Photo courtesy of Crazy Bees Photography

It’s Week 9 of the regular season with the playoff picture starting to come into focus.  The Prairie and Ontario Conferences are over the halfway hump and the BC teams only have three games remaining.

Here are the head-to-heads in Week 9.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 14

BC Conference 

Okanagan Sun @ Prince George Kodiaks – Saturday September 14, 6:00pm PST – Masich Stadium | WATCH HERE

This will be the final meeting of the season between these two teams. The Sun pounded the Kodiaks last month, shutting them out and scoring 70 points.  As a matter of fact, the Sun have scored at least 70 points on the Kodiaks in their last three meetings, dating back to last year.  The Sun are coming off an important win last weekend while the Kodiaks passed the ball well but fell at Valley.

Head-to-Head
Records: Sun 7-0 – Kodiaks 1-6
Avg Points For: Sun 38.5 – Kodiaks 19.5
Avg Points Allowed: Sun 15.2 – Kodiaks 44.7

Ontario Conference

GTA Grizzlies @ London Beefeaters – Saturday September 14, 3:00pm PST – City Wide Field | WATCH HERE

They are two teams going in opposite directions as they turn the corner into the second half of the season.  The Beefeaters have won three straight including a massive road win in Ottawa last weekend and the Grizzlies haven’t scored a point in four straight games. It’s the only match up the season between these two.

Head-to-Head
Records: Grizzlies 0-4 – Beefeaters 3-1
Avg Points For: Grizzlies 0 – Beefeaters 37.5
Avg Points Allowed: Grizzlies 46.5 – Beefeaters 17.5

Ottawa Sooners @ St. Clair Saints – Saturday September 14, 7:00pm EST – Acumen Stadium | WATCH HERE

The teams will see each other twice over the next three weeks as the second half of the season begins.  The Saints have dominated every team they have faced so far this year, and the Sooners are coming off their first loss of the campaign.  They will try to do something the last three teams haven’t and that’s put up a point against the Saints defence, who have recorded three straight shutouts.  They will need to play a near perfect game in Windsor to take down the Saints.

Head-to-Head
Records: Sooners 3-1 – Saints 4-0
Avg Points For: Sooners 44.7 – Saints 65.2
Avg Points Allowed: Sooners 12.5 – Saints 1.7

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 15

Prairie Conference

Winnipeg Rifles @ Saskatoon Hilltops – Sunday September 15, 1:00pm CDT – SMF Field | WATCH HERE

The Hilltops are finally back at home after three straight on the road along with a bye week.  They face the Rifles for the second time this season after beating them 47-1 last month.  The Hilltops are coming off an impressive road win in Regina last weekend and the Rifles are looking for their first win of the campaign.  

Head-to-Head
Records: Rifles 0-4 – Hilltops 4-0
Avg Points For: Rifles 5.2 – Hilltops 41.5
Avg Points Allowed: Rifles 42.7 – Hilltops 12

Edmonton Wildcats @ Regina Thunder – Sunday September 15, 1:00pm CDT – Leibel Field | WATCH HERE

It’s the second meeting of the season between these two teams after the Thunder shutout the Wildcats in Edmonton 36-0 last month.  The Thunder had their three-game winning streak snapped last weekend and the Wildcats lost in a heartbreaker to the Calgary Colts with time ticking down.  

Head-to-Head
Records: Wildcats 0-4 – Thunder 3-1
Avg Points For: Wildcats 12 – Thunder 35.5
Avg Points Allowed: Wildcats 33.7 – Thunder 10.7

Edmonton Huskies @ Calgary Colts – Sunday September 15, 1:00pm MST – Shouldice Park | WATCH HERE

This is a big game with just two points separating them in the standings.  It’s also the second meeting of the season after Huskies clung to a two-point win on August 17th.  If the Huskies win, they will take command of the tiebreaker, but if the Colts can win by more than two points, they would have the advantage down the road. 

Head-to-Head
Records: Huskies 3-1 – Colts 2-2
Avg Points For: Huskies 24.5 – Colts 28.5
Avg Points Allowed: Huskies 18.7 – Colts 29.2

BC Conference 

Valley Huskers @ Kamloops Broncos – Sunday September 15, 2:00pm – Hillside Stadium | WATCH HERE

This is the second and final meeting between these two teams this season after the Huskers kicked the Broncos in Week 2 by the score of 51-7.  The Huskers are a .500 ballclub after coming off a big win last weekend at home to snap a two-game skid. They need a victory to keep pace in the standings.  The Broncos on the other hard are still looking for some consistency this season after getting shutout last week at Okanagan.  A win on Sunday could put them back in the playoff conversation.

