White Noise

Introduction | Week 11 | Week 13

With Labour Day just around the corner, teams start preparing for the big rivalry matchups. The West division is in chaos and the East is ascendant for the first time in decades.

GAME VODS
Saskatchewan @ Toronto
Hamilton @ Winnipeg
BC @ Ottawa
Edmonton @ Montreal

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS @ TORONTO ARGONAUTS
Played: Thursday August 22
Final Score: SSK 19 – TOR 20
Points Breakdown by Quarter: Q1: SSK-10 TOR-0 | Q2: SSK-3 TOR-10 | Q3: SSK-3 TOR-0 | Q4: SSK-3 TOR-10

I continue to be in awe of the Riders’ ability to find new and fascinating ways to lose football games this season. We’ve had controversial ref calls, a complete failure from the kicker, and now a walk off missed field goal. They have just had the most abysmal string of bad luck since week 7. I can’t fault the players too much either. Trevor Harris had a bit of an underwhelming night, but the offence made up for it with a solid run game. Brett Lauther redeemed himself after last week’s fiasco and made all 4 of his field goal attempts. The defence played out of their goddamned minds and stopped Toronto at the goal line 3 times, robbing the Argos of what should have been an easy 21 points. And yet, they lost. The offence definitely needs to step it up a bit, but in fairness Trevor Harris just got back from injury not that long ago. Hopefully they find their footing soon, and can stop this skid. They face Winnipeg next week for Labour Day, who are on the opposite trajectory of the Riders, which has to have everyone in Regina a little bit worried.

This probably wasn’t the way Chad Kelly envisioned his first game back after suspension ending. Still, a win’s a win. The Argos offence, despite putting up decent numbers, were bullied by the Saskatchewan defence all night long. Running back Kadeem Carey managed just 35 rushing yards all game, and it’s not like they didn’t try. The Argos had a really hard time in general of finding the endzone. Even on the one-yard line, they failed to punch it in multiple times. Damonte Coxie and David Ungerer III made some fantastic, long range catches, but the Argos just fell apart in short yardage. Lirim Hajrullahu even missed the very make-able 40 yard field goal with no time left on the clock, and only avoided overtime because it went through the endzone. This may have been a win, but it did not do much to inspire confidence in this team for me. They got to Hamilton next week for the Labour Day Classic, and are probably going to notch an easy win against a dismal Ticats team.

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS @ WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
Played: Friday August 23
Final Score: HAM 23 – WPG 26
Points Breakdown by Quarter: Q1: HAM-0 WPG-3 | Q2: HAM-3 WPG-13 | Q3: HAM-17 WPG-3 | Q4: HAM-3 WPG-7

This Tiger-Cats team is so frustrating to watch. When the offence show up, they can do great things, but they only play 30 minutes of a 60 minute game. The Ticats offence in the first half managed a meagre 3 first downs and a single field goal. Sure, they managed to come back, and even take the lead for most of the second half, but if they had managed even one more field goal in the first half they could have taken this to overtime or even won it. Marc Liegghio did miss a field goal, but I find it hard to hold him responsible when the offence only got him close enough to kick once in the first half. The defence, by contrast, played very well, and managed to grab 3 interceptions. Despite my initial misgivings about Chris Jones (yes, the one who got fired from Edmonton) taking over as defensive coordinator, they looked the best they have all season. If the Cats offence can improve, they may be able to salvage some of their dignity in the back half of the season. They play Toronto next week at home, and as much as I want them to win, I don’t think they will.

The Bombers momentum continues, though this one was a little rockier. Collaros threw a worrying number of interceptions, and spent most of the game throwing short passes. That said, Brady Oliveira at running back will forgive a lot of sins. He rushed for 120 yards, picking up over a third of Winnipeg’s total net yards by himself. The defence also did a great job of keeping Hamilton out of the endzone. While they did stumble a little in the third quarter, they got back on top of the Cats and stopped them from extending their lead late so the offence could finish the job. Winnipeg has a real shot at the playoffs this year, which is wild to say after how their first half of the season went. That said, the West has gotten extremely competitive, with all the teams separated by just one or two games, so who knows what will happen. They play Saskatchewan next week, and that could truly be anyone’s game.

