Playoff time in London high school football

Five weeks of games across the three divisions under this year’s new format are in the books for football across Thames Valley.

Now the playoffs begin.

In AA, every team jumps straight into the quarter-finals, and a couple of the matchups are very interesting right away.

On Thursday, Oct. 29 at 11 a.m., Montcalm (2-3) takes on the South Lions (3-2), and the Clarke Road Trojans (4-1) host the East Elgin Eagles (3-2).

On Friday, Oct. 30 at 11 a.m., Glendale (3-1-1) visits Parkside (2-3), and the winless St. Joseph’s Rams are home to Ingersoll DCI (3-1-1).

AAA schools get more of a gradual wade into the water, with just two preliminary-round games on the schedule. Both are Friday, Oct. 30 at 11 a.m.

The Medway Cowboys (1-4) host the Laurier Rams (0-5), and the Banting Broncos (2-3) visit the St. Thomas Aquinas Flames.

STA played this season in the Walczak Division, which features only three AAA schools. The Flames are the only team to have played six games.

They finished 4-1-1, with a tie against Beal and a one-point loss to Ingersoll DCI as the only blemishes.

The Banting-STA winner moves on to face the Oakridge Oaks.

Laurier will be looking for their first win against Medway. The reward for whichever team survives is a quarter-final date with top-ranked Catholic Central.

The Crusaders scored 207 points in five games and gave up only 46.

CCH held on to top spot in the Ontario High School Coaches Poll Top 25.

The Lucas Vikings are No. 20, South is No. 24 and Oakridge is No. 25.

South is also No. 2 in the small schools top 16. Parkside jumped to No. 4 after a 3-0 win over Laurier to end the regular season, sealed by Peter Jennings’ 29-yard field goal and Clarke Road held onto sixth overall.

There will be two bowl games as well to finish out the years for four schools.

On Thursday, Oct. 29 College Ave. will visit Westminster at 11 a.m., and Beal will host Regina Mundi.