CFL SIM: SASKATCHEWAN, OTTAWA TO CLASH IN THE GREY CUP!

EDMONTON – The Saskatchewan Roughriders will have the opportunity to win the Inaugural CFL SIM Grey Cup with a home victory at virtual Mosaic Stadium next weekend.

Standing in their way is the hottest team in CFL SIM: the Ottawa RedBlacks.

In a computer-simulated game on Doug Flutie’s Maximum Football on Saturday, the Roughriders used complimentary football to dispose of the Edmonton Football Club 34-14 and advance to the CFL SIM’s first-ever title game.

It was a tightly-contested game between the age-old West Division rivals throughout the first half at Commonwealth Stadium. The teams traded field goals in the first quarter and emerged in a 3-3 deadlock. Rider receiver Kyran Moore caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Cody Fajardo at the 5:51 mark of the second quarter and a 15-yard Sean Whyte field goal made it 10-6 Riders at the break.

There were anxious moments near the end of the half as Rider quarterback Cody Fajardo left the game with a knee injury after a successful 3rd-and-1 sneak.

However Rider Nation’s fears melted away when Fajardo came out to lead the offence to start the third quarter. The lone scoring play of the period was a 10-yard Brayden Lenius touchdown reception at the 10:27 mark. Saskatchewan led 17-6 going into the fourth.

That’s when the Riders ball-hawking defense took over. DBs Ed Gainey (29-yards) and Nick Marshall (58-yards) scored on back-to-back Pick 6’s off Edmonton QB Trevor Harris to put the Riders out to an insurmountable 31-6 lead.

Edmonton WR Anthony Parker scored on a 31-yard touchdown pass at 12:09 but Rider kicker Brett Lauther put the game away with a 43-yard field goal with 7 seconds remaining.

Game Over: Saskatchewan 34 Edmonton 14

Cody Fajardo passed for 242 yards, two touchdowns and one interception while his counterpart Trevor Harris tossed for 257 yards, one touchdown and three critical interceptions.

Saskatchewan won the turnover battle 4-3.

Fajardo’s status for the CFL SIM Grey Cup is unknown at this time.

CALGARY – In the earlier game of the Saturday Division Finals doubleheader, the CFL SIM’s #1 team – the 13-5 Calgary Stampeders – hosted the Ottawa RedBlacks.

In a computer-simulated game on Doug Flutie’s Maximum Football, the Stampeders never got on track as they fell 28-19 to the Ottawa RedBlacks. Ottawa had swept Calgary in a regular season-ending home-and-home series, and now they’re off to the championship game in Regina.

Both offences came out guns a’blazing at McMahon Stadium. The RedBlacks went up 7-0 on their opening series as Nick Arbuckle heaved a 64-yard touchdown bomb to Brad Sinopoli. Bo Levi Mitchell and the Stampeders answered back on their first drive as BLM found Michael Klukas for a 10-yard score. A 34-yard Lewis Ward field goal put Ottawa up 10-7 after the first quarter.

Things quieted down in the second quarter, but Ottawa was picking up steam. A 1-yard Tim Flanders touchdown run and a Stamps safety put the RedBlacks up 19-7. The Stamps’ Rene Parades notched an 11-yard field goal to make it 19-10 Ottawa at the break.

The offences were mucky over the entire second half and the icy track caused a ton of problems. Ottawa led 22-16 after the third quarter following an 87-yard score by Calgary’s Klukas.

Two Lewis Ward field goals (44- and 37-yards) and a 37-yarder from Rene Parades capped the scoring.

Game Over: Ottawa 28 Calgary 19

So the Inaugural CFL SIM Grey Cup will be played at Mosaic Stadium in Regina next Saturday, Nov. 21 at 6:30 pm ET as part of the CFL’s Grey Cup Unite festivities, featuring Saskatchewan and Ottawa.

Rider fans are already salivating over the opportunity for Saskatchewan to avenge their bitter 23-20 loss to the Ottawa Roughriders in the 1976 Grey Cup at Toronto’s Exhibition Stadium.

The 2020 CFL SIM Grey Cup will be broadcast from the CFL’s official Grey Cup Unite page at www.greycupunite.ca as well as on Facebook Live from The Rod Pedersen Show Facebook channel.

(Doug Flutie’s Maximum Football)