BC LIONS @ OTTAWA REDBLACKS
Played: Saturday August 24
Final Score: BC 27 – OTT 34
Points Breakdown by Quarter: Q1: BC-10 OTT-3 | Q2: BC-7 OTT-9 | Q3: BC-7 OTT-15 | Q4: BC-3 OTT-7

Well, that may not have been a win, but it was a much better performance than last week for BC. Nathan Rourke looked much more comfortable, and was starting to look like his old self. William Stanback also had an excellent night, putting up 99 rushing yards. Overall the offence looked great, which has to be a huge relief to Lions fans after the last couple games. The defence did a decent job of containing Ottawa, but ultimately they still gave up a touchdown almost every quarter. Though, again, it’s been a better performance than the last few games. Overall, this is the best BC has looked since they started their backslide, and though they didn’t get the win tonight, it was a competitive loss against one of the best teams in the league. As Rourke settles into the BC offence again, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a turning point. They rematch Ottawa next week in a rare double-away game at Touchdown Pacific in Victoria, BC.

I don’t like that I have to start talking about an injury again, but fortunately Redblacks receiver Jaelon Acklin is fine after being taken off the field in an ambulance. He’s been discharged and is back in the lineup, but it’s scary to see this happen two weeks in a row. Regardless, Ottawa looked great in this game. Dru Brown was back at quarterback and continues to put up fantastic numbers. Receiver Nick Mardner also had a fantastic night, picking up95 receiving yards and the first 2 touchdowns in his CFL career. Not a bad night for the rookie from Oakville, ON. The defence also did an excellent job of harrying BC’s offence. Nathan Rourke is a tough man to pin down, and they managed to sack him multiple times. They even managed to break BC kicker Sean Whyte’s field goal streak. The Redblacks continue to look great, and I think they’re a real contender for the Grey Cup. They rematch BC in Victoria next week, and I think it’s going to be a very exciting game.

EDMONTON ELKS @ MONTREAL ALOUETTES
Played: Sunday August 25
Final Score: EDM 17 – MTL 21
Points Breakdown by Quarter: Q1: EDM-7 MTL-3 | Q2: EDM-10 MTL-3 | Q3: EDM-0 MTL-12 | Q4: EDM-0 MTL-3

The Elks started this game out pretty strong. They managed to break through Montreal’s defence with a strong running game, and had an 11 point lead at the half. While they were definitely missing Tre Ford at quarterback, they were productive, and their defence managed to hold a full strength Alouettes offence to just 6 points. Unfortunately, they had a much harder time containing Montreal in the second half, and the offence went cold. Poor Boris Bede missed a field goal in the 4th quarter that would have cut Montreal’s lead to 1, which meant that Edmonton had to play for the touchdown in the final seconds when they were in easy field goal range. Still, this was a very competitive game against the best team in the league, so I think they’ll still come out of this one feeling alright. With the changing fortunes in the West division, the Elks are still definitely in the playoff race. Edmonton plays Calgary next week in the Battle of Alberta, and I think the Stamps should be very nervous.

The Montreal Alouettes notch another win, bringing their total to 10 on the season and putting their streak to 5. Cody Fajardo was back in the driver’s seat, and looked very comfortable. This game was also the return of beloved receiver Austin Mack from his excursion in the NFL. Though the stars of the show this game were Cole Spieker and Charleston Rambo, with 107 and 95 receiving yards respectively and some spectacular catches. The first half was rocky, but they came out blazing after halftime for a come from behind victory. The Als continue to cement their position as the best team in the league, with only Ottawa in a position to challenge them. It’s weird to me for the East to be the dominant division, but it’s a nice change of pace. Montreal get the bye on Labour Day, and come back to face BC in week 14.

STANDINGS AT THE END OF WEEK 12

EAST
MONTREAL ALOUETTES 10 – 1
OTTAWA REDBLACKS 7 – 2 – 1
TORONTO ARGONAUTS 6 – 4
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS 2 – 9

WEST
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS 5 – 5 – 1
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS 5 – 6
BC LIONS 5 – 6
CALGARY STAMPEDERS 4 – 6
EDMONTON ELKS 3 – 8

NEXT WEEK: WEEK 13

Ottawa @ BC – Saturday August 31 7PM EDT
Winnipeg @ Saskatchewan – Sunday September 1 7PM EDT
Toronto @ Hamilton – Monday September 2 2:30PM EDT
Edmonton @ Calgary – Monday September 2 6PM EDT

Introduction | Week 10 | Week 12

Another week of football in the books, and some interesting developments, particularly in the West division.

