Week 1 is in the books for both the Ontario Football Varsity League (OVFL) and Ontario Football Conference (OFC) Varsity Divisions.
In OVFL action, winners included the Cambridge Lions, Scarborough Thunder, Ottawa Myers Riders, Metro Toronto Wildcats, Cornwall Wildcats, London Jr Mustangs, Mississauga Warriors, Niagara Spears. The Ajax-Pickering Dolphins earned the first shutout of the season (and the only one in Week 1) while the SSM Sabrecats put a damper on Kyle Quinlan’s debut as Head Coach of the Hamilton Ironmen.
Meanwhile, the defending OFC League Champions, Hamilton Hurricanes picked up from where they left of as the team shutout the Forest City Thunderbirds. The Hurricanes were one of four teams to earn shutouts – Sudbury Gladiators, Guelph Bears and Brantford Bisons were the others. North Halton Crimson Tide, Huronia Stallions and the Peterborough Wolverines also notched victories this past weekend.
Here are results for WEEK 1 OVFL and OVC Varsity Divisions
(NOTE: At press time not all stats/scored were received; therefore, this page will be continued to be updated as more information does become available)
ONTARIO VARSITY FOOTBALL LEAGUE (OVFL):
CAMBRIDGE LIONS 23, ETOBICOKE EAGLES 12:
This past Saturday, the Cambridge Lions gave the home crowd something to cheer about as the team pulled out a 23-12 win over the visiting Etobicoke Eagles.
Lions quarterback James Roberts had 18 completions on 25 attempts for 175 passing yards and a passing touchdown. He also added 42 rushing yards.
Keiran Burnham was successful on two conversion attempts and added three field goals. Defensively, defensive back Mitchell Weiler registered six solo and one assisted tackle. He also caught an interception for the Lions.
Meanwhile, running back Neko Hamilton led the Eagles with 106 rushing yards on 16 carries. Defensive back Thomas Koos racked up nine solo and two assisted tackles in the loss.
Eagles’ kicker Frederico Barcos added two conversions.
SCARBOROUGH THUNDER 24, YORK SIMCOE BUCS 12:
Brett Watson completed 13 passes in 19 attempts for 211 passing yards and two touchdowns as the Scarborough Thunder kicked off their OVFL season with a 24-12 victory over the York Simcoe Bucs.
Rakeem Simms rushed for 113 yards on 11 carries (average of 10.3 yards per carry) while Andre Murphy racked up 105 yards on 4 receptions for the Thunder.
OTTAWA MYERS RIDERS 51, KINGSTON GRENADIERS 18:
The defending champions picked up from where they left off last season. Ottawa Myers Riders coasted to a 51-18 win over the Kingston Grenadiers.
Quarterback Matthew Duffy had 16 completions in 24 attempts for 218 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and 37 rushing yards in the victory. Slotback Vincenzo Trunzo (93 receiving yards on five receptions) and wide receiver Phil Iloki (78 receiving yards on six receptions) scored touchdowns for the Myers Riders.
Defensively, linebacker Abed Hamidi registered two solo and five assisted tackles. Hamidi also recorded a sack and caught an interception. Connor Ayre added six PAT’s and a 33 yard field goal.
As for the Grenadiers, Michael Bashall added a PAT and a 33 yard field goal.
METRO TORONTO WILDCATS 28, CUMBERLAND PANTHERS 23:
Stats not available at press time
CORNWALL WILDCATS 40, MARKHAM RAIDERS 12:
Jeremy Pike had 10 completions in 15 attempts for 182 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and a rushing major as the Cornwall Wildcats cruised to a 40-12 victory over the Markham Raiders in Week 1 OVFL action.
Wide receiver Max Ermond scored two majors and amassed 91 receiving yards on four catches while slotback Garrett Richardson and Oden Robertson (101 rushing yards on 12 carries) each scored a touchdown for the Wildcats.
Alex Douglas was successful on five PAT’s and added 16 yard field goal. The Raiders also conceded a safety in the game.
On defense, linebacker John Nobert led the way with six solo and four assisted tackles. Nobert also recorded a sack in the game.
As for the Raiders, pivot Matt Prucha had 21 completions in 38 attempts for 274 passing yards in the loss. Tight end Athen Neale racked up 141 receiving yards on 10 receptions and scored two majors.
LONDON JR. MUSTANGS 25, BRAMPTON BULLDOGS 18:
At TD Waterhouse Stadium, Danny Mundt ran into the end zone once while Cole Kussman rushed for 116 yards on 17 carries as the London Jr Mustangs opened their season with a 25-18 victory over the Brampton Bulldogs.
Ben Kelly was successful on two conversions and three field goal attempts, including a 34 yarder for the Jr Mustangs.
As for the Bulldogs, pivot Kyle Gouveia completed 12 passes in 19 attempts for 206 passing yards and a passing touchdown. Matthew Bills (135 receiving yards on five receptions), Chris Osei-Kusi (134 receiving yards on three receptions and) Richmond Nketiah (78 rushing yards on eight carries) all scored for the Bulldogs.
