CFL POINT AFTER: WEEK 14

Photo: CFL.ca

Nothing good seems to happen to Travis Lulay when he faces the Montreal Alouettes in September.

The veteran quarterback suffered a dislocated left shoulder on the opening series of the B.C. Lions’ 32-14 road win in Montreal on Friday night. It’s unclear if Lulay’s season is done but the best-case scenario would seem to be missing four-to-six weeks before rejoining the squad sometime next month.

It’s the latest in a long string of injuries for Lulay, who turns 35 later this month. But he’s been especially snake-bit when facing the Alouettes in September.

Lulay has been hurt in four of his last five starts versus Montreal, all coming in the unlucky month.

He suffered a torn right labrum against Montreal on Sept, 13, 2013 then a strained left medial collateral ligament Sept. 3, 2015. And Sept. 8, 2017, Lulay’s season ended with a torn right anterior cruciate ligament in a home contest versus the Alouettes.

Lulay was also forced from B.C.’s 26-14 home win over Ottawa on Sept. 7 after Redblacks’ defensive lineman J.R. Tavai used his helmet to hit Lulay on the chin. No penalty was called but the CFL admitted one should’ve been, then fined Tavai.

To add insult to injury Friday night, Lulay was also randomly selected following the contest to provide a urine sample for drug testing.

Once again, the Lions are Jonathon Jennings’ team. He opened the season as the starter before being replaced by Lulay after passing for just 487 yards with three interceptions and two TDs in B.C.’s first three contests.

Jennings finished 19-of-30 passing for 180 yards with a TD and interception against Montreal. He also ran eight times for 46 yards (5.8-yard average).

Jennings completed 10-of-12 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown versus Ottawa. The six-foot, 195-pound native of Columbus, Ohio, threw for 5,226 yards with 27 TDs in 2016 but dipped to 3,639 yards last season with more interceptions (19) than touchdowns (16).

Jennings’ return comes with B.C.’s defence playing tough football. The unit had seven sacks and four interceptions _ returning two for TDs _ against Montreal while allowing just 224 offensive yards.

B.C. tops the CFL in sacks (31) and interceptions (16) and is third in fewest points allowed (24 per game).

B.C. (5-6) is currently tied with Winnipeg (5-7) for fourth in the West Division. The Lions will have a home-and-home with Hamilton (5-6) starting Saturday then host Toronto (3-8) on Oct. 6.

After that, B.C. will finish its regular season against West teams _ Oct. 13 at Calgary, Oct. 19 versus Edmonton, at Saskatchewan on Oct. 27 then hosting Calgary on Nov. 3.

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BOMBERS’ QB: The Montreal Alouettes will have a different quarterback under centre Friday when they visit Winnipeg but the Blue Bombers are standing pat.

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea named veteran Matt Nichols as his starter Monday. Nichols practised with the No. 1 offence earlier in the day after being benched after the first half of Winnipeg’s 32-27 loss to Saskatchewan on Sept. 8.

Nichols was 10-of-20 passing for 165 yards and three interceptions. Backup Chris Streveler also completed 10-of-20 passes for 160 yards with a TD but had two interceptions.

Johnny Manziel will start for Montreal. Antonio Pipkin made four straight starts for the Als but struggled mightily in Saturday’s 32-14 home loss to the B.C. Lions.

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INJURY WOES: Add DaVaris Daniels to the list of ailing Calgary Stampeders receivers.

Daniels suffered a shoulder injury in Calgary’s 43-28 road win Saturday in Hamilton. Head coach Dave Dickenson told reporters Sunday that Daniels would be “out for a while.”

He is Calgary’s second-leading receiver with 50 receptions for 747 yards and seven TDs.

Receiver was certainly a position of strength to start the season for Calgary, especially with the return of Eric Rogers. The six-foot-three, 210-pound Rogers had 87 catches for 1,448 yards and 10 TD in 2015 before joining the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers.

Rogers suffered a serious knee injury during training camp and never played a down for the 49ers, who released him a year later.

Rogers had 21 catches for 329 yards and five TDs in five games with Calgary before undergoing knee surgery in August. He participated in practice last week and will have time to heal further as the Stampeders’ next game is Sept. 28 at home against the Toronto Argonauts.

Jorden was enjoying a solid ’18 campaign with 55 catches for 944 yards _ both team highs _ and six TDs before suffering a season-ending knee injury in Calgary’s 23-20 Labour Day win over Edmonton.

Reggie Begleton (five catches, 150 yards, TD) and Juwan Brescacin (five catches,109 yards) both broke the 100-yard plateau Saturday against Hamilton.

Of course, the constant remains starter Bo Levi Mitchell, the CFL leader in TD passes (27) who’s also ranked third overall in passing yards (3,630). And Calgary will clinch a playoff berth Saturday if the Toronto Argonauts tie or lose their home game versus Saskatchewan.

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OFFENCE SHINES: Trevor Harris threw for 334 yards and two TDs while Williams Powell ran for 148 yards and two touchdowns in the Ottawa Redblacks’ 30-25 road win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday.

The victory was Ottawa’s first in three games and came after scoring a combined 25 points in two straight losses.

But thanks in large part to Harris and Powell, the offence had 494 yards against Saskatchewan, including 160 yards rushing. What’s more, the Riders had no sacks.

Ottawa’s defence did its part, intercepting Saskatchewan starter Zach Collaros twice and holding him to 10-of-27 passing for 162 yards with a TD. The Riders managed 240 yards offensively.

Ottawa (7-5) moved atop the East Division, two points ahead of Hamilton (5-6). Saskatchewan (7-5) had its four-game win streak halted and remains tied for second with Edmonton in the West Division.

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YACHETTI REMEMBERED: Roger Yachetti, the former chairman of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, died Sunday. He was 78.

The Ticats confirmed Yachetti’s death Monday. A cause wasn’t provided but Yachetti reportedly suffered a stroke last week.

Yachetti, a Hamilton lawyer, served as club chairman from 1992-95 and helped assemble a community-based consortium to buy the franchise.

In 1994, he led the “Drive for ’95,” that helped the franchise reach the CFL-mandated goal of selling 15,000 season tickets for the ’95 campaign.

“We mourn the passing of a great Tiger-Cats supporter, former investor and executive, Roger Yachetti,” Ticats owner Bob Young said in a statement. “Roger’s contributions to the team will always be an important part of our history.

“Our sincerest condolences go out to his family and friends.”


(Canadian Press)