Photo courtesy of Eclectic Shots

It’s Week 6 of the CJFL season and a full slate of games will be highlighted on Saturday and Sunday.

SATURDAY

Ottawa Sooners @ Hamilton Hurricanes – Saturday August 27, 1:00pm – Tim Hortons Field | WATCH HERE

It’s the only meeting of the season between these two teams which makes this game even more important for playoff positioning down the line.   It’s also the Hurricanes home opener and the first Sooners’ road game of the campaign.

Both teams have a 1-1 record with the Sooners coming off a victory last weekend while the Hurricanes fell in a rain drenched game in Windsor.  This will be the first match-up between these two teams since 2019 following the pandemic and an extra year off by the Sooners.

Head-to-Head

Records: Sooners 1-1 – Hurricanes 1-1
Points For: Sooners 51 – Hurricanes 30
Points Allowed: Sooners 49 – Hurricanes 20

Kamloops Broncos @ Westshore Rebels – Saturday August 27, 4:00pm – Starlight Stadium | WATCH HERE

It’s the first half of back-to-back meetings between these two teams as the scene will shift next weekend.  The Rebels are coming off a bye week and are at home for the third time already this season.  The Broncos meanwhile are back on the road for their third game and are 2-0 away from Hillside Stadium where oddly enough they are winless at 0-2.   It’s also their second trip to the Island in three weeks after beating the VI Raiders in Nanaimo. 

While the Rebels are coming off a bye week, the Broncos did not have a good showing against the Langley Rams last weekend losing 24-6 and were kept out of the end zone. 

Head-to-Head

Records: Broncos 2-2 – Rebels 3-1
Points For: Broncos 83 – Rebels 148
Points Allowed: Broncos 74 – Rebels 112

Passing Leaders: Reid Vankoughnett – 40 of 92 for 697 yards and 3 touchdowns (Broncos) – Te Jessie – 67 of 111 for 1094 yards and 10 touchdowns (Rebels)

Rushing Leaders: Cam Grzegorczyk – 48 carries for 230 yards and 3 touchdowns (Broncos) – Gerren Hardisty – 44 carries for 225 yards and 1 touchdown (Rebels)

Receiving Leaders: Colton Meikle – 11 receptions for 224 yards and 1 touchdown (Broncos) – Kieran Poissant – 20 receptions for 393 yards and 5 touchdowns (Rebels)

Leading Tacklers: Peter Orajekwe – 16 tackles (Broncos) – Dolani Robinson – 15 tackles (Rebels) 

Prince George Kodiaks @ Okanagan Sun - Saturday August 27, 4:00pm – Apple Bowl | WATCH HERE | Sun Radio Broadcast

This will be the Kodiaks first ever visit to the historic Apple Bowl in Kelowna and they are coming off their first ever victory.  However, this will not be an easy game with the Sun dismantling their opponents and are the top ranked team in the CJFL. 

Last weekend the Sun defence pitched a shutout at home beating the VI Raiders 58-1.  The only point the Raiders scored came on special teams with a single off a punt.   Quarterback Dominic Britton has been lights out this season with 10 touchdown passes and three BC Conference Offensive Player of the Week honours in four games played.   Mike O’Shea is one of the most lethal weapons in the CJFL and has returned a punt for a touchdown in back-to-back games.

The Kodiaks are coming off their first ever win with a 28-20 victory over the Valley Huskers at home last weekend.  Keon Raymond Jr had a massive pick-six in the second half helping his club to the win in front of a solid crowd in Prince George.

Head-to-Head:

Records: Kodiaks 1-3 – Sun 4-0
Points For: Kodiaks 70 – Sun 193
Poins Allowed: Kodiaks 120 – Sun 56

Passing Leaders: Liam Oczkowski – 46 of 93 for 723 yards and 2 touchdowns (Kodiaks) – Dominic Britton – 61 of 104 for 1099 yards and 10 touchdowns (Sun)

Rushing Leaders: Keanu Brown – 21 carries for 174 yards and 1 touchdown (Kodiaks) – Jevan Garwood – 31 carries for 285 yards and 2 touchdowns (Sun)