GAME VODS
Ottawa @ Calgary
Montreal @ Saskatchewan
Edmonton @ Hamilton
Winnipeg @ BC

OTTAWA REDBLACKS @ CALGARY STAMPEDERS
Played: Thursday August 15
Final Score: OTT 31 – CGY 29
Points Breakdown by Quarter: Q1: OTT-13 CGY-14 | Q2: OTT-8 CGY-2 | Q3: OTT-7 CGY-3 | Q4: OTT-3 CGY-10

This was a great performance from Ottawa. Jeremiah Masoli started at quarterback for the first time in over a year and looked great, throwing for 254 yards. Running back Ryquell Armstead also had a fantastic game, rushing for 120 yards. The Redblacks relied pretty heavily on the run, taking advantage of Calgary’s poor rushing defence, and it paid off big. The defence also did a good job keeping on top of Calgary’s offence. Between this week and last week’s overtime tie against Saskatchewan, I have to imagine Ottawa fans are getting a little sick of these nail-biter endings. Still, the Redblacks haven’t lost in their last 5 games, so I don’t think they can complain too loudly. I’m really amazed at how this team has performed given that they only won 4 games last season. They play BC next week, and with the Lions backslide over the last couple weeks I think it’s Ottawa’s game to lose.

The Stamps played well today, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough. Their defence put in a valiant effort, but they just couldn’t contain Ottawa’s running back. Other than that, the team played well. The offence put up solid numbers, the defence made life hard for Ottawa’s receivers, and they generally looked like a good football team. That doesn’t make the loss sting any less, especially since this was Calgary’s first loss at home this season. Calgary’s position in the standings is also a lot shakier than it was, and they’ve actually been jumped by Winnipeg. Winnipeg and Edmonton have both been making waves, and BC and Saskatchewan have stumbled. If the Stampeders can really show up in the back half of this season, they may be able to win the division. They still have both their bye weeks, and mostly face other West teams. They have next week off, and then face the rival Elks in the Battle of Alberta on Labour Day.

MONTREAL ALOUETTES @ SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
Played: Friday August 16
Final Score: MTL 27 – SSK 24
Points Breakdown by Quarter: Q1: MTL-0 SSK-1 | Q2: MTL-10 SSK-6 | Q3: MTL-3 SSK-10 | Q4: MTL-14 SSK-7

This one really came down to the wire. The Als played well, but they certainly didn’t have a perfect game. Saskatchewan completely stuffed their rushing offence, to the point that quarterback Davis Alexander led the team in rushing yards. They also gave up a fumble and spent most of the game trailing. While their passing offence did well, they didn’t put up particularly remarkable numbers. That said, they managed to pull together some great drives, and just barely pulled into the lead at the very end of the game with a rushing touchdown by Alexander. The Alouettes certainly benefited from some bad luck on Saskatchewan’s part, but they still played well. Montreal registers their fourth win in a row and ninth of the season. They are still the team to beat in the league. They face Edmonton next week, and we’ll see if they can stop the resurgent Elks.

Oh, Riders fans are mad. Another win stripped away by a controversial command centre ruling. That said, the Riders had lots of opportunities to put this away, and they didn’t. In particular, kicker Brett Lauther left 12 points on the table, missing 4 field goals. They were definitely in his range too, and the last came with no time on the clock that could have sent the game into overtime. This could have easily been a 36-27 Saskatchewan win, if not for one player’s bad night. That’s football for you. The Riders barely hold on to their top position in the West by virtue of last week’s tie with Ottawa, and they haven’t won any of their last four games. With Winnipeg and Edmonton both on win streaks, the Riders have to be nervous. They play Toronto next week, and assuming they don’t have more bad luck and Lauther gets over his yips, they have a chance to stop the skid.

