Fratmen will not forget history as the club prepares to face the Beefeaters in the OFC final.

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A new team name doesn’t change the bitter memory of the last time Cody Holmes played in the Ontario Football Conference final.

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Now in green and gold and playing under the St. Clair Fratmen flag, the memory of Holmes playing for the Windsor AKO Fratmen and losing to the London Beefeaters still seems fresh in his mind.

“I saw (the Beefeaters) and they celebrated on our field in our hometown,” said Holmes, who watched the celebration for nearly 30 minutes. “They treated it like the Super Bowl. They were out there a long time and had a few words when we were leaving. That’s football, but I remember those words and I won’t forget them ”.

And the 23-year-old Holmes, who will graduate after this season ends, will carry the memories of a 28-20 loss in 2019 to Saturday’s OFC final when the undefeated Fratmen, who are ranked No. 2 in the nation, fight the defending champion Beefeaters at Acumen Stadium. Game time is 7pm

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“This could be the last and last time I do this,” Holmes said. “Nobody is more excited. I am a competitor. I love to win and when I don’t, it hurts. “

The accolades continued to pour in for the Fratmen on Friday before Saturday’s final which will see the Fratmen claim the OFC title for the first time since 2017.

Head coach Mike LaChance was named OFC Coach of the Year, Kyle Jennings was named Outstanding Offensive Lineman, while running back Jacob Savoni was named Outstanding Offensive Player and Dante Lewis earned the title of Returns Specialist of the Year.

“In 2019 we were crushed in the mouth and we didn’t know how to respond,” Holmes said of the loss to London. “This year’s team, we just have more. We are more of a threat. “

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The Fratmen took the two regular-season meetings between the two teams this season winning 29-22 on a late touchdown in the second week of the season at Windsor while notching a 51-28 victory in London, but LaChance says neither of the two was easy.

“The first game was very close,” said LaChance, who surpassed 100 career wins this season. “We got up early and they came back. The game there, we got on a roll.

“I think the game up there seemed more lopsided than it was. London has the ability to stay mentally in the game and that is a credit to their coaches. You face them, but they don’t give up. They have the ability to play big and have confidence in themselves. We do really good things in all three facets and we just have to do what we do. If we do, that’s in our favor. “

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Star quarterback Michael Beale has a lot of guns on Holmes and fellow wide receiver Jared Hayes-Williams along with Savoni. They were all star picks along with two linemen.

“We are much better on the ground this year and we have all our threats in the air,” Holmes said.

On the defensive side, the Fratmen have plenty of playmakers and have allowed just 94 points in nine games, including last week’s playoff victory over Quinte.

“The energy level is different when you play in London,” said LaChance, which has more than 30 players from the 2019 squad. “Our guys are hungry for a championship and they want to bring it back to St. Clair in its freshman year.” .

Saturday’s final will also serve as the national semi-final and the winner will host the Canadian Junior Football League championship against the semi-final winner of Langley Rams and Saskatoon Hilltops.

“I think that motivates the guys, but you can’t achieve the big goal without this one,” LaChance said.

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