Cornwall Wildcats U18 football team set to battle for OSFL 'B' Cup in London

Region's youth football team to play Hamilton's Junior Ticats

The Cornwall Wildcats U18 football team returned to the gridiron this summer, following a two-year competitive hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, going 3 and 3 in regular-season play (for 7 points as a result of one loss being in overtime) in the Ontario Summer Football League, under head coach Alex Labonte, and the team’s subsequent playoff run over the last two weekends has earned the boys a trip to London (Ontario) where they will compete in the ‘B’ Cup final on the field at Western University.

The regular-season capper on July 9 saw the Wildcats fall to Myers Riders 42-36 in overtime, placing them fourth in the North AAA Division standings, of six teams.

On the season, Cornwall outscored its opponents 176 to 148. The boys topped their division in scoring but were second worst in defence.

Their playoff run began on their home turf at Joe St. Denis Field in Cornwall on July 23, as the Cats trampled the Scarborough Thunder 29-12. A week later, the boys booted the Niagara Spears 35-29 to advance to the OSFL championship weekend in London.

Darcy Castellarin grabs hold of a Niagara ball carrier in OSFL semifinal action. (Photo courtesy Cornwall Wildcats/Facebook)

The ‘B’ Cup final will have the Cornwall squad aiming to tame the Hamilton Junior Ticats, which also had a 3 and 3 regular-season record while outscoring opponents 113 to 92.

Game time is set for 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 6, and for fans wanting to catch the action, it’s scheduled to be broadcast live on YouTube.

The weekend features a total of four games, starting with the ‘D’ final on Friday night, at 8:30 p.m., when Guelph will take on Chatham. Saturday evening, at 7 p.m., the ‘C’ final will feature Sarnia versus Huronia.

The ‘A’ championship game is set for Sunday, starting at 7 p.m., when the U18 Essex Ravens will tangle with the London Junior Mustangs.

The OSFL U18 league provides top-level provincial football, with the Cornwall Wildcats drawing players from across Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec.