Photo courtesy of Matthew Hamilton

It's Week 5 of the CJFL season with some very interesting match-ups both on Saturday and Sunday.

Here we go!

Prairie Conference

Edmonton Huskies @ Edmonton Wildcats – Saturday August 26, 7:00pm – Emerald Hills | WATCH HERE

It’s a City of Champions Showdown when the Huskies meet the Wildcats.  In recent years this has been a lopsided series with the Huskies winning the majority of the games. 

The Huskies are coming off a high scoring affair with the Calgary Colts with their offence scoring over 50 points, but their “D” coughed up 38. Meanwhile, the Wildcats have fallen in their first two games of the season and are desperate to get into the win column. 

Head-to-head

Records: Huskies 1-1 – Wildcats 0-2
Avg Points For: Huskies 33.5 – Wildcats 8
Avg Points Against: Huskies 29 – Wildcats 51.5

Passing Leaders: Carson Neitz – 15 of 34, 275 yards, 3 touchdowns (Huskies) – Caleb Taylor – 21 of 35, 179 yards, 1 touchdown (Wildcats)

Rushing Leaders: Ife Adebogun – 15 carries for 117 yards, 1 touchdown (Huskies) – David Lezama – 10 carries for 67 yards (Wildcats) 

Receiving Leaders: Caleb Akerly – 2 receptions, 74 yards, 1 touchdown (Huskies) - Mekhi Tyrell – 2 receptions for 80 yards, 1 touchdown (Wildcats)

Leading Tacklers: Tyson Colby – 12 tackles (Huskies) – Tytan Johannesson – 10 tackles (Wildcats)

Winnipeg Rifles @ Regina Thunder – Sunday August 27, 1:00pm – Leibel Field | WATCH HERE

The Thunder will play their home opener on Sunday when they welcome the Rifles in a rematch of last year’s semi-final. 

Last week the Thunder pounded the Edmonton Wildcats in an impressive offensive showing, while the Rifles were shutout at home.  In that semi-final last season, the Thunder beat the Rifles 23-14 after shoveling snow off the field. 

Head-to-Head

Records: Rifles 1-1 – Thunder 2-0
Avg Points For: Rifles 10 – Thunder 44.5
Avg Points Allowed: Rifles 32.5 – Thunder 17

Passing Leaders: Thomas Hubbard – 30 of 53, 249 yards, 1 touchdown (Rifles) – Carter Moberg – 35 of 59, 623 yards, 6 touchdowns (Thunder)

Rushing Leaders: Kaiden Banfield – 40 carries for 174 yards (Rifles) – Ryland Leichert – 40 carries for 296 yards, 2 touchdowns (Thunder)

Receiving Leaders: Isaiah Woodley – 9 receptions for 201 yards, 1 touchdown (Thunder)

Leading Tackers: Jaxon Gruninger – 11 tackles (Rifles) – Stephen Smith – 9 tackles (Thunder)

Calgary Colts @ Saskatoon Hilltops – Sunday August 27, 1:00pm – SMF Field | WATCH HERE

It’s the one and only meeting of the regular season between the Hilltops and Colts.  Scoring a win in this game is the utmost important since it’s their lone meeting, and an issue of a tiebreaker could come into play later this season.

The Hilltops are coming off an impressive shutout of the Rifles in Winnipeg where they forced nine turnovers. Their defence hasn’t allowed a point yet in the first two games of the season.   The Colts scored 38 points last weekend, but still lost because their defence coughed up 51 points.  They will be looking for a better performance against the highly skilled Hilltops.

Head-to-Head

Records: Colts 0-2 – Hilltops 2-0
Avg Points For: Colts 29 – Hilltops 49.5
Avg Points Allowed: Colts 43.5 – Hilltops 1

Passing Leaders: Liam Ozkowski – 38 of 67, 590 yards, 4 touchdowns (Colts) – Trey Reider – 28 of 42, 395 yards, 5 touchdowns (Hilltops)

Rushing Leaders: Liam Ozkowski – 18 carries for 122 yards, 1 touchdown (Colts) – Boston Davidsen – 34 carries for 268 yards, 2 touchdowns (Hilltops)

Receiving Leaders: Nicholas Sirleaf – 7receptions for 182 yards, 2 touchdowns (Colts) – Drake Douglas – 13 receptions for 210 yards, 1 touchdown (Hilltops) 

Leading Tacklers: Cody Anglo – 11 tackles (Colts) – Jonathan Stevens – 7 tackles (Hilltops)

Ontario Conference

St. Clair Saints @ London Beefeaters – Saturday August 26, 5:00pm – City Wide Field | WATCH HERE

It’s the first meeting of the season between these two rivals and a rematch of the 2022 Ontario Conference final.  There will certainly be no love lost between these two. 

