams, the Kamloops Broncos also fell for the first time this season as the Okanagan Sun handed them a 54-16 loss on their home turf.
The Sun amassed 480 yards of total offense, 333 of which was on the ground led by Dillon Fortune.Β The third year running back carried nine times for 123 yards including a 29 yard run for a touchdown.Β Β Kasey Russell carried twice and scored two touchdowns and Alex Bradley and quarterback Cam Bedore also scored on the ground.
Bedore completed just four passes for 98 yards and threw a 35 yard touchdown to Lerone Robinson.Β Backup Josiah Joseph played the fourth quarter and was 2 of 2 and hit Kamloops native Lliam Wishart for a 45 yard touchdown strike.
The Sun defensive didnβt allow a point in the second half and created six turnovers.Β Β JT Fernandez, Landon King and Brennan Van Nistelrooy each picked off a pass, and Triston Nwagwu recovered a fumble.Β Twice the ball was turned over on downs. Robbie Yochim had eight tackles, and Lucas Machado, Zak Ironstand and Jonas Gering each had a sack.
The Sun (4-1) take possession of first place in the BCFC and will have the Labour Day weekend off.Β They will host the Langley Rams (3-1) on September 6 at 7:00pm at the Apple Bowl.
For the first time this season the Kamloops Broncos offense was held under 475 yards, gaining just 295 against the Sun.
Quarterback Steve Schuweiler found nine different receivers, finishing 26 of 46 for 255 yards and a touchdown.Β Both Derek Yachison and Jesse Neufeld made six catches, while Brody Bernier made four catches.Β Yachison hauled in a 13 yard touchdown pass.
Fifth year kicker Aaron Smit was a perfect 3-3 in field goals.
The Broncos defense forced one turnover as Brennan Adrian recovered a fumble.Β Tristan Murray had the lone sack and Mike Ochoa and Jake Bainas each had four stops.
The Broncos (3-1) will play in Langley on Sunday night at 7:00pm against the Rams (3-1).
The Westshore Rebels claimed their second win of the season on Saturday afternoon beating the Valley Huskers for the second time this season 41-7.
Behind quarterback Hunter Lake, the Rebels gained 525 yards of total offense.Β Lake finished 25 of 43 for 406 yards and threw four touchdowns.Β His biggest target was Jordan Rodinsky who caught a game high eight passes for 184 yards and a pair of TDs.Β Quinn Takar and Josh Beauchamp also hauled in touchdown passes.
Lake also ran three times for 64 yards while Johnny Quan rumbled 50 yards on six carries.
The Rebels defense threw a shutout in the second half and also got on the scoreboard as Jake Hauge had a 46 yard pick six.Β Chris Pastro tallied six tackles and two knock-downs.Β Β Tyler Leader, Connor Bryan and Jordan Worth each had a sack.Β Leader had five tackles.
The Rebels (2-3) will have a bye this week, then will open the second half of the season on September 6 when they host the Kamloops Broncos (3-1).
The Valley Huskers are still in search of their first win this season despite gaining 251 yards through the air.Β Quarterback RJ Begg completed 13 of 22 for 197 yards and scored their lone major on the ground.
Blake Draper made six catches for 134 yards and Cody Vinish hauled in six passes for 77 yards.
The Huskers defense was led by Jason Gahg and his game high seven tackles and two knock-downs. He also forced the lone Rebels turnover, intercepting a pass.Β Sharif Ali and Dylan Boykowich each made four stops.
Following the bye week, the Huskers (0-5) will travel to the Island to play the Raiders (2-3) on September 6.
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CFC100 CLASS 2027 HIGH SCHOOL PROSPECT RANKINGS (JUNE)
