SAULT STE. MARIE, ONTARIO — The stage is set for a championship showdown in Sault Ste. Marie as the undefeated Sault College Cougars prepare to host the London Beefeaters in the 2026 Ontario Football Conference (OFC) Final on Saturday, October 17th, at Superior Heights field.

In just their second season competing in the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL), the Cougars have put together a remarkable 8-0 regular season and continued their winning ways in the playoffs with a semifinal victory over the Ottawa Sooners on October 10. Now, with an OFC championship within reach, Sault College will have the opportunity to cap off an exceptional season in front of its home supporters.

Standing in their way are the London Beefeaters, who earned their place in the final with an impressive semifinal victory over the four-time consecutive OFC champion St. Clair Saints on October 10 in Windsor. London’s win sent a clear message that the Beefeaters are ready to challenge for the conference title.

Four days before kickoff, Saultsports sat down with Cougars head coach Paul Orazietti to discuss the championship matchup, the challenge presented by London, and what his team must do to finish the season on top.

London Presents the Cougars’ Biggest Challenge
Despite entering the final undefeated and having already defeated London twice during the 2026 season, Orazietti knows the Beefeaters will present a difficult test.

Asked what stood out about London’s semifinal performance and the challenges they bring to the championship game, Orazietti pointed to their coaching, defensive strength, and resilience.

“The things that stand out to me about London are well coached, they have a fantastic defensive front and they’re a resilient group,” Orazietti said. “Without doubt they present our biggest challenge this season.”

The Beefeaters’ victory over St. Clair demonstrated their ability to compete against one of the conference’s most successful programs. With a championship berth secured, London now has an opportunity to carry that momentum into Sault Ste. Marie and challenge the Cougars for the OFC title.

For Sault College, the message is straightforward: respect the opponent, prepare thoroughly, and focus on the details that have carried the team through an undefeated campaign.

Previous Wins Provide Confidence, but No Room for Complacency
The Cougars have already defeated the Beefeaters in their first two meetings this season, giving Sault College valuable experience heading into Saturday’s championship.

However, Orazietti emphasized that previous results will not determine what happens when the two teams meet for a third time.

Rather than dwelling on the earlier victories, the Cougars will rely on the same week-by-week approach that has guided them throughout the season.

“We are going to have to lean heavily into our game-by-game process that has gotten us to this point,” Orazietti explained. “Simply put, we are looking to go 1 and 0 this week; and nothing but our preparation over the next five days will help us do this.”

That approach reflects the mindset behind Sault College’s perfect 8-0 record. The coaching staff and players have focused on preparing for each opponent individually, rather than looking too far ahead or allowing past success to influence their preparation.

With a championship on the line, maintaining that discipline could be just as important as the team’s physical performance.

Expect the Unexpected from the Beefeaters
Having already played London twice, the Cougars have a better understanding of the Beefeaters’ personnel, strengths, and overall style of play. But Orazietti believes the third meeting could present a different challenge.

He described London as a team with quality throughout its lineup and warned that the Beefeaters could introduce unexpected elements into their game plan.

“They are solid from top to bottom, there are no easy solutions to the problems they pose,” Orazietti said. “We just need to be well prepared.”

Orazietti also expects London to be aggressive and creative in its approach, potentially looking for opportunities to catch the Cougars off guard.

“I’m expecting them to throw the kitchen sink at us this week, everything from fakes and reverses on special teams to trick plays on offense,” he said. “They come in as the team with nothing to lose. We need to expect the unexpected.”

For the Cougars, that means preparation must extend beyond the standard offensive and defensive game plans. Special-teams awareness, communication, and the ability to respond to unusual situations could all play significant roles in deciding the championship.

No Change in Mindset After London’s Semifinal Upset
London’s elimination of the defending champion Saints has added another layer of intrigue to the OFC Final. The Beefeaters have demonstrated that they can overcome a proven championship contender, and they will arrive in Sault Ste. Marie believing they can take the next step.

Still, Orazietti said the result has not changed the Cougars’ approach.

“Nothing changes for us in terms of our mindset and how we prepare,” he said. “We know they are good and many of us thought we would see them in the finals.”

Instead of making sweeping changes, the Cougars will concentrate on improving their own performance and correcting mistakes from their semifinal win over Ottawa.

“We need to make incremental improvement in all areas of our team this week and clean up a few mistakes from last week,” Orazietti added.

That attention to detail could prove decisive in a championship game where every possession, penalty, turnover, and special-teams play may influence the outcome.

Discipline and Composure Will Be Put to the Test
Championship football brings a different level of pressure. The stakes are higher, the margin for error can be smaller, and momentum can change quickly.

For a Cougars team looking to complete an undefeated season with an OFC championship, maintaining discipline and composure will be essential.

Orazietti believes these qualities are built through habits established over the course of the season, rather than something a team can develop in the final week.

“These things are habits that we have worked on all year long,” he said. “We will see on Saturday if we have mastered them, as no doubt these elements will be incredibly important for our success.”

The Cougars’ ability to stay composed in challenging situations, execute under pressure, and remain committed to their assignments will be critical as they pursue the conference title.

With London’s resilience already on display in the semifinal round, Sault College will need to be prepared for a physical and competitive contest from the opening kickoff through the final whistle.

Three Keys to Victory for Sault College
When asked what his team must accomplish to establish its style of play early and secure the championship, Orazietti identified three fundamental areas: offensive ball control, special-teams execution, and stopping the run on defense.

He also stressed the importance of protecting the football.

“Ball control on offense. Perfect execution on specials. Stop the run on defense and don’t turn the ball over,” Orazietti said. “These are our keys to victory.”

Those priorities highlight the importance of playing a disciplined, complete game.

Offensively, sustaining drives and controlling possession would allow the Cougars to dictate the tempo and put pressure on London’s defense. On special teams, clean execution and sound decision-making will be necessary to avoid giving the Beefeaters opportunities to change momentum.

Defensively, limiting London’s running game will be a major priority, while protecting the football will help Sault College avoid giving its opponent additional possessions and scoring opportunities.

Against a resilient London team that has already proven it can defeat the defending champions, the Cougars will need contributions from all three phases of the game.

One Game Away from an OFC Championship
For Sault College, Saturday’s final represents an opportunity to turn an outstanding second season in the CJFL into a championship campaign.

The Cougars enter the matchup with an unblemished 8-0 record, victories over London in their first two meetings, and a semifinal win over Ottawa. They will now have home-field advantage as they attempt to finish the job against a Beefeaters team that arrives with confidence after eliminating St. Clair.

But Orazietti is keeping his attention firmly on the task immediately in front of his team.

Asked what winning the OFC championship would mean to the players, coaching staff, and Sault College program, the head coach declined to look beyond Saturday’s challenge.

“For me, that’s a question worth answering only after we accomplish it,” Orazietti said. “Before then it’s just a distraction. Hopefully I can answer that on Saturday night.”

That response captures the mentality the Cougars hope will carry them through the final: remain focused, trust the preparation, and take care of the next game.

On Saturday, October 17, the Cougars will have the opportunity to make history in front of their home crowd. The Beefeaters will arrive determined to continue their playoff run, while Sault College will look to protect its undefeated record and claim the 2026 Ontario Football Conference championship.

One game remains. For the Cougars, the goal is clear: go 1-0 one more time.

The 2026 OFC Football Final takes place Saturday, October 17, at Superior Heights field in Sault Ste. Marie, with the Sault College Cougars hosting the London Beefeaters.