The Saints have played once this year, after their first game was postponed.  Last week they travelled to Ottawa and didn’t allow much, claiming a 30-4 victory.  It was the first action against another opponent for the coaching staff to evaluate their new roster. 

Last weekend the Beefeaters hosted their home opener and gave their faith fanbase plenty to cheer about, after hammering the Hamilton Hurricanes 41-6.  This will be their second straight home game.

Head-to-Head

Records: Saints 1-0 – Beefeaters 2-0
Avg Points For: Saints 30 – Beefeaters 29.5
Avg Points Allowed: Saints 4 – Beefeaters 3

Passing Leaders: Maurice Sodja – 6 of 11, 106 yards, 1 touchdown (Saints) – George Denniss – 11 of 22, 144 yards, 2 touchdowns (Beefeaters)

Rushing Leaders: LJ Dyer – 40 carries, 243 yards, 1 touchdown (Beefeaters)

Receiving Leaders: Javier Lewis – 3 receptions, 77 yards, 1 touchdown (Saints) – Jagger Horst – 6 receptions, 114 yards, 2 touchdowns (Beefeaters)

Leading Tacklers:  Drew Lawrence – 8 tackles (Beefeaters)

Quinte Skyhawks @ GTA Grizzlies – Sunday August 27, 1:00pm – Chinguacously Park | WATCH HERE

It’s the second half of the home-and-home between these two teams after the Skyhawks scored a 50-12 victory last weekend.  It will be interesting to see how both teams adjust heading into this weekend.

Head-to-Head

Records: Skyhawks 1-0 – Grizzlies 0-2
Avg Points For: Skyhawks 50 – Grizzlies 6
Avg Points Allowed: Skyhawks 12 – Grizzlies 50.5

Passing Leaders: Josiah Bowman – 12 of 18, 143 yards, 4 touchdowns (Skyhawks) 

Rushing Leaders: Jake Venditti – 18 carries, 140 yards (Skyhawks)

Receiving Leaders: Otis Newbury – 8 receptions, 62 yards, 3 touchdowns (Skyhawks) – Jonathan Stoddard – 8 receptions, 115 yards, 1 touchdown (Grizzlies)

Leading Tacklers: Teagan Good – 3 tackles (Skyhawks) – Felix Ofori – 10 tackles (Grizzlies)

Ottawa Sooners @ Hamilton Hurricanes – Sunday August 27, 4:00pm – Tim Hortons Field | WATCH HERE

It’s the only meeting of the season between these two teams, which makes it extremely important.  The winner will hold any potential tiebreaker at the end of the season.  

Both teams are coming off a lopsided loss, the Hurricanes fell to the London Beefeaters by 35 points while the Sooners lost by 26 points at home to the St. Clair Saints.   This game is the first time the Sooners have had to hit the road. 

Head-to-Head

Records: Sooners 0-2 – Hurricanes 1-1
Avg Points For: Sooners 2 – Hurricanes 28.5
Avg Points Allowed: Sooners 24 – Hurricanes 20.5

Passing Leaders: Owen Cowan – 19 of 36, 177 yards (Sooners) – Kieran Dej – 6 of 15, 92 yards, 1 touchdown (Hurricanes)

Rushing Leaders: Owen Cowan – 10 carries, 52 yards (Sooners) – Jesse King – 22 carries, 176 yards (Hurricanes)

Receiving Leaders: Marcus Lynch – 10 receptions, 94 yards (Sooners) – Luke LeMessurier – 4 receptions, 54 yards, 1 touchdown (Hurricanes)

Leading Tacklers: Richard Graham – 8 tackles (Sooners) – Zach Chaddock – 6 tackles (Hurricanes) 

BC Conference

Okanagan Sun @ Westshore Rebels – Saturday August 26, 3:00pm – Starlight Stadium | WATCH HERE

It’s the biggest game in the CJFL this weekend as the undefeated Sun visit the undefeated Rebels.  It’s the only matchup between these two in the regular season so the tiebreaker is also up for grabs. 

