Photo courtesy of Joanna Kurowski Photography

Ottawa Sooners @ London Beefeaters – Saturday October 15, 5:00pm – City Wide Field | WATCH HERE

The CJFL Canadian Bowl playoffs finally open on Saturday with a total of three games, with the Beefeaters and Sooners kicking it off.
This is the first playoff match-up between these two teams since 2009.  That season the Sooners scored a 24-10 victory and went onto win the Ontario Conference before losing in the National Semi-Final game to the Edmonton Wildcats.

So far this season the Beefeaters have owned the Sooners with a pair of lopsided victories.  In the first game of the season the Beefeaters beat the Sooners 42-14 then just three weeks ago beat them again in London 31-6.

The Beefeaters have won three in a row coming into this Conference semi-final, two of those wins at City Wide Field.  They have been good on both sides of the ball, but it’s their defence that is rock solid allowing the second fewest points in the Conference.  In four of their wins this season the defence has held the opposition to under 10 points.  On the offensive side they rely heavily on their run game behind a very good offensive line and a pair of All-Star running backs, LJ Dyer and the Conference Offensive Player of the Year in Taz Bell.

Meanwhile the Sooners enter the postseason winning their last game 46-10 but have only one win in their last three contests.   Like the Beefeaters they have been good on both sides of the ball averaging 30 points a game while coughing up 17.   Their first-year quarterback Owen Cowan has carried the load this season and was named the Conference’s Offensive Rookie of the Year completing over 53% of his passes.  Receiver Nathan Coleman has been a key contributor and was named a Conference All-Star.

Both teams have several All-Stars on the defensive side and have been led by their lines.  Dylan Clarke has anchored the Beefeaters leading the Conference with 6.5 sacks to complement his 23 solo tackles. He was named the Conference’s most Outstanding Offensive Lineman.  All-Star Richard Graham has played on the line and in the linebacker position for the Sooners and was outstanding regardless of where he played.  He tallied 24 tackles, 2.5 sacks and returned both of his interceptions for a touchdown. 

Head-to-Head

Records: Sooners 5-3 – Beefeaters 6-2
Points For: Sooners 240 – Beefeaters 240
Points Allowed: Sooners 156 – Beefeaters 134

Passing Leaders: Owen Cowan – 92 of 172 for 1254 yards and 9 touchdowns (Sooners) – Ethan Chambers – 40 of 106 for 658 yards and 2 touchdowns (Beefeaters)

Rushing Leaders: Owen Cowan – 28 carries for 296 yards and 2 touchdowns (Sooners) – Taz Bell – 86 carries for 554 yards and 3 touchdowns (Beefeaters)

Receiving Leaders: Nathan Coleman – 13 receptions for 203 yards and 1 touchdown (Sooners) – Nick Mackenzie – 12 receptions for 221 yards and 1 touchdown (Beefeaters)

Leading Tacklers: Richard Graham – 24 tackles (Sooners) – Tyler Thompson – 27 tackles (Beefeaters)