OUT OF THE TUNNEL: WEEK 6 UPS AND DOWNS

There are so many ‘Ups’ in the CFL right now but we only are given so much space so let’s have some fun.

Up

The TV ratings have been one of the biggest ups all season long. The Labour Day Classic that saw the Winnipeg Blue Bombers knock off the hometown Saskatchewan Roughriders 23-8 at Mosaic Stadium almost hit the one-million viewer mark.

The match-up of the prairie rivals was the most watched Labour Day Classic in five years with 974,700 viewers tuning in. 

The ratings across the board have been tremendous and as we have said before many times in this column, with ratings falling across the board in almost every other sport, the CFL has been a jewel in the TSN sports lineup.

Down

After coming out to a smoking start by winning their first three games of the season, the Saskatchewan Roughriders offence looked incredibly pedestrian against the Blue Bombers. In a game that the Green and White desperately needed to be good to help a banged up defence, they almost put up a goose egg.

Yes, Cody Fajardo was knocked out of the game in the third quarter and they had to rely on second year quarterback Issac Harker, but even with Fajardo in the lineup the highly touted Jason Maas offence has been grounded.

With Toronto coming on Friday night it will be another test for an offence that is looking to get off the mat and return the Green and White back to the top of the standings.

Up

The parity that is currently happening in the early parts of the 2021 CFL season is every league’s dream. Other than the Bombers sweeping the Riders in their home-and-home series, stretching their first place lead in the West Division to four points, seven other teams sit with either four or six points.

Sure things may stretch at some point of the season but in any game this year it’s a toss up on who will win, unless you’re the lowly Ottawa Redblacks. We feel that this parity will continue throughout the 2021 season and will make it a fantastic return to the field for a league that needs every break afforded to them.

Down

Offence as a whole has been a down, but more specifically quarterback play. The last time the CFL took the field in 2019 was an incredible year with quarterbacks topping the 400-yard passing mark a whopping 15 times. It was an incredible offensive season that we can all look back on fondly.

There hasn’t been a 400-yard passer yet this season and if one looks back to 2013, the chances of a 400-yard passer becomes increasingly less frequent. This isn’t your dad’s CFL from the high-flying times of the late 1980’s and 1990’s.

What piqued our interest in this was the incredible NFL season opener on Thursday night when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Tom Brady (379 yards) and Dallas Cowboys Dak Prescott (403 yards) both nearly threw for over 400 yards in an incredibly entertaining 31-29 Tampa victory.

The last time two NFL quarterbacks threw for 400-yards in a game was in week one of 2018 when New Orleans Saints pivot Drew Brees and Tampa’s Ryan Fitzpatrick both threw for over 400-yards. It also happened two more times in the 2018 season.

In the CFL it has been a long time since this has happened. 

**Mini-Down**

If one is looking for individual stats before 2013 CFL.ca is incredibly spotty. It’s so bad that if one was to find Anthony Calvillo’s career stats, they would be a magician because they are just not there.

The last time two CFL quarterbacks both threw for 400 yards in a single game was in week eight of the 2013 season when Edmonton visited Toronto. In that game the Argos’ Ricky Ray threw for 413 yards in a 36-33 victory over the then Edmonton Eskimos. In the loss, Mike Reilly had a whopping 516 yards.

Yes, there are more games played in the NFL so just the odds are greater, but of a league that prides itself on high-flying football, the game to the south of us has surpassed the CFL.

Up

Bo Levi Mitchell came back from the injury list and returned to his MVP form by guiding the Calgary Stampeders to a crucial 32-16 road victory over the Edmonton Elks. Mitchell got a lot of help from a solid defensive performance and also a great day from Kamar Jordan who caught 12 passes for 159 yards and a 50-yard touchdown in the victory.

As the season continues, the 2016 and 2018 league most outstanding player will continue to return to form and that’s nothing but bad news for the other teams in an ever-so-tight West Division.

Up

The Winnipeg Blue Bomber defence had a bit of a hiccup in a week three 30-23 loss to the Toronto Argonauts but since then they have been the main force in a three game winning streak. In wins over the Calgary Stampeders and Roughriders (twice) the Blue and Gold defence has given up a grand total of 33 points.

Defensive coordinator Richie Hall is using an incredible defensive line that had seven sacks and a ball hawking secondary that had four interceptions of Cody Fajardo in Winnipeg’s first back-to-back wins of the Riders in the Labour Day/Banjo Bowl since 2016. 

So far things are looking very good for a team looking to repeat as Grey Cup champions for only the second time in the franchise’s history.

This Week in the Prairie Football Conference

Regina Thunder (3-0) 16 
Saskatoon Hilltops (2-1) 13

In a game between the top two junior football clubs in Canada, the Regina Thunder remain undefeated by going on the road and knocking off the defending national champs, the Saskatoon Hilltops 16-13.

It was a game that came down to the final play when Thunder kicker Eric Maximuik drilled a game-winning, 51-yard field goal with zeros on the clock. The Thunder’s lone touchdown was fromRyland Leichert while the Hilltops got a touchdown from Jordin Tabin in the loss.

Winnipeg Rifles (1-2) 20
Edmonton Wildcats (1-2) 18

The Winnipeg Rifles went on the road and piled up a 20-3 lead after three quarters and cruised to their first victory of the season 20-18 over the Edmonton Wildcats. 

Calgary Colts (0-3) 14
Edmonton Huskies (2-1) 62

The Edmonton Huskies climb into a second place tie with the Hilltops via their 62-14 smashing of the Calgary Colts. 

This Week in the PFC

(all times local)

Saturday, September 18

Saskatoon Hilltops (2-1) at Regina Thunder (3-0) 7:00 Mosaic Stadium

Sunday, September 19

Edmonton Huskies (2-1) at Winnipeg Rifles (1-2) 1:00pm Maple Grove Rugby Park

Calgary Colts (0-3) at Edmonton Wildcats (1-2) 1:00pm Sherwood Park

Canadian to Watch in the NCAA

Isaiah Bagnah (Rs-Soph)
Defensive end
Boise State University
6’4”, 225 lbs.
Lethbridge, Alberta

High School – Lethbridge Collegiate Institute
While so many of the players to watch in the NCAA come from either Ontario or Quebec, Alberta has provided some quality Canadian talent south of the border. Amen Ogbongbemiga and Chuba Hubbard are now plying their trade in the pros but another name from Alberta may be just as good.