Photo courtesy of @soulful_stills_photos

The CJFL enters Week 12 of the regular season with the Ontario and BC Conferences wrapping up their schedules while the six teams in the Prairie Conference enjoy their final bye weekend.

In BC the games mean nothing in the standing with the four playoff teams and matchups already set.  However, in the Ontario it’s a different story with the St. Clair Saints the only team that has solidified a first-place finish. 

SATURDAY

Ontario Conference

Quinte Skyhawks @ Sault Ste. Marie Cougars – Saturday October 4, 1:00pm – Superior Heights School | WATCH HERE

The recipe is simple in this game, win and you’re in. The Skyhawks and Cougars meet for the second time this season with identical records and the team that records the win, clinches the final playoff spot in the Ontario Conference. 

In their first meeting of the season the Cougars blasted the Skyhawks 43-0 in mid-August using the ground game to control the tempo.  Running back Sam Mustaspha was terrific with 134 yards on 12 carries and scored two touchdowns.  In all the Cougars galloped 271 yards and scored four majors on the ground.   Then on the defensive side they held the Skyhawks to 50 yards through the air.

Both teams are coming off a win and to set up this win or go home game.   Speaking of home, Sault Ste. Marie hasn’t been great to the Cougars this season with an 0-3 record on their home field.  The Skyhawks have one road win in three games away from Quinte.

Head-to-Head

Records: Skyhawks 3-4 – Cougars 3-4
Avg Points For: Skyhawks 18.7 – Cougars 36
Avg Points Allowed: Skyhawks 29.5 – Cougars 25.4

Passing Leaders: Wesley Graham – 67 of 114 for 671 yards and 3 touchdowns (Skyhawks) – Grayson Weber – 58 of 121 for 775 yards and 5 touchdowns (Cougars)

Rushing Leaders: Wesley Graham – 19 carries for 193 yards (Skyhawks) – Sam Mustapha – 68 carries for 803 yards and 7 touchdowns (Cougars)

Receiving Leaders:  Jadien Trudeau – 30 receptions for 403 yards and 2 touchdowns (Cougars)

Leading Tacklers:  Ben Herder – 45 tackles (Skyhawks) – Grant Mathewson – 24 tackles (Cougars)

London Beefeaters @ Ottawa Sooners – Saturday October 4, 7:00pm – Gee Gees Field | WATCH HERE

For the second and final time this season, the Beefeaters and Sooners will lock horns, this time in the nation’s capital.  In their first meeting in London, the Beefeaters played solid defence and scored a 19-6 win.   If they can find a victory this weekend, they will clinch the second seed and a home playoff date next weekend.  They come into this game facing some adversity after suffering their worse loss of the season and are looking to rebound.  They will meet a Sooners team with absolutely nothing to lose.  The Sooners will miss the postseason so play their final game on Saturday night.  It’s been a tough campaign this year with only one win and struggling to put points on the board.  They would like nothing more than to spoil the party for London and hand them a loss with their best game to date.

Head-to-Head

Records: Beefeaters 5-2 – Sooners 1-6
Avg Points For: Beefeaters 30.8 – Sooners 8.1
Avg Points Allowed: Beefeaters 28.1 – Sooners 39.1

Passing Leaders: DJ Fonti – 77 of 128 for 1027 yards and 6 touchdowns (Beefeaters) – Humzah Rana – 44 of 111 for 579 yards and 2 touchdowns (Sooners)

Rushing Leaders: Nick Fonti – 90 carries for 457 yards and 3 touchdowns (Beefeaters) – Rashaad Johnson – 73 carries for 475 yards and 5 touchdowns (Sooners)

Receiving Leaders: Brandon Visouvath – 15 receptions for 339 yards and 4 touchdowns (Beefeaters)

Leading Tacklers: Clay Ritschard – 39 tackles (Beefeaters) – Willaim Lamarre – 18 tackles (Sooners)

BC Conference

Langley Rams @ VI Raiders – Saturday October 4, 2:30pm – NDSS Field | WATCH HERE

Both the Raiders and Rams will play their regular season finale on Saturday going in different directions.  The Raiders are playoff bound, while the Rams are left wondering what went wrong this season.   

It will be interesting to see how long the Raiders’ first-string players will stay in the ballgame knowing this game means nothing in the standings.  Regardless of the outcome, they will finish fourth and be on the road for the playoffs.  Meanwhile the Rams players are playing for roster spots next season.  They have just one point in the last six games and haven’t scored a single point in their last two getting outscored 156-0.  This will be the first-time the Rams have missed the playoffs since their first season in 1988.

Head-to-Head

Records: Rams 2-6 – Raiders 4-4-1
Avg Points For: Rams 12.6 – Raiders 20.1
Avg Points Allowed: Rams 40.7 – Raiders 21.4

Passing Leaders: Palaina Hooper – 43 of 79 for 509 yards and 4 touchdowns (Rams) – Brayden Jupe – 125 of 194 for 1299 yards and 5 touchdowns (Raiders)

Rushing Leaders: Bruce Jones – 95 carries for 447 yards and 2 touchdowns (Rams) – Rhonde Lyle – 102 carries for 553 yards and 3 touchdowns (Raiders)

Receiving Leaders: Tyson Galye – 22 receptions for 317 yards and 4 touchdowns (Rams) – Parker Moscrip – 41 receptions for 469 yards (Raiders)

Leading Tacklers: Sean Cullen – 36 tackles (Rams) – Max Shippen – 37 tackles (Raiders)

Okanagan Sun @ Kamloops Broncos – Saturday October 4, 6:00pm – Hillside Stadium | WATCH HERE

The top team in the Conference is on the road for their final game of the regular season as the Sun visit the Broncos in a matchup that features the teams that bookend the standings.  In their first meeting at the Apple Bowl the Sun thumped the Broncos 70-3 and have been undefeated all season with the ability to score in all three facets of the game. Regardless of the outcome the Sun know they will host the VI Raiders in a semi-final game next weekend.

