This Saturday the Ottawa Sooners take on the London Beefeaters at TD Waterhouse Stadium beginning at 8pm. If you can make it to the game ticket prices are $10 Adult, $5.00 Age 60+, free for those young ones aged 10 and under.

If you can’t make it to the game you can watch it LIVE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbfRNj5J1tY

http://theofc.ca/event/4991/

This will be the Beefeaters last home game of the regular season.

This is also our game in support of Childcan where all proceeds of the 50/50 draw support Childcan, helping children and families on their journey through childhood cancer.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month

Childhood cancer has touched the lives of at least two of our Beefeaters families and Childcan has come alongside to care for and support these families as they journey through one of the most difficult times in their lives.

The London Beefeaters are proud to support this amazing organization – we proudly wear the Gold Childhood Cancer ribbon on our helmets.

For more information on Childcan, please visit www.childcan.com

Offensive Player
Daniel Mailloux, QB – Windsor Fratmen
In handing the defending OFC Champion Hamilton Hurricanes their first loss of the 2019 campaign Daniel Mailloux of AKO Fratmen completed 18 of 32 passes to 8 different receivers for 294 yards and 3 touchdowns. Mailloux also scrambled for another touchdown on the ground.

Defensive Player
Cameron Howes, LB – Ottawa Sooners
The Sooners Defence stymied the Niagara offence all afternoon and Cameron Howes proved to be a one man wrecking crew. In addition to his 3 sacks in the game, Howes made 5 tackles as well as batted away one pass.

Special Teams Player
Sam Richardson, K – Windsor Fratmen
Richardson had quite the coming out party in his first game of the season. The Windsor kicker was perfect on all three of his field goal attempts, his longest coming from 26 yards out. He was also perfect on all 5 converts he attempted and he averaged 44.4 yards on his kickoffs.

The Beefs picked up their fourth victory of the season with a 56-3 victory over the GTA Grizzlies. The score is impressive but there is still some work to be done to build this year’s edition of the Beefeaters into a team capable of contending for a championship.

The first quarter was scoreless and, actually, GTA went ahead very early in the second quarter on a 28-yard field goal by Gagan Bains of the Grizzlies. That was the end of the GTA scoring for the day. London responded two minutes later when quarterback Jake Pow hit receiver Spencer Foster for a 43-yard touchdown. John-Kurt Andreacchi’s first of seven converts made it 7-3 at that point.

Six minutes later GTA was forced to concede a safety, upping the score to 9-3. Two minutes after that safety, Danny Byrne crossed the goal line from 1-yard out to make it 16-3 with the conversion. A John-Kurt Andreacci 22-yard field goal and another safety made the half time score 21-3 for London.

Just under five minutes into the third frame, Danny Byrne scored his second touchdown on a 4-yard plunge. Four minutes later, Felix Noel drove in from 1-yard out to add another major. Going into the fourth quarter, the Beefs were up 35-3.

Just under six minutes into the final frame, Will Corcoran scooped up a GTA fumble and rambled 75 yards for a defensive touchdown. Four minutes later quarterback Clarke McCallum found Felix Noel open for a 27-yard major. The scoring ended four minutes later when Tazie Vang-Bell scampered in from 10 yards out to up the score for the Beefs to 56.

Overall the Beefs had a net offense of 408 yards and held the Grizzlies to a net offense of 4 yards when you deduct the team losses from the individual statistics.

Danny Byrne with 63 yards on 11 carries and Felix Noel with 62 yards on 9 carries led the Beefeater ground game that totaled 179 yards. Mitch Spence with 2 catches for 90 yards, Josh Waller with 4 catches for 55 yards and Spencer Foster with 2 receptions for 55 yards led the receivers. Overall, London passed for 274 yards.

Quarterback Jake Pow was 11 for 18 for 232 yards and 1 touchdown while Clarke McCallum was 3 for 6 for 42 yards and 1 touchdown as well.
On defense, Codey McRoberts had a good afternoon with 4 tackles, a quarterback sack, 2 forced fumbles and 3 knock downs. Twenty other Beefeaters racked up defensive points in the game.

One downside to this game was, once again, the number of penalties the team took. Tonight, it was 15 for 187 yards. Another negative was the seven sacks allowed. Still time to correct these issues and get ready for post-season play.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo courtesy of Greystoke Photography

London Beefeaters 41, Windsor Fratmen 34

For the first time in a number of years, the Beefeaters defeated the Windsor Fratmen. On Saturday night at TD Stadium the Beefs triumphed by a score of 41-34.