EDMONTON ELKS @ HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
Played: Saturday August 17
Final Score: EDM 47 – HAM 22
Points Breakdown by Quarter: Q1: EDM-7 HAM-0 | Q2: EDM-25 HAM-3 | Q3: EDM-0 HAM-13 | Q4: EDM-15 HAM-6

Well, this one wasn’t even close. There really isn’t any doubt about Hamilton being the worst team in the league anymore. Even without Tre Ford, the Elks just ran roughshod over Hamilton, despite having nearly 100 fewer yards of net offence. They played well, didn’t take many penalties, and let the Tiger-Cats do the hard work for them. The Elks are finally finding their stride, and completely routed a Hamilton team they just barely lost to weeks ago. If they keep playing like this, the post-season may not be off the table. They have eight games left to play, and while they do have to square off with Montreal, the rest of those games are definitely winnable. It’s wild to say given how the season started, but Edmonton could swing to post an even record, or possibly a winning one. If they can at least put up a good fight against Montreal next week, they could be in great shape.

This was a bloodbath for the Ticats. It started on the opening kickoff, with poor Luther Hakunavahnu getting rocked so hard he had to be taken off the field in an ambulance. Fortunately, he appears to be fine with no serious long term damage, but it was still the scariest hit I’ve seen in the CFL. Taylor Powell started at quarterback, and was promptly injured and pulled from the game. Hamilton players were just dropping like flies, and when they weren’t getting injured, they weren’t playing well either. The offence put up good numbers, but also lost 100 yards to penalties. The defence put up about as much resistance as a wet paper bag against both the pass and the run. I don’t understand how this offence can put up these huge numbers and then lose by 25 points. I think the season is done for the Ticats, and now they’re just playing for pride. In one last gift from the Elks, Hamilton fired their defensive coordinator Mark Washington and replaced him with former Edmonton head coach Chris Jones. Hamilton plays Winnipeg next week, and I’m not optimistic about their odds.

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS @ BC LIONS
Played: Sunday August 18
Final Score: WPG 20 – BC 11
Points Breakdown by Quarter: Q1: WPG-7 BC-0 | Q2: WPG-3 BC-0 | Q3: WPG-7 BC-0 | Q4: WPG-3 BC-11

Well, I wasn’t expecting that outcome. First game back for the Bombers after their bye is the rematch against BC, and they win it convincingly. They didn’t manage to shut them out again, but it was still a very dominant performance. Winnipeg’s defence completely smothered BC’s offence, snatching the ball away and not letting them get anything going for three whole quarters. The offence was looking pretty solid too, especially considering some of their more lacklustre performances earlier in the season. As it turns out, if you score points every quarter and stop the other team from doing the same, you’re in a pretty good position to win. I think the Bombers have finally turned the corner on the season. They have some tough games ahead of them, but if they keep playing like this I think they have a chance, especially considering how the top teams in the West have suddenly stalled out. They play Hamilton next week, and I’m expecting their win streak is only going to get longer.

What a disappointing return for Nathan Rourke. He made just 8 of his 25 attempted passes for 126 yards, and didn’t even get points on the board until the fourth quarter. He had real trouble connecting with his receivers, and even if they got their hands on the ball they couldn’t always hold on to it. He threw interceptions, his receivers dropped the ball, and he got pressured hard by the Winnipeg defence. In Rourke’s defence, he hasn’t played a full game of football in almost two years, and has had to learn five different offensive schemes in the last year as he’s bounced around NFL practice rosters and then finally home to the Lions. I’m sure he’ll get back into the swing of things, but he needs to do it quick. This was BC’s fourth loss in a row, and with the bottom teams in the West kicking into high gear, they need to start winning if they want to keep their position in the standings. Unfortunately, they play Ottawa next week, so the Lions are going to have to work for that win.

STANDINGS AT THE END OF WEEK 11

EAST
MONTREAL ALOUETTES 9 – 1
OTTAWA REDBLACKS 6 – 2 – 1
TORONTO ARGONAUTS 5 – 4
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS 2 – 8

WEST
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS 5 – 4 – 1
BC LIONS 5 – 5
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS 4 – 6
CALGARY STAMPEDERS 4 – 6
EDMONTON ELKS 3 – 7

NEXT WEEK: WEEK 12

Saskatchewan @ Toronto – Thursday August 22 7:30PM EDT
Hamilton @ Winnipeg – Friday August 23 8:30PM EDT
BC @ Ottawa – Saturday August 24 7PM EDT
Edmonton @ Montreal – Sunday August 18 7PM EDT

Introduction | Week 9 | Week 11

Some wild games this week, with some upsets and one very shocking outcome.

