OUT OF THE TUNNEL: CHRISTMAS COME EARLY

BY: RODPEDERSEN.COM STAFF

It was like Christmas for football fans this weekend. The CFL divisional finals, Vanier Cup, Canadian Bowl, NCAA conference championships and the NFL edged a week closer to the playoffs. 

We will cover everything on the Canadian side in this week’s Out of the Tunnel beginning with a pair of fantastic divisional final games. For one of the rare times we were able to watch both games live (we usually have other football commitments so that games are usually off the PVR), so let’s have a little live blogging.

EAST FINAL: HAMILTON 27 AT TORONTO 19

The Toronto Argos offence moves the ball with ease on their first two drives. Hamilton’s defence bends but doesn’t break and both end in field goals. This is going to be a giant problem all game long for the Boatmen.

One of the drives is thwarted by a great defensive play by defensive end Ja’Gared Davis who had perfect coverage in the end zone and knocked down a McLeod Bethel-Thompson pass.

Jeremiah Masoli isn’t great in the first quarter for Hamilton including a crucial fumble. He is replaced by Dane Evans early in the second.

All Argos in the first half but it’s only 12-0.

A little snow to begin the second half!

We love the grass at BMO Field.

The game completely flips on its head and of course with it being the CFL, special teams turns the tides. Ticats returner Papi White rips off a 92-yard punt return for a score but with a missed convert, this cuts the lead to 12-6.

Hamilton special teams coordinator, Jeff Reinebold is having himself a game. A fake field goal kept a drive going and on the next play it’s a touchdown pass from Dane Evans to Jaelon Acklin. Missed two-pointer and we are now tied.

Ja’Gared Davis is wreaking havoc again on the Argos, this time with a huge sack.

A possible change of momentum back to the Argos with Hamilton picking up back-to-back offsides to extend a drive. Again, only another Boris Bede field goal.

Toronto’s defence completely falls apart as Hamilton takes the next drive down the field, and right down the throats of the Argos defence for the clinching touchdown.

Hamilton is off to the Grey Cup with the 27-19 victory and a chance to win the championship on home field.

This was an entertaining game and the playoffs have been really good so far, which is making up for an atrocious regular season.

WEST FINAL: SASKATCHEWAN 17 AT WINNIPEG 21

Now for the West Division Final in Winnipeg between the Blue Bombers and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. For the second week in a row, the West Division playoff game was a warped ride.

Andrew Harris is starting at running back for the Bombers. The Rider killer is looking to have yet another great day on his return to the lineup.

Bombers offence looks great but the first drive is snuffed out when a ball goes through Nic Demski’s hands in the end zone and Ed Gainey comes up with the interception.

Riders do nothing with the turnover and the punt is partially blocked setting Winnipeg up in positive territory. 

This will be a running gag throughout the game as the Bombers fumble the ball at the one yard line and Elie Bouka takes it back the other way 94-yards helping Saskatchewan to the first touchdown of the game and a 7-0 lead.

Bombers come right back as they destroy the Rider front seven. The drive is topped with a short Zach Collaros pass to Rasheed Bailey to tie the game at 7.

In the second quarter, the turnover parade continues as Collaros looks deep but Nick Marshall comes up with the football, this one leads to points and a 10-7 Saskatchewan lead.

The broken record of the first half continues for the Bombers as they easily move the ball on the Riders but Collaros throws his third interception of the half. Saskatchewan can’t do a thing offensively with it.

Winnipeg doesn’t want to win this. It’s another fumble. The Green and White can’t do anything with it again. They are winning the turnover battle 5-0 but have just a 10-7 lead heading into the locker room.

Rider fans yearn for the Stephen McAdoo offence right now.

Can’t decide whether this game should be 21-7 Saskatchewan or 28-0 Winnipeg. This game isn’t well played but sure is fun to watch.

Things calm down for a little bit until the Riders finally move the football. Duke Williams is wide open deep in Blue Bomber territory. He stops running and Fajardo overthrows him. Next play, Winnipeg finally forces their first turnover as Jackson Jeffcoat strips Fajardo.

This is the season for giving and for some reason Marc Liegghio decided to take the game into his own hands on a fake punt. It doesn’t go well. Winnipeg’s sixth turnover and yet somehow they are still in this dumb game.

Winnipeg finally gets their offence in full gear with zero mistakes. Andrew Harris throwing haymakers running the ball and finishes the drive for the 14-10 lead.

Cody Fajardo has looked real shaky all game but made his best pass of the season connecting with Duke Williams on the fly and he does the rest on a 64-yards pass and catch for a score.

The Rider killer continues to dominate as Andrew Harris does the bulk of the work on another Winnipeg touchdown drive and puts them back in front 21-14.

Even with all of the Winnipeg mistakes, this game was won with dominating offensive and defensive lines. Five sacks of Cody Fajardo in this game.

The Riders give it one last gasp, but it wasn’t enough as Winnipeg is off to the Grey Cup for the second straight season and it will be a rematch of the 2019 championship with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

No real analysis here. Pretty simple, Winnipeg is the outright favourite and should dominate to win their second straight Grey Cup championship. We would love to see Hamilton win, but it won’t happen.

As for the Riders, this is the third straight season that Winnipeg has eliminated them from the playoffs. This one stings a little more as they came up so short again.

We will give the Riders season a full analysis after the Grey Cup as we leave things on the field for one more week.

It should be a blast in Hamilton this week as the country focusses on the CFL as this fantastic playoff season will end at Tim Horton’s Field. 

Vanier Cup
Western Mustangs 27
Saskatchewan Huskies 21 

The Western Mustangs continue to prove that they are one of the premier programs in Canadian college football. They won their 8^thVanier Cup on Saturday 27-21 over a very game Saskatchewan Huskies.

The key to this game was the Mustangs opening drives in each of the first and second halves. They were able to punch in touchdowns on both and that was the difference in the victory.

Another big edge went to the Mustangs running game, they outpaced the Huskies 208-83 in the game and in the process we’re able to grind out long drives when they had to. Trey Humes led the way with 78 yards but Edouard Wanadi was the difference with 72 yards on just four carries.

Saskatchewan also couldn’t get to Western quarterback Evan Hillock as he was kept clean without being sacked once in the game.

This was the third time these two fantastic programs have met in the Vanier Cup with Western now the winners of all three.

This is Saskatchewan’s sixth loss in the Vanier Cup in 10 appearances.

Canadian Bowl
Langley Rams 37
London Beefeaters 0 

For the first time in their history, the Langley Rams are winners of the Canadian Bowl. As they did in their big victory over the Saskatoon Hilltops two weeks ago, it was the Rams’ defence that did it all.

They collected a whopping 10 sacks in the game and kept London to under 50 yards of offence in the victory.

The lone Rams offensive touchdown was a third quarter touchdown reception by Mario Johnson.

Canadian Player to Watch in the NCAA

Samuel Emilus (Graduate Senior)
Receiver
Louisiana Tech
6’1”, 198lbs.
Montreal, Quebec
High School – Cure Antoine Labelle 

One of the top pass catchers available for the 2022 CFL Draft, Samuel Emilus had a solid final collegiate season with the Bulldogs. The Montreal receiver had 17 catches for 256 yards in his only season with Louisiana Tech.

Prior to transferring to Louisiana Tech, Emilus had 59 catches for 653 yards with Massachusetts and was an outstanding punt returner.  When he does turn pro in 2022 he will be a great asset as a slot receiver in the CFL.

(RODPEDERSEN.COM STAFF)