Windsor opened the scoring 10:46 into the first quarter when Nash Preiur culminated a six-play drive, from their own 42-yard line, with a 3-yard plunge for the major. Eschewing the normal 1-point conversion, the Frat went for 2 points and were successful when QB Colton Allen found an open Jared Hayes-Williams in the endzone. Less than three minutes later London got on the board when QB Clarke McCallum connected with Tazie Vang-Bell on a 17-yard touchdown pass. John-Kurt Andreacchi converted and we had a ball game.

London took the lead just under five minutes into the second frame and it was the same McCallum to Vang-Bell combination that did the trick, this time from 15 yards out. Another Andreacchi convert made the score 14-8 at that point. About 8 minutes later, the Beefs finished off a 6-play drive from their own 26-yard line, generously aided by two UR Windsor penalties, with a 1-yard QB sneak by Clarke McCallum. Another Andreacchi convert widened the lead to 21-8. Windsor rebounded with 10 seconds left in the half as QB Colton Allen found Sammy Moro open in the endzone for six points. This time the two-point attempt failed and the Beefs went into the locker room with a 21-14 lead.

Two minutes into the third quarter London increased its’ lead with another 1-yard plunge by QB McCallum. The score was set up with a 66-yard pass and run from McCallum to Vang-Bell. The conversion made it 28-14. Following the ensuing kick-off and an illegal block penalty, Windsor started on their own 4-yard line and everything looked good for the Beefs. Windsor’s other quarterback, Daniel Mailloux, had other ideas and combined with Joojo Paintsil for a 106-yard touchdown pass and run. This time the 2-point conversion was good and the score narrowed to 28-22. A minute and a half later, Windsor tied the score on a 5-yard pass from Mailloux to Cody Holmes. Another attempt at a 2-point conversion failed and the score was tied at 28. At the very end of the third period, the Beefs scored on a 25-yard pass from QB Jake Pow to receiver Spencer Foster to restore the Beefeaters’ lead and, with another conversion by Andreacchi, the Beefs went ahead 35-28.

The Frat did not give up and, just under six minutes into the fourth quarter, they scored again on a 16-yard completion from Mailloux to Holmes. Another 2-point conversion failed and the score was 35-34. With less than two minutes remaining, the Beefs put together a six-play drive from the Frat 51-yard line that ended with a 5-yard run by RB Felix Noel to pay dirt. At 41-34, the Beefs decided to go for a 2-point conversion to make the game a two-score contest. The attempt failed and the Frat still had life. After the ensuing kick-off, the Frat began at their own 26-yard line.

Aided by a pass interference call, they were able to move the ball to the Beefs’ 54-yard line but a desperation third down pass was intercepted and the Beefs had the ball with little time on the clock. With time running out, QB McCallum handed off to RB Danny Byrne and he rambled for 10 yards and time, seemingly, ran out and the Beefs celebrated. But wait, there’s more. Someone one on the officiating crew decided that there was .01 seconds remaining so Windsor was given a final play. After much running around, Mailloux found Nash Prieur who, in spite of his best effort, could only advance the ball 8 yards. Finally, the game was over and the Beefs prevailed.

Overall, the Beefs had 415 yards in total offense while Windsor had 469 yards. Leading the Beefs on the ground were Tazie Vang-Bell with 43 yards on 3 carries and Felix Noel with 38 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown. Clarke McCallum had only 14 yards rushing but he managed 2 touchdowns.
Tazie Vang-Bell led the receivers with 4 catches for 162 yards and 2 touchdowns. Connor Depodesta had 3 receptions for 44 yards while Daniel Jaffe had 2 catches for 54 yards. Spencer Foster had a reception for a touchdown and Mitch Spence, Josh Waller, Felix Noel and Danny Byrne also recorded receptions.

Overall, QB Clarke McCallum was 8 for 16 for 220 yards and 2 touchdowns. QB Jake Pow was 6/11 for 109 yards and 1 touchdown.
The Beefs had 68 yards in punt returns, led by Felix Noel’s 55 yards.

The team also returned kickoffs for 121 yards, led by Jacob Mandel with 48 yards and Felix Noel with 41 yards. Tanner Gaskill-Cadwallader returned a missed field goal for 67 yards.

On defense, Codey McRoberts had a great game logging 20 defensive points with 7 tackles, 3 knock downs and an interception. Linebacker Bailey Lynch had a good night as well with 4 tackles and a QB sack. Tanner Gaskill-Cadwallader, Willie Mboko and Dan Fitzgerald had strong efforts on defense.

The only negative in this exciting game was the more than 350 yards in penalties called in the game.

