The road to a championship continues Friday, and Norfolk County’s two remaining high school football teams will need to bring their best on the road.
With no more games to be played in Norfolk this season, the Delhi Raiders and Waterford Wolves will travel outside the county looking to keep their championship hopes alive.
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After seven weeks of regular-season action, the McKinnon Park Blue Devils, Pauline Johnson Thunderbirds, Delhi Raiders and Waterford Wolves are the last teams standing.
Waterford Wolves (4-3) at McKinnon Park Blue Devils (7-0)
The undefeated Blue Devils enter the playoffs as the team to beat, having wrapped up their regular season with a 28-8 victory over Holy Trinity.
Waterford knows firsthand how close McKinnon Park can be pushed. The Wolves fell just 14-7 to the Blue Devils during the annual Pumpkin Bowl in October.
Following a hard-fought loss to Pauline Johnson earlier this season, Waterford head coach Andrew Miller said his team continues to show it can hang with anyone in the league.
The Wolves also know a thing or two about playoff upsets, having knocked off Delhi on the road in last year’s semifinals.
Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. at McKinnon Park Secondary School in Caledonia.
Delhi Raiders (5-2) at Pauline Johnson Thunderbirds (6-1)
Delhi earned the third seed with a hard-fought 28-21 victory over Waterford last week.
The Raiders have been a consistent contender in recent years, but their two losses this season came against the league’s top two teams.
Pauline Johnson defeated Delhi 34-14 during the Raiders’ annual Friday Night Lights game in October.
Under first-year head coach and former CFL offensive lineman David Knevel, the Thunderbirds have emerged as a championship contender.
Pauline Johnson’s only loss was a dramatic 21-20 defeat to McKinnon Park.
Kickoff is set for 2:15 p.m. at Pauline Johnson Collegiate in Brantford.
Will the top two seeds meet again in the championship, or can Norfolk County’s Raiders and Wolves spoil the party?
Friday will provide the answers.
Written by Jeremy Hall