#CFC10 PREVIEWS & PREDICTIONS (12): Championship, conference finals this weekend

As summer football is winding down the next couple of weeks, championships will be handed out in both the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL) and Ontario Football Conference (OFC).

This weekend, Hamilton will be the host of the OVFL League Championship Finals.  Meanwhile, the OFC is staging conference finals for their divisions.

Here are a few of the games that we believe will provide the most intrigue and drama this weekend:

VARSITY:

OVFL:

KINGSTON GRENADIERS VS CAMBRIDGE LIONS (SATURDAY AUGUST 4TH @ 5:30PM, RON JOYCE STADIUM):

After pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the year, the Cambridge Lions are coming into the league champioship riding the momentum wave,

The Lions hope to continue that this weekend in Hamilton after causing shockwaves with their defeat of the Niagara Spears .  Offensively, the team is led by pivot Jackson White.  He will look to create offensive magic with many options including Brandon Metz, Riley Boersma, Nathan McLean and Devante Hudson.

Jack HInsperger highlights a Lions defence that is tenacious and relentless on the field.

Meanwhile, the Kingston Grenadiers are counting on quarterback Tanner De Jong to lead the way on offence.  DeJong has some viable options in Harry Robinson, Nik Reyes Grant LeGood and Brendan Steele like he has throughout the 2016 season.

Defensively, the Grenadiers hope that Shawn Miller and Joey Morris continue to succeed as they did in the conference final against the Ottawa Myers Riders.

While this will be an exciting final between two teams with not a lot of history between them, we think the Lions will come out roaring enough in this contest to take home the coveted OVFL Varsity Championship.

PREDICTION: Cambridge Lions 40, Kingston Grenadiers 20

OFC:

HAMILTON VARSITY TIGER CATS @ BURLINGTON STAMPEDERS (SUNDAY AUGUST 7TH @ 5:00PM, NELSON):

For the third time this year, these two rivals will battle each other.

However, the stakes are extremely higher as the winner will advance to next weekend’s league championship final at Ron Joyce Staidum.

Their season series is tied 1-1 between the Tiger Cats and Stampeders.

The Varsity Tiger Cats is highlighted by offensive/special teams standout Jacob Patten.  Additionally, Nicholas Petermann, Damian Tesoro and Tyson Middlemost are viable options for #CFC100 pivot Connor Carusello.

On defence, #CFC100 Nolan Putt and Mitchell Thiele.highlight a strong unit.  Addiitonally, Mitchell Garland, Zach Plausini, Carson MacRae and Nate Edwards round out the ones to watch for in this core group.

As for the Stampeders, their offence is run through #CFC100 Dominic Mandalfino.  Moreover, the team has two bonafide pivots in Mason Brown and Kurtis Rourke.  Other ones to watch for are JD Foxcroft and Nicholas Mardner.

The Varsity Tiger Cats are motivated to win this game and play for the league championship at home next weekend.  Despite this one being a close one and the Stampeders playing at home, we are going with the Tiger Cats for the win.

PREDICTION: Hamilton Varsity Tiger Cats 25, Burlington Stampeders 23

JUNIOR VARSITY:

OVFL:

OTTAWA MYERS RIDERS VS LONDON JR. MUSTANGS (SATURDAY AUGUST 6TH @ 2:00PM, RON JOYCE STADIUM):

Two of the top teams during the 2016 OVFL junior varsity season will contend for league supremacy this weekend in Hamilton.

For the 2015 champions, Ottawa Myers Riders come into this one trying to iron out inconsistent play in recent weeks.

As the team proved last weekend, they appear to have shored up all three facets of the game.

#CFCOPC pivot James Keenan spearheads the offence and expect him to go to #CFCOPC receiver Hono Iloki, running back Hayden Tripp as well as Tyrrell Brown often in this game.

However, only one team is in the way of the Myers Riders.  They have to solve the riddle called the London Jr. Mustangs.

The Stangs have been riding the undefeated wave and have been too much to handle for teams.  It’s because the team’s offence has been firing on all cylinders.  The Myers Riders have to find a way to stop the dynamic duo of Ethan Martin and Chase Brown.

Overall, this will be one of the most dramatic championship finals from start to finish but we think the Jr. Mustangs will end their 2016 season in perfection.

PREDICTION: London Jr. Mustangs 42, Ottawa Myers Riders 30