Offensive Player of the Week
Tazie Vang-Bell, Running Back – London Beefeaters
The second year London Beefeater running back did most of his damage coming out of the back field as he hauled in 4 passes for 162 yards and 2 touchdowns. His longest catch went for 66 yards. Vang-Bell also carried the ball 3 times for 43 yards with his longest run going for 31 yards. In all Vang-Bell gashed the vaunted Fratmen defence for 205 yards on only 7 touches.

Defensive Player of the Week
Mark Straw, Linebacker – GTA Grizzlies
The Grizzlies defence was suffocating on Sunday and leading the way was linebacker Mark Straw. Straw was a force in all facets as he stuffed the run with 6 tackles, tallied 1 pass break up and also intercepting a pass and returning it for 38 yards. For good measure Straw also blocked a kick which gave the Grizzlies fantastic field position which led to an offensive score.

Special Teams Player of the Week
Shamar Skerritt, Kick Returner – Ottawa Sooners
One of the only bright spots for the Sooners was kick returner Shamar Skerritt who had 5 kickoff returns for 121 yards for an average of 24.2 yards. Skerritt also returned 2 punts on the day as well as contributing on offence too with 3 receptions for 44 yards.

By Ryan Pyette
London Free Press

A couple of weeks ago, the London Beefeaters lost to Ontario Football Conference defending champion Hamilton on a field goal with 93 seconds left.

Moral victory?

Not anymore. At that juncture in London’s evolution, it felt more like a championship-calibre football team let one slip away.

“We had something like five misfired snaps on punts and one in the final two minutes that put them in field goal position,” head coach Jesse Maddox said. “We won’t see them again until the (Ontario Football Conference) final if we get there. But I think the guys realized at the time, ‘Omigod, we’re winning this game until right at the end’. They’re starting to buy in and believe that the song and dance I’m giving them is a good one.”

The immediate response was a 62-0 obliteration of Ottawa on the road. The Beefs, now ranked eighth in the Canadian Junior Football League, hold a 2-1 record and face a critical mid-season test against unbeaten No. 4 Windsor Saturday at 8 p.m. at TD Stadium.

In that sense, nothing has changed in a year.

Hamilton, Windsor and London outscored the other three teams in the conference a combined 183-13 last weekend. The Beefs, though, still have to find a way to put a dent in one of the two perennial contenders.

“It’s a three-headed horse and hopefully, we’ll punch our way to the top,” Maddox said. “We’ve got a really good team and there are no excuses. We need to have a statement week. Take care of Windsor, don’t keep it close and people will start realizing we’re serious.”

Chris Marshall, now a Western assistant, elevated London’s program over the past few years and the intention of Maddox is to push it to ongoing elite status.

Not that long ago, it was a struggle to attract enough players to have backups at several key positions. Some weren’t able to attend workouts on a regular basis.

Under Maddox, the roster is 76 strong and 59 of them showed up at practice this week. That’s the usual routine in Hamilton and Windsor, too.

“We have the pieces that are starting to come together,” the coach said. “The guys are very aware I’ll keep bringing in players and we’ll keep competing. We’ve accepted kids back who have screwed up in the past. I told them everyone gets a fair chance here, I don’t care about the history, but if you repeat the same course, then you’re gone.”

Instead of one good arm, there are two in quarterbacks Clarke McCallum and Jake Pow. Both have seen time so far this season, though Pow is coming back after having been cleared from a concussion.

Former Clarke Road standout Tazie Vang Bell returned to the team and is one of three running back options with Sherbrooke’s Felix Noel and Essex Ravens standout Danny Byrne.

“Tazie’s back full force and he’s a big piece of the puzzle,” Maddox said. “This time, he’s in a rotation with two other guys just as good. It gives us a whole different dynamic. Now, we have one who’s a burner, a one cut-and-go kid and a kid who runs between the tackles.

“It gives the run game balance.”

They are protected by a group of 11 offensive linemen. There are a half-dozen really solid receivers and, up front on the other side, there are 22 defensive linemen.

One of the biggest coups for the Beefs was the successful recruitment of Catholic Central and South grads who boast high school championship pedigree.

That’s complemented by a handful of out-of-province starters.

“You’re getting some kids in here who have been taught at a different level,” Maddox said. “We’ve done this while retaining 90 per cent of last year’s team. We have a practice squad and a not-dressed roster and it’s very competitive right now.