Receiving Leaders: Jerome Erickson – 17 receptions for 182 yards and 2 touchdowns (Kodiaks) – Noah Bymak – 9 receptions for 241 yards and 3 touchdowns (Sun)

Leading Tacklers: Marcellus Pope – 22 tackles (Kodiaks) – Peyton Ryder – 18 tackles (Sun)

VI Raiders @ Langley Rams - Saturday August 27, 4:00pm – McLeod Stadium | WATCH HERE

It’s the first meeting of the season between these two teams who have just two wins combined so far.  The Rams scored their first win of the season last weekend on the road in Kamloops while the Raiders could only muster one point on the road at Okanagan. 

These two teams have struggled so far this year and have had issues scoring points.  Their offences have scored the least number of points in the BC Conference, something they are both looking to change this weekend.  Where the Rams defence has been good, the Raiders’ have given up the most points through the first five games and are one of two teams in the Conference that has not had a bye yet. 

Head-to-Head

Records: Raiders 1-4 – Rams 1-3
Points For: Raiders 60 – Rams 58
Points Allowed: Raiders 195 – Rams 76

Passing Leaders: Ben Chomolok – 85 of 153 for 1061 yards and 6 touchdowns (Raiders) – Trey Jones – 20 of 33 for 312 yards (Rams)

Rushing Leaders: Ben Chomolok – 34 carries for 162 yards and 1 touchdown (Raiders) – Caleb Wheeler – 53 carries for 286 yards and 2 touchdowns (Rams)

Receiving Leaders: Andre Gordon – 19 receptions for 239 yards and 2 touchdowns (Raiders) – Beckham Dickie – 9 receptions for 170 yards (Rams)

Leading Tacklers: Will Adams – 15 tackles (Raiders) – Joel Klaassen – 13 tackles (Rams)

SUNDAY

London Beefeaters @ GTA Grizzlies – Sunday August 28, 1:00pm – Chinguacousy Park | WATCH HERE

A pair of teams going in opposite directions early on this season as the defending Ontario champion Beefeaters visit “the 6ix” when they meet the Grizzlies. It’s the lone meeting of the season between these two teams.

Last week the Beefeaters pounded the Quinte Skyhawks with most of their starters leaving the game earlier than expected so they should be well rested.  The Grizzlies were in Ottawa last weekend and were beaten by 30 points.  They return home this weekend where they are still looking for their first points of the year.

The Beefeaters have been solid so far averaging 47 points a game and have allowed 20 combined in their first two games. 

This will be the first CJFL game this season at Chinguacousy Park in Brampton. 

Head-to-Head

Records: Beefeaters 2-0 – Grizzlies 0-2
Points For: Beefeaters 94 – Grizzlies 7
Points Allowed: Beefeaters 20 – Grizzlies 61

St. Clair Saints @ Quinte Skyhawks – Sunday August 28, 2:00pm – Loyalist College | WATCH HERE

For the second time in three weeks these two will butt heads but this time the scene has shifted to Belleville.  

Two weeks ago, the Saints dismantled the Skyhawks as their defence pitched an 82-0 shutout and held them to an incredible minus 12 net yards for the game.   Four different quarterbacks threw touchdown passes for the Saints including three from the right arm of Andrew Brush.  Along with the shutout the defence forced eight turnovers led by a pair of interceptions by Kenley Williams. 

The Skyhawks are not only looking for their first win of the season but need to move the football.  In the first two games, they have gained just 47 net offensive yards.  Scoring first on Sunday against the Saints in their home opener would give them confidence. 

Head-to-Head

Records: Saints 2-0 – Skyhawks 0-2
Points For: Saints 102 – Skyhawks 6
Points Allowed: Saints 6 – Skyhawks 134

Saskatoon Hilltops @ Winnipeg Rifles – Sunday August 28, 1:00pm – Maple Grove | WATCH HERE

Its only the third game of the season for both teams, yet it’s their second meeting as the Hilltops visit the Rifles.  Two weeks ago in Saskatoon, points were hard to come by in the second half for both teams as they combined for just three points in a Hilltops 19-10 victory.   The home side booted four field goals in this game.