On the other side of the field the Broncos will be looking for any measure of success after a disappointing season.  Their offence has not been a factor with their highest scoring game being 14-points.  The coaching staff will be reevaluating their roster with each snap on Saturday and looking for any blocks to build upon for next year.

Head-to-Head

Records: Sun 9-0 – Broncos 0-9
Avg Points For: Sun 52 – Broncos 6.3
Avg Points Allowed: Sun 10 – Broncos 48.7

Passing Leaders: Liam Kroeger – 154 of 226 for 2431 yards and 20 touchdowns (Sun) – Carter Moberg – 63 of 144 for 747 yards and 3 touchdowns (Broncos)

Rushing Leaders: Gerren Hardisty – 164 carries for 1025 yards and 9 touchdowns (Sun) – Cameron Grzegorczyk – 63 carries for 282 yards and 1 touchdown (Broncos)

Receiving Leaders: Jordayne Falconer 28 receptions for 502 yards and 2 touchdowns (Sun) – Brock Dufort – 24 receptions for 275 yards and 3 touchdowns (Broncos)

Leading Tacklers: Phil Palmarin – 22 tackles (Sun) – Lucas Yanchishyn – 35 tackles (Broncos)

Prince George Kodiaks @ Valley Huskers – Saturday October 4, 7:00pm – Exhibition Field | WATCH HERE

The Kodiaks are in, the Huskers are not as both teams wrap up the regular season this weekend in Chilliwack.   In their only other meeting this year, three weeks ago, the teams finished in a 35-35 tie.  The Kodiaks are very hot coming in this final game recording points in five of their last six and know they will be on the road for their first ever playoff appearance next weekend.   They scored 74-points in their win last week, setting a new team record for points in a single game.  Overall, their offence averaged over 28 points a game led by quarterback Sawyer Thiessen. 

The Huskers are playing for next year after their high hopes this season.  They have played better as of late but found it difficult to overcome the start of the season when they lost three straight.  They will look to end the season with a victory and head into the offseason on a positive note.

Head-to-Head

Records: Kodiaks 5-3-1 – Huskers 3-5-1
Avg Points For: Kodiaks 28.6 – Huskers 25.4
Avg Points Allowed: Kodiaks 24.4 – Huskers 25.6

Passing Leaders: Sawyer Thiessen – 124 of 217 for 1542 yards and 13 touchdowns (Kodiaks) – Key’Shawn Dorsey – 98 of 196 for 1534 yards and 15 touchdowns (Huskers)

Rushing Leaders: Gavin Halvorson – 98 carries for 471 yards and 3 touchdowns (Kodiaks) – Jawad Harb – 139 carries for 743 yards and 4 touchdowns (Huskers)

Receiving Leaders: Ben Fehr – 25 receptions for 231 yards and 1 touchdown (Kodiaks) – Dhag Mora – 25 receptions for 419 yards and 1 touchdown (Huskers)

Leading Tacklers:  Caiden Crow – 44 tackles (Kodiaks) – Andy Ofosuhene – 39 tackles (Huskers)

SUNDAY

Ontario Conference

Hamilton Hurricanes @ GTA Grizzlies – Sunday October 5, 1:00pm – David Suzuki School | WATCH HERE

It’s the final game of the Ontario Conference regular season and a big one for the Hurricanes.  By the time they kick off they will know what they are fighting for.  They have clinched a playoff spot however positioning is still a mystery.  If the London Beefeaters win on Saturday night in Ottawa, then the Hurricanes will finish as the third seed regardless of what they do against the Grizzlies. However, if the Beefeaters lose in Ottawa, then the Hurricanes will have a shot at clinching the second seed and a home playoff date with a win over the Grizzlies.  In the first meeting of the year between these two teams, the Hurricanes blew them out 50-0. They have won two straight coming into this weekend and are playing really good football.  They face a Grizzlies team that hasn’t won a game and has scored just 13 points all season.

Head-to-Head

Records: Hurricanes 5-2 – Grizzlies 0-7
Avg Points For: Hurricanes 31.8 - Grizzlies 1.8
Avg Points Allowed: Hurricanes 17.8 – Grizzlies 52.1

Passing Leaders: Kayrus Sam – 60 of 130 for 1158 yards and 12 touchdowns (Hurricanes) – Brandon Beauchamp – 45 of 93 for 379 yards and 1 touchdown (Grizzlies)

Rushing Leaders: Gianluca Muraca – 86 carries for 541 yards and 3 touchdowns (Hurricanes) 

Receiving Leaders: Devin Quammie – 20 receptions for 457 yards and 4 touchdowns (Hurricanes)

Leading Tacklers:  Hayden Pall – 22 tackles (Hurricanes)