Everything is earned. And soon, that big win against a fellow contender will come.

by Steve Milton
Hamilton Spectator
Steve Milton has spent 33 years of his 42-year sports-writing career at the Hamilton Spectator, most of that as an award-winning columnist. He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and the Skate Canada Hall of Fame and is also the author or co/author of 25 books.

The defending Ontario Football Conference champions were able to get one guaranteed date at Tim Hortons Field, so they moved to Brantford Bisons Alumni Field.

They’re still the Hamilton Hurricanes, but they’re playing all their home games in Brantford.

The defending Ontario Football Conference champions were able to secure only one guaranteed home date at Tim Hortons Field this season, so they moved all of their games to Brantford Bisons Alumni Field, adjacent to the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre on Highway 403.

“When Forge FC formed and would be playing at Tim Hortons Field, we started working on Plan B,” says Hurricanes president Mike Samuel. “We wanted to have some consistency and not move games around from field to field. Fans, family and friends know our games will all be in one spot, so we’re not a travelling road show.”

OFC regulations dictate that all games be played on turf, not natural grass, and Samuel did look at local high school fields as a home site for the junior (under 23) team, “but it became a logistical problem for us. The problem is that we need change rooms and there’s a cost to paying extra staff to open them up.”

The team still practices in Hamilton, using the venerable HAAA grounds on Tuesday and Thursday nights, and Samuel says that after the season they’ll look at the game-field situation for next year.

“The city hopes we can be back at Tim Hortons Field, but with the Ticats and Forge, it does nudge us down the pecking order.”
With Brian Duguay stepping up to replace retired head coach Jason Hayes and former MacNab Lions quarterback Ethan Belbeck under centre after the aged-out graduation of all-Canadian Jake Marquette, the Hurricanes have a 3-0 record to start the season.

One of their wins came when the Ottawa Sooners forfeited the season opener, which was supposed to be the Hurricanes’ first home game. Last Friday in Brantford, they beat the GTA Grizzlies 51-13. That date was the only one which had been made available to them at Tim Hortons Field. The previous weekend, the Canes travelled to London and edged a strong Beefeaters team 19-16, rallying from a 9-0 halftime deficit.

After playing the Niagara Raiders in St. Catharines this Sunday and travelling to Windsor the following weekend to play the Windsor Fratmen, whom they defeated in the OFC final last year, the Hurricanes play at “home” in Brantford on Saturday, Sept. 21, against Niagara.

In the early going, the six-team OFC seems to be split into two parts. Hamilton, Windsor and London won last weekend’s games against GTA, Niagara and Ottawa, respectively, by a combined score of 183-13.

thespec.com

 

Offensive Players of the Week
QB Daniel Mailloux – Windsor Fratmen
In playing roughly only one half of the game against the Niagara Raiders, Daniel Mailloux completed 66% of his passes for 252 yards and an incredible six touchdowns as the Fratmen improved to 2-0 on the season with a lopsided victory.

Defensive Players of the Week
DB Demarre Brown – Hamilton Hurricanes
In helping to lead the Hurricane defence in an impressive home victory against the visiting Grizzlies, Demarre Brown contributed in a big way recovering a fumble for a big touchdown that helped to overcome a shaky start. Brown also contributed three solo tackles on the day.

Special Teams Players of the Week
K Gagan Bains – GTA Grizzlies
Despite the road loss, the special teams continue to be a bright spot for the Grizzlies this season. Kicker Gagan Bains has followed up his 2018 All-Star season with another solid start to the 2019 campaign. He was perfect on his only convert, as well as both field goal attempts with his longest coming from 42 yards out.

Offensive Players of the Week
RB Robert Rusby, Running Back – Niagara Raiders
In having the best game of his career, Robert Rusby gashed the GTA Grizzlies defence all afternoon. In all Rusby carried the ball 27 times for 156 yards and 2 touchdowns. His longest run of the day went for 28 yards.

Defensive Players of the Week
LB Gottfredsen Sebastian, Linebacker – Niagara Raiders
Whenever the GTA Grizzles offence was looking to gain momentum. Sebastian Gottfredsen single handedly wrecked those plans. Gottfredsen was seemingly in the Grizzlies backfield all afternoon tormenting the Grizzlies quarterback sacking him 3 times and forcing 3 fumbles. Gottfredsen also was in on 6 tackles, 5 of which were solo efforts.

Special Teams Players of the Week
PR Harvey Mafuta, Punt Returner – GTA Grizzlies
The lone bright spot for the Grizzlies was their punt return unit which kept the Grizzlies in the game with two returns going for touchdowns. Harvey Mafuta returned 4 punts for 101 yards, his longest going for 65 yards and a touchdown.