These two offences look very different from each other.  The Hilltops love to run the football with Boston Davidsen while the Rifles have gone to the air.  They recorded 335 yards in Saskatoon, then quarterback Bryson McNeil added 338 more in Regina last weekend. 

Head-to-Head

Records: Hilltops 2-0 – Rifles 0-2
Points For: Hilltops 57 – Rifles 32
Points Allowed: Hilltops 20 – Rifles 43

Passing Leaders: Damon Dutton – 34 of 47 for 357 yards and 2 touchdowns (Hilltops) – Bryson McNeil – 47 of 76 for 645 yards and 3 touchdowns (Rifles)

Rushing Leaders: Boston Davidsen – 38 carries for 224 yards and 1 touchdown (Hilltops) – Bryson McNeil – 15 carries for 59 yards (Rifles)

Receiving Leaders: Boden Marley – 9 receptions for 101 yards and 1 touchdown (Hilltops) – Jake Roger – 14 receptions for 307 yards and 2 touchdowns (Rifles)

Leading Tacklers: Joe Yausie – 11 tackles (Hilltops) – Kyle Chorney – 12 tackles (Rifles)

Regina Thunder @ Edmonton Huskies – Sunday August 28, 1:00pm – Jasper Place Bowl | WATCH HERE

This should be an outstanding game as the Thunder look to stay undefeated while the Huskies find themselves at home for the first time this year. 

Last week the Thunder needed a pair of field goals to come back at home to beat the Rifles in a very entertaining match-up.  The Huskies dropped their first game of the season falling to the Hilltops 38-10 after not scoring in the first half.   The Thunder defence will not doubt get a heavy dose of the Huskies run game featuring Alex Gayle who gained 109 yards last weekend in Saskatoon. 

It’s the first of two meetings on the season and could have playoff positioning implications down the road. 

Head-to-Head

Records: Thunder 2-0 – Huskies 1-1
Points For: Thunder 81 – Huskies 47
Points Allowed: Thunder 37 – Huskies 55

Passing Leaders: Carter Shewchuk – 34 of 46 for 623 yards and 5 touchdowns (Thunder) – Jordan Lane – 13 of 30 for 212 yards (Huskies)

Rushing Leaders: Ryland Leichert – 38 carries for 283 yards and 1 touchdown (Thunder) – Alex Gayle – 45 carries for 226 yards and 4 touchdowns (Huskies)

Receiving Leaders: Isaac Foord – 12 receptions for 250 yards and 3 touchdowns (Thunder) – Carver Trapp – 5 receptions for 79 yards (Huskies)

Leading Tacklers: Kenten Effa – 7 tackles (Thunder) – Roman Iwuc – 9 tackles (Huskies)

Calgary Colts @ Edmonton Wildcats – Sunday August 28. 1:00pm – Emerald Hills | WATCH HERE

It’s the second half of the back-to-back as the Colts visit the Wildcats after a convincing 38-10 victory last weekend in Calgary.  The Colts tallied 421 yards of total offence as quarterback Nick Kennedy completed 15 passes for 206 yards and threw three touchdowns and running back Alan Xiang rushed 18 times for 148 yards and scored twice. 

The Wildcats on the other hand scored all 10 of their points in the third quarter, highlighted by a 50-yard touchdown run by Manny McGill.

Head-to-Head

Records: Colts 1-1 – Wildcats 0-2
Points For: Colts 55 – Wildcats 25
Points Allowed: Colts 47 – Wildcats 95

Passing Leaders: Nick Kennedy – 34 of 57 for 416 yards and 5 touchdowns (Colts) – Caleb Taylor – 16 of 29 for 189 yards (Wildcats)

Rushing Leaders: Alan Xiang – 26 carries for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns (Colts) – Manny McGill – 11 carries for 100 yards and 1 touchdown (Wildcats)

Receiving Leaders: Ty Metcalfe – 7 receptions for 116 yards and 1 touchdown (Colts) – Max Taylor – 5 receptions for 85 yards (Wildcats)

Leading Tacklers: Patrick Jelen – 7 tackles (Colts) – Tanner Shaw – 12 tackles (Wildcats)