CFL ROUND-UP

TORONTO – Toronto quarterback Ricky Ray has been named the top offensive player for Week 16 of the CFL season.

Edmonton linebacker Dexter McCoil won defensive player of the week, while Hamilton’s Terrell Sinkfield and Andy Fantuz won special teams and Canadian honours respectively.

Ray threw for 431 yards and four touchdowns as the Argonauts edged the rival Hamilton Tiger-Cats 34-33 on Friday.

He completed 34 of 46 pass attempts as the Argos claimed a share of first place in the East Division with Hamilton and Montreal.

Ray leads the CFL in passing yards with 3,861 and touchdown passes with 27.

McCoil had four tackles, a sack, a special teams tackle, and returned a fumble for a touchdown as the Eskimos routed Winnipeg 41-9 to move into second place in the West Division.

Sinkfield, a punt and kick returner, returned five kickoffs for 148 yards and two punts for 62 yards, including a game-high 51-yard return, in Hamilton’s loss to Toronto.

Ticats receiver Fantuz, a native of Chatham, Ont., caught seven passes for 77 yards and a touchdown.

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CALGARY – The Calgary Stampeders can clinch first place in the CFL’s West Division very early this season with a win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday.

The problem with making first in the division – the rallying cry for Saturday – is the chance of losing concentration and intensity in the remaining three games of the regular season.

Some Stampeders were emphasizing execution and wins, not byes and home playoff dates, on Tuesday.

“I think just playing to win this next game is what we should be focused on, not winning the division,” running back Jon Cornish said.

“The following week, we should focus on winning that game. We have a bunch of difficult games coming up and we have to be focused on every single one of them.”

Calgary (12-2) has two games remaining against Winnipeg (6-9) and one against Saskatchewan (9-6) before the regular-season finale against the B.C. Lions (8-7).

In 2013, Calgary secured the West final in the second-last week en route to a 14-4 record. But the Stampeders were upset in the division final by the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who went on to win the Grey Cup in Regina.

It’s a reminder that securing the division final is not the same thing as winning it, which is perhaps why the Stampeders were downplaying Saturday’s stakes.

“We’ve got to finish,” Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell. “We’re not looking forward to any other game. We’re not trying to clinch first place.

“All we’re thinking about is going out there and playing a good football game against Winnipeg. Last year we were 14-4 and we don’t finish.”

After missing three games with a sprained ankle and injured ligament in his left knee, Mitchell is expected to start for real this time.

Jon Cornish didn’t finish Calgary’s 31-24 win over the Roughriders in Regina on Oct. 3 because of a tweaked knee, but the halfback says he’s ready for Saturday’s game in Winnipeg.

“I maybe could have played in a game had we not had the bye week, but I’m happy we had the bye week all things considered,” Cornish said.

Defensive end Charleston Hughes, the CFL’s outstanding defensive player in 2013, is nearing a return to action. Hughes will participate in his first full practice Wednesday since injuring his foot Sept. 13 versus the Argonauts.

Hufnagel couldn’t say Tuesday whether the sack specialist will play in Winnipeg.

(Canadian Press)