Head-to-Head
Records: Huskers 3-3 – Broncos 1-5
Avg Points For: Huskers 27 – Broncos 15.8
Avg Points Allowed: Huskers 23.5 – Broncos 42.3

Langley Rams @ Westshore Rebels – Sunday September 15, 4:00pm – Starlight Stadium | WATCH HERE

They don’t get much bigger than this in Week 9 of the season as the Rams and Rebels meet for the first time this year. They will face each other twice in the final three games of the regular season with second place on the line.  The Rebels are coming off a win and currently have sole possession of second place in the standings and have a game in hand, with the Rams nipping at their heels, but have two losses.  The Rams are coming off a heartbreaking loss to the visiting Okanagan Sun last week and are looking to rebound.

Head-to-Head
Records: Rams 5-2 – Rebels 5-1
Avg Points Fort: Rams 32.5 – Rebels 42.8
Avg Points Allowed: Rams 14.4 – Rebels 20.5

Ontario Conference 

Quinte Skyhawks @ Hamilton Hurricanes – Sunday September 15, 4:00pm – Tim Hortons Field | WATCH HERE

These two meet for the only time this season in a clash in Hamilton on Sunday afternoon.  The Skyhawks are coming off their second win of the campaign last week and now will hit the road for the next two games.  With a win the Skyhawks can strengthen their hold on a playoff spot.  The Hurricanes have struggled this season and are back at home after two straight lopsided losses. It’s only their second home game of the year, following setting a new attendance record in their last one.  They desperately need a win for their team confidence and are hoping some home cooking can do the trick. 

Head-to-Head
Records: Skyhawks 2-2 – Hurricanes 0-4
Avg Points For: Skyhawks 16.7 – Hurricanes 8.7
Avg Points Allowed: Skyhawks 33.5 – Hurricanes 61.2 
 

The CJFL is pleased to announce the Players of the Week following Week 8 of the regular season.

Vote to make one of these players of the CJFL Fans Choice Player of the Week. Polls are open now!

Offensive Players of the Week

Ontario Conference 
QB Maurice Sodja – St. Clair Saints
In shredding the Hurricanes defence on the ground and through the air, Maurice Sodja was simply fantastic on Saturday as he accounted for six touchdowns for the undefeated Saints.  He completed 12 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns while also carrying the ball 10 times for 94 yards and three more touchdowns before heading to the sidelines.

Prairie Conference
WR Drake Douglas – Saskatoon Hilltops 
In another classic battle of Saskatchewan, Hilltops receiver Drake Douglas played an important part of their offence.  He made a team high 10 receptions for 185 yards and scored a third quarter touchdown on a 47-yard reception. 

BC Conference
RB Elelyon Noa – Okanagan Sun
Whenever Elelyon Noa gets his hands on the ball, fans move to the edge of their seats because he can make something special happen at any moment. Last week in Langley he had another eye-popping performance collecting 203 yards on the ground on 32 carries and scored three more rushing touchdowns.  He also leaked out of the backfield for three receptions and added another 100 yards in receiving including a 69-yard touchdown.  This is his second straight Player of the Week honour.

Defensive Players of the Week

Ontario Conférence 
DB Jacoby Dillon - Quinte Skyhawks
In a big shutout win at home, Jacoby Dillon’s nose for the ball thwarted several GTA drives.  Dillon had four tackles and two tackles for a loss of yards but his biggest play of the day was a backbreaking interception which he returned for 21 yards.

Prairie Conference 
DB Jace Mowles – Saskatoon Hilltops 
It was busy in the Hilltops secondary on Saturday night and Jace Mowles was ready.  In an extremely competitive game he intercepted two passes, had three solo tackles, three assisted stops and knocked down a pass to help his club to a very important road win. 

BC Conference 
LB Andy Ofosuhene – Valley Huskers 
Last weekend the Huskers got a much-needed win to keep pace with the leaders in BC Conference and their defence was outstanding, led by linebacker Andy Ofosuhene.  He tallied 6.5 tackles, recovered a fumble, had a sack and knocked down two passes.

Special Teams Players of the Week

Ontario Conference 
K Connor Plumstead – London Beefeaters
Connor Plumstead’s foot was the deciding factor in the Beef’s tightly contested battle in the nation’s capital.  He connected on four of his five field goal attempts in the rain with the longest coming from 26 yards out and connected on his only convert attempt.  In all his 13 points proved to be the difference in handing the Sooners their first loss of the season.

Prairie Conference 
K Robert Lasebnik – Calgary Colts 
Special teams played a major role on Sunday and Colts kicker Robert Lasebnik answered the bell each time he was called.  His nine punts flipped the field averaging 40.6 yards with each boot. Plus, he added six kick-offs averaging 55.6 yards and nailed five convert attempts.

BC Conference 
K Liam Attwood – Okanagan Sun
In a first place show down in Langley on Saturday afternoon, the right foot of Liam Attwood played an extremely important part in the Sun remaining undefeated. He connected on all four field goal attempts from 27, 21, 14 and 20 yards out and was perfect on four converts, recording a total of 16 points. 

Polls are open now to vote for the CJFL Fans Choice Player of the Week.  Make your selection before they close at 5:00pm PST on Wednesday.