The Sun were forced to postpone their game last weekend due to the raging wildfire in Kelowna and they haven’t been able to get outside to practice due to the smoke.  The Rebels also didn’t play last weekend, but they simply had a bye week.  

This game features the best offenses going toe-to-toe with the best defences.  It will be fun to watch.

Head-to-Head

Records: Sun 3-0 – Rebels 3-0
Avg Points For: Sun 43.6 – Rebels 62.6
Avg Points Allowed: Sun 6 – Rebels 10

Passing Leaders: Liam Kroeger – 39 of 58, 407 yards, 2 touchdowns (Sun) – Te Jessie – 42 of 59, 665 yards, 15 touchdowns (Rebels)

Rushing Leaders: Aidan Wiberg – 41 carries, 325 yards, 1 touchdown (Sun) – Gerren Hardisty – 28 carries, 354 yards, 3 touchdowns (Rebels)

Receiving Leaders: Jasiah Haliburton – 10 receptions, 125 yards, 1 touchdown (Sun) – Cairo Berry – 13 receptions, 216 yards, 6 touchdowns (Rebels)

Leading Tacklers: Jacob Bond – 7 tackles (Sun) – Demar Hohnstein – 19 tackles (Rebels)

Kamloops Broncos @ Langley Rams – Saturday August 26, 4:00pm – McLeod Stadium | WATCH HERE

It’s the lone meeting of the regular season between these two clubs.   

The Rams’ game was postponed in Kelowna last weekend so have had an extra week to prepare for the visiting Kamloops Broncos.  The Rams last game was a lopsided 54-3 victory on their home turf.  Meanwhile, the Broncos play their fourth straight road game to open the season and are still looking for their first win.

Head-to-Head

Records: Broncos 0-3 – Rams 1-1
Avg Points For: Broncos 11 – Rams 36
Avg Points Allowed: Broncos 44 – Rams 14.5

Passing Leaders: Clark Snider – 37 of 76, 488 yards, 3 touchdowns (Broncos) – Trey Jones – 22 of 38, 403 yards, 7 touchdowns (Rams)

Rushing Leaders: Cam Gregorcyzk – 35 carries, 152 yards (Broncos) – Kairo Hassan – 27 carries, 155 yards, 1 touchdown (Rams)

Receiving Leaders: Colton Meikle – 14 receptions, 226 yards, 2 touchdowns (Broncos) – Isaiah Edwards – 8 receptions, 121 yards, 3 touchdowns (Rams)

Leading Tacklers: Maxim Bosc – 12 tackles (Broncos) – Dawson Morin – 5 tackles (Rams)

Prince George Kodiaks @ VI Raiders – Saturday August 26, 5:30pm – NDSS Field | WATCH HERE

This will be the first and only time in the regular season the Kodiaks and Raiders meet and the first time in franchise history they matchup. 

Last weekend the Kodiaks won their first of the season, beating the Kamloops Broncos by 14 points and hit the road for the first time. They make the very long trip to the Island dealing with traffic on the road, and in the ferry line. 

The Raiders have lost four straight to open the season and are looking to turn things around.  Their defence has allowed 137 points in the last two games.

Head-to-Head

Records: Kodiaks 1-2 – Raiders 0-4
Avg Points For: Kodiaks 11.6 – Raiders 8.2
Avg Points Allowed: Kodiaks 30.6 – Raiders 65

Passing Leaders: Quinn Neukomm – 27 of 61, 327 yards, 2 touchdowns (Kodiaks) – Ben Chomolok – 48 of 96, 507 yards, 3 touchdowns (Raiders)

Rushing Leaders: Xander Shane – 27 carries, 120 yards (Kodiaks) – Ben Chomolok – 18 carries, 141 yards, 1 touchdown (Raiders)

Receiving Leaders: Kaden Wagner – 12 receptions, 136 yards (Kodiaks) – Hayden Day – 10 receptions, 146 yards, 1 touchdown (Raiders)

Leading Tacklers: Ryley Amendt – 18 tackles (Kodiaks) – Nathan Haluik – 14 tackles (Raiders)