GAME VODS
Saskatchewan @ Ottawa
Calgary @ Toronto
Hamilton @ Montreal
BC @ Edmonton

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS @ OTTAWA REDBLACKS
Played: Thursday August 8
Final Score: SSK 22 – OTT 22
Points Breakdown by Quarter: Q1: SSK-0 OTT-0 | Q2: SSK-3 OTT-3 | Q3: SSK-0 OTT-4 | Q4: SSK-10 OTT-6 | OT: SSK-9 OTT-9

This game was wild. Saskatchewan didn’t get a lot of offence in, but their defence was playing out of their minds. They forced Ottawa to turn over on downs 3 times, and forced an interception and a fumble besides. The offence wasn’t quite as successful, but they did a solid job considering the absolute wall of red and black they kept running into. This game may have been low-scoring, but it was an absolute blast to watch. Riders fans are going to be sour about the ending for a while though. In second overtime, after getting the lead, Saskatchewan forces a fumble on Redblacks quarterback Dustin Crum to lock up the game. The final score shows, the players are shaking hands, the commentary team is saying good night, and then the referee calls roughing the passer. Ottawa takes the field again, and manages to play for the tie. Honestly, the Riders should be really proud of how they played, and while it wasn’t a win, they have technically stopped their recent losing streak. They play Montreal next week, so I’d expect another defence-focused game.

While Ottawa got extremely lucky with the finish to this game, they absolutely left it all on the field. Like the Riders, their defence was explosive all night, snapping up 3 interceptions. The offence were doing their best, but see the previously mentioned green tide above. That said, they stayed pretty consistent, even after Dru Brown had to leave the game due to injury. Crum came in and confidently steered the ship all the way through overtime, even picking up the majority of Ottawa’s rushing yards with his own two feet. It was a wild game top to bottom, and I thoroughly recommend checking out the VOD for this one. Ottawa have maintained their position in the East, but with Kelly coming off suspension soon, Toronto will be nipping at their heels. The Redblacks face Calgary next week, which really could go either way, depending on which Stamps team shows up.

CALGARY STAMPEDERS @ TORONTO ARGONAUTS
Played: Friday August 9
Final Score: CGY 25 – TOR 39
Points Breakdown by Quarter: Q1: CGY-8 TOR-7 | Q2: CGY-7 TOR-0 | Q3: CGY-0 TOR-14 | Q4: CGY-10 TOR-18

It’s really unfortunate that this was a loss, because it might be the best Calgary’s looked on the field this season. The offence put up 442 yards of net offence, Maier threw for 373 yards, and Reggie Begelton made some truly heroic catches. The defence was on as well, and set the offence up for success multiple times. Looking at the stat lines, this should be a Stampeders win. Unfortunately, it was not the cleanest game. Penalties and turnovers at the worst times robbed the Stamps of opportunities to extend their lead early, and eventually sealed the deal. That said, they were trading the lead back and forth right up to the last couple minutes. If Calgary can keep showing up to games like this, they’ll be in a much better spot. They’ve been inconsistent, though, and it’s hard to say if they’re finally turning the corner or if there’s another drop ahead. They face Ottawa next week, so we’ll see if they can make it happen.

This game was a great example why stats don’t tell the whole story. The Argos may not have put the most impressive numbers on the board, but they made big plays happen when they needed to. Some excellent interceptions and forced fumbles at critical moments stalled out the Calgary offence long enough for Toronto to get back in the game. Special teams also got the offence great field position all night, with Janarion Grant even getting himself a kick-six in the process. Nick Arbuckle looked comfortable at quarterback, and a strong rushing game helped the Argos push through to win it. The Argos are at a bit of a turning point going forward. Chad Kelly is finally back from his suspension, and has had time to practice with the team. With last years MOP back in the lineup, Toronto is going to be looking for a strong push to finish out the season. It’s hard to say where exactly they’ll land, though with how awful Hamilton has been I can’t see them missing the playoffs. Toronto has a bye next week, and then they face Saskatchewan, where they’ll look to avenge their week 5 loss.

