OUT OF THE TUNNEL: A PEDESTRIAN WIN, AND PLAYER AWARDS

BY: RODPEDERSEN.COM STAFF

There’s not really much to say from Friday night’s win in Vancouver except that’s the way you choke out a team. The Riders were able to pick up the 27-19 victory over the B.C. Lions in a game that could have seen many things go wrong.

This was a game that the Riders could have taken very lightly. With the Lions quarterback Danny O’Brien  making just his second ever start, the Lions being officially eliminated from the playoffs last week, the Riders could have easily been looking forward to a home and home series with the Edmonton Eskimos to finish the season.

The first half saw the Lions come out incredibly physical but, as the game went on, the Rider defence slowly squeezed the life out of the Leos and when O’Brien was replaced with Grant Kraemer in the third quarter, it was over.

Chalk it up as just another way the Riders can win a game as they slow-cooked the Lions until they were well-done.

The victory keeps the Riders in the race for first in the West and a chance to host a West Final for just the seventh time in the modern era of the CFL (1961) and just the third time in the past 50 years.

The first West Final at Mosaic Stadium would be quite the site to see but they will need some help as Calgary holds their own destiny. If the Stamps knock off Winnipeg (again) and then B.C. in the final two games of the season it doesn’t matter what the Riders do.  

The Riders need help, but they can help themselves first by beating up on Edmonton this Saturday night.

/=S=/

With the release of the players that are eligible for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie, let’s have some fun as we give you the Out of the Tunnel list for CFL awards (plus two other awards of our own).

Most Outstanding Player: Cody Fajardo – Is there any doubt? Once Zach Collaros went down in the first quarter of the Riders first game in Hamilton the Rider offence was in the hands of Fajardo.

He leads the team with his arm, legs and heart and is the biggest reason why the Green and White are in a spot to potentially host a West Final.

He will be in the top five of most passing categories in a field that had 17 quarterbacks see action in at least five games in 2019.

Most Outstanding Defensive player: Charleston Hughes – Please find us the fountain of youth that Charleston Hughes drinks from.

Hughes leads the CFL in sacks with 15 and is second in forced fumbles (4) and fumble recoveries (2). Hughes also has a touchdown and 46 total tackles from the defensive end spot.

Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman: Thaddeus Coleman – He has started and played in 15 of 16 games this season and has had a solid season at tackle.

It has been a bit of a bounce back season for the 33-year-old that seems to also be getting better with age and has found a little bit of a nasty streak in 2019.

Most Outstanding Rookie: Dakoda Shepley – The former first round pick was thrust into the starting lineup at the beginning of the season with Brendon LaBatte out with an injury.

Shepley is a mean and nasty brawler that started 14 games this season but has stepped aside with LaBatte and Philip Blake back in the lineup.

Most Outstanding Special Teams: Alexandre Gagne – This has been a tough year for the kickers and with the return game right in the middle part of the league, we will give it to the third-year linebacker out of Sherbrooke.

Most Outstanding Canadian: Cam Judge – There were many wondering if he would ever take the next step to be a regular starter (us included). Well, he served that up cold and rammed it down everyone’s throats with his 2019 season.

Judge has 56 defensive tackles, five sacks, an interception, a forced fumble as well as 11 special team’s tackles.

Mike Edem was a close second, but Judge will get the nod.  

Now for three of our own.

Bounce Back Player of the Year: Solomon Elimimian – After just playing four games in 2018 and missing the first three games of the season, the soon-to-be 34-year-old linebacker may end up leading the CFL in tackles…again.

He has 81 tackles this season along with four sacks.

Top First Year CFL Player: L.J. McCray – Players with just a hint of NFL experience are not eligible for the CFL’s top rookie award so we decided to make one up here.

McCray has been a fantastic addition at corner to an already very good secondary. He has started all 11 games he’s played in since being inserted in week six of the season.

This Week in Canada West:

To take a term from the best (and they say only) college football podcast, Shutdown Fullcast, this week in the Canada West was a down right BLOOD WEEK!

The top three teams in the conference were defeated (and two very handily) by the bottom three teams.

We begin with the UBC Thunderbirds winning their second straight game by knocking off the Saskatchewan Huskies 38-37.

The Thunderbirds trailed 35-27 heading into the fourth quarter and the comeback was sealed when Garrin McDonnell kicked a short 11-yard field goal with 31 seconds remaining for the one-point victory.

The Thunderbirds rode the arm of Gabe Olivares to the tune of 375 yards while their defence picked off Huskies pivot Mason Nyhus twice.

The Regina Rams found their big play stride again in a 31-17 road win over the Golden Bears at Foote Field.

Rams quarterback Josh Donnelly completed just 14/25 passes but rolled up 339 yards through the air. He averaged an incredible 24 yards per completion.

After starting their first drive with a procedure penalty, Donnelly and Ryan Schienbein combined for an 80-yard score and it was off to the races from there. Donnelly had six more completions of 20-plus yards for the victory.

The Manitoba Bisons punched their ticket into the playoffs by making Calgary Dinos quarterback, Adam Sinagra’s life a nightmare.

The Bisons defence intercepted the defending Hec Crighton award winner twice and sacked him three more times in the 43-29 win. It also didn’t help that the Dinos racked up 146 yards in penalties in the game.

We head into the final week of the season with Calgary, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba making the playoffs with UBC and Regina on the outside looking in.

With the Dinos in first at 5-2 and the other three teams at 4-3, homefield in the semi-finals is still up for grabs.

Week 6 in Canada West (all times local):

Friday, October 25
Manitoba (4-3) at Regina (2-5) 7:00pmLeibel Field

Saturday, October 26
Alberta (4-3) at Saskatchewan (4-3) 2:00pm Griffiths Stadium
UBC (2-5) at Calgary (5-2) 3:00pmMcMahon Stadium

This Week in the Prairie Football Conference

It was semi-final Sunday in the PFC and it was home sweet home for the Saskatoon Hilltops as they had an easy time with the visiting Edmonton Wildcats 31-7.

The Hilltops used a wrecking ball running game led by Ben Abrook’s 153 yards and one touchdown to grind down the visiting Wildcats.

The Hilltops will welcome the Edmonton Huskies for the second straight PFC final next Sunday as the Huskies went on the road and knocked off the Regina Thunder 20-17 at Leibel Field.

The Hilltops will look to win another PFC championship next weekend at SMF Field and continue their quest for their sixth straight Canadian Bowl and ninth in ten years.

Canadian to Watch in the NCAA:

G – J.J. Molson
UCLA (PAC 10)
6′ 1″ 197lbs.
Montreal, Quebec
High School – Selwyn House School

Molson has been the main kicker for the Bruins for all four of his seasons in Los Angeles. He had his best game in 2019 this past weekend as the Bruins beat up on the Stanford Cardinal 34-16. Molson went 2-2 including a 49-yarder.

Along with the place kicking duties, Molson is also does kick-offs for the Bruins with 32 of his 35 kicks being touchbacks.

(RODPEDERSEN.COM STAFF)