AJAX-PICKERING DOLPHINS 36, OSHAWA HAWKEYES 0:
At Kinsmen Park, the Ajax-Pickering Dolphins earned the dubious distinction of earning the first shutout of the OVFL Varsity season. The Dolphins crushed the Oshawa Hawkeyes 36-0 this past weekend.
Raishaun Provo led the way with two passing touchdowns, a rushing major and 76 rushing yards on 15 carries. Jordan Grimes chipped in with 77 rushing yards on 11 carries while Alonzo Addae scored a touchdown off a punt return.
As for the Hawkeyes, linebacker Drue Moore amassed 11 solo and three assisted tackles as well as recording a sack. Niko Isovski registered six solo and two assisted tackles. Moreover, he recorded two solo and one assisted sack in the loss.
MISSISSAUGA WARRIORS 35, HALTON COWBOYS 23:
Nicholaus Sutherland-Barnes rushed for 123 yards on 13 carries and scored a touchdown as the Mississauga Warriors earned a 35-23 win over the Halton Cowboys this past weekend at Loyola Catholic Secondary School.
NIAGARA SPEARS 17, ESSEX RAVENS 10:
At Kiwanis Field, the Niagara Spears held off the Essex Ravens for a 17-10 win.
Mario Villamizar (23 yards) and Dylan Smythe (two yards) scored touchdowns for the victors. Smythe amassed 74 yards on 17 carries and Austin Whelton rushed for 60 yards on 10 carries.
Linebacker Connor Warnock registered seven solo and 12 assisted tackles. Warnock also recorded a sack in the win. Christopher Perin racked up five solo and four assisted tackles and also added a sack.
Three different kickers contributed to the Spears point tally – Michael Domagala was successful on a 34 yard field goal while Michael Tarbutt and Colin O’Connor each added a PAT.
This game was a rematch of the 2013 Adams Conference Final.
SSM SABRECATS 31, HAMILTON IRONMEN 16:
At McMaster’s Ron Joyce Stadium, the SSM Sabrecats put a damper on Kyle Quinlan’s debut as Head Coach of the Hamilton Ironmen. The Sabrecats defeated the Ironmen 31-16 this past weekend.
Pivot Justin Elwgren had 15 completions in 29 attempts for 194 passing yards, a passing touchdown and 19 rushing yard in the Sabrecats’ victory. David Toppan added a major while amassing 70 yards on four receptions while Jeff Auger racked up 83 yards on five receptions.
On defense, Mitchell Stadnyk registered seven solo and four assisted tackles while Aaron Bourdages added five solo tackles, one assisted tackle and recorded four sacks. Ray Duplin chipped in with five solo tackles, three assisted tackles and recorded a sack.
Brandon Vernelli was successful on four conversion attempts and added a 12 yard field goal for the Sabrecats.
ONTARIO FOOTBALL CONFERENCE (OFC):
SUDBURY GLADIATIORS 48, CLARINGTON KNIGHTS 0:
Scott Friesen scored two touchdowns (15 and 40 yards), added a 37 yard field goal and was successful on all his conversion attempts as the Sudbury Gladiators crushed the Clarington Knights 48-0.
August Danyluk (20 yard), Matt Glass (two yard), Jake Graham (22 yard) and Hunter Holub (35 yard) all added majors for the Gladiators.
PETERBOROUGH WOLVERINES 16, CHATHAM-KENT COUGARS 10:
The Chatham-Kent Cougars blew a 10-2 halftime lead as the team lost 16-10 to the Peterborough Wolverines.
Ben Bartlett had a 16 yard touchdown reception while Trevor Niven added a 28 yard field goal to lead the Wolverines in the second half. Defensively, the Wolverines’ unit came up big as the team completely shut down the Cougars offense.
HAMILTON HURRICANES 40, FOREST CITY THUNDERBIRDS 0:
Stats not available at press time
BRANTFORD BISONS 48, NIPISSING WILD 0:
The Brantford Bisons made Kelly Ireland’s debut as Head Coach a memorable one as the team thrashed the Nipissing Wild 48-0.
Tristan Almas and David Adeniran each scored two touchdowns. Austin Wagenaar and Chris Leary also added majors in the victory.
Ian Lawrence was successful on two conversion attempts and added two field goals.
As for the Wild, pivot Justin Rancourt completed six passes in nine attempts while Nick Weiszhaar had nine carries.
NORTH HALTON CRIMSON TIDE 66, TORONTO JR. ARGOS 43:
Stats not available at press time
HURONIA STALLIONS 40, OAKVILLE TITANS 9:
Stats not available at press time
GUELPH BEARS 48, NIAGARA STORM 0:
Stats not available at press time
BURLINGTON STAMPEDERS VS TWIN CITIES PREDATORS:
TBA
(Niagara Spears va Essex Ravens photo credit: Bernie Puchalski, St. Catherines Standard)
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