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS @ MONTREAL ALOUETTES
Played: Saturday August 10
Final Score: HAM 23 – MTL 33
Points Breakdown by Quarter: Q1: HAM-0 MTL-15 | Q2: HAM-6 MTL-4 | Q3: HAM-3 MTL-0 | Q4: HAM-14 MTL-14

This one started really ugly for the Ticats. Bo Levi Mitchell was pulled after just two short drives after ending one in a fumble and the other in an interception. The situation only got worse when Taylor Powell had to give up a safety when he was forced to dive on the ball in his own endzone after a high snap. Despite one of the worst starts to a game I’ve ever seen, the Cats did manage to stabilize. The offence, while sluggish for most of the game, did manage to put points on the board, and managed to pull within 10 points of Montreal. The defence also pulled their weight. Despite Montreal getting the ball deep in Hamilton territory twice and giving up a safety, those opportunities only amounted to 5 points. I’ll be interested to see if Powell gets the start next week given his solid performance today. Mitchell may (inexplicably) be one of the most productive quarterbacks in the league right now, but it just isn’t working. They play Edmonton next week, who are looking to extend their winning streak to 3.

The Alouettes continue to look great. Their defence continues to be the best in the league, and they absolutely dominated the early stages of the game. The offence got off to a bit of a rocky start, taking a setup that should have been 14 points and only managing 3. Still, Davis Alexander has definitely proven himself more than capable of leading this squad, and they continue to be the best in the league. The only team that’s beaten them is Toronto, and even that felt like a fluke. Their defence is just so good at forcing turnovers that it’s hard to get any kind of momentum against them. Their offence hasn’t been quite at the level it has been, but there are a number of key players out injured. The Als face Saskatchewan next week, who are hungry for a win after 2 losses and a tie. Montreal’s beaten them before, so we’ll see if they can do it again.

BC LIONS @ EDMONTON ELKS
Played: Sunday August 11
Final Score: BC 16 – EDM 33
Points Breakdown by Quarter: Q1: BC-10 EDM-1 | Q2: BC-0 EDM-18 | Q3: BC-6 EDM-0 | Q4: BC-0 EDM-14

This was a bit of a rough one for the Lions. They came out of the gate strong with a very fast opening drive for a touchdown, but then had real problems finding the endzone for the rest of the game. They didn’t score a single touchdown for the rest of the game, and while Sean Whyte continues to be an excellent kicker, it just wasn’t enough. Jake Dolegala was doing his best out there, but he just can’t do the things that Vernon Adams Jr. can at quarterback. If the defence had been able to contain Edmonton better, maybe they could have stayed in it, but it was not to be. The real story for BC this week happened off the field, though. Victoria, BC’s favourite son, Nathan Rourke, has returned to the Lions. Rourke set the league on fire in 2022, setting the CFL record for single season completions. With him back from the NFL and Adams still injured, the Lions quarterback concerns have been dealt with. I’ve missed watching Rourke play, and am excited to see him in the lineup again, hopefully in the revenge game against Winnipeg next week.

This game really showed how different the Elks are with Tre Ford at the helm. While they had a bit of a slow start, they exploded in the second quarter. Ford’s speed means you can’t ignore him as a ground threat, but if you over-commit the Elks receivers get open for long passes. Unfortunately, Ford suffered an injury at the end of the first half, but McLeod Bethel-Thompson managed to keep the ship afloat and put up some decent numbers of his own. The defence also continually stymied BC’s offence, keeping them out of the endzone and forcing Sean Whyte to earn his paycheck. It’s finally looking like Ford is going to be the Elks starting quarterback. Considering he’s the only Elks quarterback to have any wins in the last 30 games, I think it’s well deserved. Certainly the Edmonton fans are happy, especially since this was their first win at home since September of last year. Edmonton faces Hamilton next week, and if Ford is healthy I’m very scared for my poor Tabbies.

STANDINGS AT THE END OF WEEK 10

EAST
MONTREAL ALOUETTES 8 – 1
OTTAWA REDBLACKS 5 – 2 – 1
TORONTO ARGONAUTS 5 – 4
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS 2 – 7

WEST
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS 5 – 3 – 1
BC LIONS 5 – 4
CALGARY STAMPEDERS 4 – 5
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS 3 – 6
EDMONTON ELKS 2 – 7

NEXT WEEK: WEEK 11

Ottawa @ Calgary – Thursday August 15 9PM EDT
Montreal @ Saskatchewan – Friday August 16 9PM EDT
Edmonton @ Hamilton – Saturday August 17 7PM EDT
Winnipeg @ BC – Sunday August 18 7PM EDT

Introduction | Week 8 | Week 10

Well that was a very interesting week of football. Some major upsets happened; could this be a sign of changing fortunes?

