Well, it’s not the usual two or three years of watching teams evolve as a lead-in to my high-school predictions in 2022 – but I suppose one year of post-Covid SDSSAA play and a summer of OSFL competition is better than nothing.

Not that this will make said predictions any more accurate than usual. And, as always, this whole exercise comes with the caveat that this glimpse into my local gridiron crystal ball should be taken with a grain of salt. It’s meant to be fun and to provide a little more exposure to the league and the players – nothing more, nothing less.

With that in mind, let’s get started.

As I chatted with all six coaches during training camps, two themes emerged:

1) the gap between the top-end teams and those who are likely to finish in 5th or 6th is smaller than it likely has been at any time in the past two decades

2) the league looks like it could be sub-divided in three groupings of two teams each, with teams in each bracket separated by little more than a flip of the coin

While none of the calls were easy, the choice between Lively and St Ben’s could well come down to whether Bears’ coach Junior Labrosse decides not to play Jr Spartans' defensive captain Paolo Grossi in junior football this fall (more on this on Thursday) by the time these two teams meet on October 7th.

In the meantime, the always well-coached Lively crew would have to depend on a handful of key contributors mixed in with a whole lot of athletes who are likely to show a great deal of progression from start to finish. After practicing primarily with the NFC Spartans all summer, Hugh Campbell steps in at quarterback and thankfully will have minute-munching ball carrier Owen MacDonald at his disposal as he gradually gets used to game play, with athletic newcomer Noah Paredes also an option for handoffs.

When he does air things out, Campbell will look to receivers Bradley Halonen and Dean Oldroy and slotbacks Ryan Ricci and Evan Abel as primary targets. Line play in Lively sees a return of projected all-star Owen Willis and returnees Blake Mazzaroto and Andrew Chandler, along with the likes of Nik Charbonneau, Theo Gonawabi, Ben Jewett, Ryan Maanselka and twins Tyson and Carter Saikkonen looking to ground it out in the trenches.

A revamped linebacking corps features Chris Dore, Bradley Kiviaho and Jr Spartans energizer Nathan Drolet playing in front of a secondary loaded with veterans in the form of Marshall Spry, Kolby McLean, Bryce Firman and Carter Vincent, with 2021 junior Jacob Duhamel also expected to start.

In Braeden Beggs and Quentin Harris, the Confederation Chargers boast a potential running back tandem that can match up well with any team in the city. Unfortunately, Beggs is needed at quarterback and while there is little doubt that he can make the transition, displaying a great deal of athletic versatility this summer with the Jr Spartans, the fact is that this is a new position for him.

Jordan Guerrette will assist Harris, yet another all-around athlete who also excelled in track and field, while Nickel Capitals team captain Kohen Crane heads up a young but eager group of receivers.

With initial plans to field both a junior and senior team now shifted to a single varsity roster, 40-strong with plenty of youth, it will be interesting to see how many underclassmen, other than Jr Spartans starter Zach White, can help alleviate the need for Seth Pellerin, Okikiola Olufowobi and James Beatty (and White) to play on both sides of the ball.

Defensively, behind a somewhat thin defensive line, the linebacking trio of Eric Roiengu, Logan Carr and Owen Visentin will substantially stabilize any potential early season chaos, with defensive back Bryson Smith also sure to be in on more than his fair share of tackles.

I know, I know – how on earth can I predict the team with the best player in the league will finish winless? The fact is therein lies the problem. Every single opponent is sure to commit every single one of their defensive players to stopping or slowing down Zidain Allen.

Make no mistake – the talented grade 11 running back will break free for a handful of long runs for touchdowns this year. It just likely won’t be enough to offset what the opposing sides are able to do offensively against a Lasalle team that will run a little bit thin, in large part due to their continued commitment to a promising junior football program.

The focus on Allen is going to put the spotlight squarely on the shoulders of grade 10 pivot Riley Warton. Should the young man who got in boatloads of practice snaps with the Jr Spartans this summer develop quicker than expected (ie. the natural progression for a still junior aged quarterback), the Lancers could surprise any of the three next best teams.

Allen will be joined in the backfield by soccer standout Nour Alzahran, while summer football teammate Connor Campeau leads a receiving cast that also features Sylas Asare-Corbiere, Jamal Bisshops, Hunter Werbowsky, Mubarek Salami and Carson MacNeil.

In Michael Mishibinijima, the Lancers can build their O and D lines around a prospect who has some of the best feet seen in a big man in quite a while. The toll of doing double duty, however, could be challenging for Mishibinijima and fellow linemen Adriano Bennett, Brayden Cornthwaite and Jack Vincent.

Dominic Elias and Cengiz Colgecem will be in the thick of things as impact linebackers for a Lancers crew who will absolutely benefit from the confidence that comes with claiming their first ever junior title one year ago.

With both Zidain Allen and Sylas Asare-Corbiere pencilled in to see plenty of time in the secondary, coach Brandon Dougan will look to Jacob Gill and Will Longlade to join the above duo in holding some pretty solid passing attacks at bay.