GAME VODS
BC @ Winnipeg
Montreal @ Hamilton
Edmonton @ Saskatchewan
Toronto @ Calgary

BC LIONS @ WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
Played: Thursday August 1
Final Score: BC 0 – WPG 25
Points Breakdown by Quarter: Q1: BC-0 WPG-3 | Q2: BC-0 WPG-10 | Q3: BC-0 WPG-6 | Q4: BC-0 WPG-6

What on Earth happened here? 129 yards of total offence, and only 74 yards from Vernon Adams Jr. This has been the most productive offence in the league this season, and they didn’t score a single point. I’m flabbergasted. The Lions got 15 second downs all game, and couldn’t even get in field goal range. This wasn’t just a loss, it was a complete and utter rout. The defence did their best, and managed a couple pretty heroic stops, but they kept getting worn down spending so much time on the field. To make matters even worse, Adams injured his leg in the 4th quarter. He hasn’t been moved to the injured list, but I imagine the Lions will be a little careful with him next week. I would have normally said they’ve got an easy week against Edmonton coming up, but the Elks finally woke up this week and are out for blood.

The Bombers have to be feeling great after such a dominant win in their own house. Their defence completely smothered BC in a way that I haven’t seen in a while. They had complete control the whole game, and were well rested since they only ended up being on the field for 18 minutes. Sergio Castillo also proved his lacklustre performance last game was a fluke by landing 6 field goals, the longest of which got his name in the record books as the only kicker in CFL history to have two 60+ yard field goals in a single season. Yet, even when they win, I come back to criticize the offence. They had the ball for over 40 minutes and scored a single touchdown. That is a cause for concern, though when your kicker is having a great night and your defence is playing out of their minds, you can get away with it. The Bombers needed a win, and by god they got one. Winnipeg has the bye next week, which gives them a much needed break to let their rapidly dwindling receiving corps get some rest.

MONTREAL ALOUETTES @ HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
Played: Friday August 2
Final Score: MTL 33 – HAM 16
Points Breakdown by Quarter: Q1: MTL-0 HAM-0 | Q2: MTL-10 HAM-7 | Q3: MTL-7 HAM-1 | Q4: MTL-16 HAM-8

Montreal did pretty well on this one, though I can’t say I’m surprised. They struggled a little against Hamilton’s defence early, and then it was off to the races. Davis Alexander continues to prove that he can steer the ship while Cody Fajardo is out injured, and it certainly helps that he has a great receiving corps around him. The Als defence continues to be a nightmare; dominating Hamilton’s offence and not letting them get anything going. Honestly, there’s not a whole lot else to say. Montreal played well, but the Ticats didn’t put up much of a fight. Alexander missed a third of his targets, but that’s hardly surprising in his first start. They play Hamilton again next week, and I would be surprised if they didn’t pick that win up as well.

I didn’t expect this Tiger-Cats team to win against the best team in the league, but I expected them to put up more of a fight. The most glaring problem all game was, unfortunately, one that they are unable or unwilling to fix. Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell looked like a deer in headlights. There were multiple times where a receiver would be wide open, waving his arms over his head, and Mitchell would instead throw the ball into double coverage. I’m honestly amazed he was allowed to play the whole game and wasn’t subbed out for Taylor Powell. His receivers did everything they could to make it work, but it was nowhere near enough to make a difference. The defence also had a rough night, and had a very difficult time containing Montreal even without their starting quarterback. I’d hoped for more from the Cats after a couple of wins, but Toronto and Edmonton aren’t exactly top contenders, so I shouldn’t be surprised. Hamilton rematches Montreal next week, and I’m not optimistic about their chances.

EDMONTON ELKS @ SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
Played: Saturday August 3
Final Score: EDM 42 14 – SSK 31
Points Breakdown by Quarter: Q1: EDM-13 SSK-8 | Q2: EDM-7 SSK-7 | Q3: EDM-0 SSK-6 | Q4: EDM-22 SSK-10

Holy crap, that was a completely different Elks team out there this game. Tre Ford is such an electric quarterback, and his strengths go a long way to evening out Edmonton’s weaknesses. He can scramble out of the pocket to extend plays when the o-line collapses, and can run 15 yards backwards and still circle around and get a 5+ yard gain on his feet. I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention the outstanding performance by Javon Leake, who got 169 rushing yards against the best rush defence in the league. The defence played great as well, managing to rob the Riders of more than one touchdown pass. The Elks won this in convincing fashion, and against a serious contender. They have to be feeling good, and all the fans who have been chanting “we want Ford” since he brought home Edmonton’s last win almost a year ago are very much vindicated. Unfortunately, this team has to face the Lions next week, and I wouldn’t count on them putting up a goose egg two games in a row. I’m looking forward to finally seeing two of the most exciting quarterbacks in the CFL finally clash.

While it’s a rough time being the first team to lose to the winless Elks, these Riders still put up a hell of a fight. Mario Alford started off strong with a kick-six on the opening kickoff and gave the offence great position all game. The Saskatchewan receivers were also in fine form, fighting for catches and keeping the Riders in the game until the end. Their passing defence was fine, but I’m shocked at how well the Elks were able to run the ball. Yes, having a mobile quarterback like Ford makes blocking the run harder, but this is the most yards the Riders have allowed on the ground all season. I can give them a pass though, as most quarterbacks in the league right now are much more stationary, and they maybe need time to adjust. I still think the Riders are the team to beat in the West, though BC are close behind them. They face Ottawa next week, and are going to be hungry after losing two in a row.

TORONTO ARGONAUTS @ CALGARY STAMPEDERS
Played: Sunday August 4
Final Score: TOR 23 – CGY 27
Points Breakdown by Quarter: Q1: TOR-8 CGY-0 | Q2: TOR-14 CGY-6 | Q3: TOR-1 CGY-0 | Q4: TOR-0 CGY-21

Well, this game was going great for the Argos right up until it wasn’t. They held Calgary to just 6 points for three whole quarters. Their offence was very productive for the first half, and their defence was playing great football. Then they lost. The fourth quarter came and they suddenly couldn’t contain Calgary’s offence anymore. Worse, their offence completely lost steam. Despite a strong start, they only managed 177 passing yards all game. While Cameron Dukes did run for an impressive 95 yards, you don’t really want your leading rusher to be your quarterback. Though he had to be quick on his feet this game as his o-line fell apart and he got sacked 6 times. Toronto rematch Calgary next week at home, and they’ll be looking to even the score. Though the big question is if Toronto will choose to start noted dirtbag Chad Kelly now that his suspension’s up, or if they’ll wait a week to give him more practice time with the team.

This season cannot be good for the collective cardiac health of the Stamps fanbase. Though I must say they’ve graduated from “will they show up this game” to “will they show up this quarter”, which is improvement. They stalled out for the first three quarters, then came out firing on all cylinders. I particular, Cam Echols deserves a shoutout for realizing he was not, in fact, down by contact after a long catch in the fourth quarter, scrambling to his feet, and launching himself into the endzone to put the Stamps just 2 points behind Toronto. If this Stamps team can play like this for 4 quarters (or heck, at least 2), they could turn this season around. It was good enough for a win today, but that’s not going to get you to the Grey Cup. They rematch Toronto next week, so we’ll see if this win was a fluke or not.

STANDINGS AT THE END OF WEEK 9

EAST
MONTREAL ALOUETTES 7 – 1
OTTAWA REDBLACKS 5 – 2
TORONTO ARGONAUTS 4 – 4
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS 2 – 6

WEST
BC LIONS 5 – 3
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS 5 – 3
CALGARY STAMPEDERS 4 – 4
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS 3 – 6
EDMONTON ELKS 1 – 7

NEXT WEEK: WEEK 9

Saskatchewan @ Ottawa – Thursday August 8 7:30PM EDT
Calgary @ Toronto – Friday August 9 7:30PM EDT
Hamilton @ Montreal – Saturday August 10 7PM EDT
BC @ Edmonton – Sunday August 11 7PM EDT