OUT OF THE TUNNEL: ROUND 1 COMPLETE

We have been lamenting for weeks that the 2021 run to the Grey Cup may be the only thing that can save this CFL season. If the divisional semifinals were any indication, it just might happen. 

We begin in the East Division semifinal where the Hamilton offence wasn’t its usual self but their defence was incredible Sunday afternoon in their 23-12 victory over the Montreal Alouettes.

The Tiger-Cats forced four turnovers on a snow-covered Tim Horton’s Field as well as collecting four more sacks in the win. The most staggering stat was holding all-star running back William Stanback to just 29 yards on 12 carries.

Offensively the Ticats really didn’t move the ball but didn’t need to with one of their touchdowns being helped by a Jordan Howsare 45-yard fumble return deep in Montreal territory.

There isn’t much more to say about this game, it’s late November, it was snowing, it was messy, it was also fun to watch but it was just an appetizer to what happened later in Regina.

Many are saying the 2021 Western Semifinal was the best game of the year which, by 2021 standards, isn’t hard.

What we know for sure is the Riders are off to the West Final to play the Winnipeg Blue Bombers after a 33-30 overtime victory over the Stampeders.

This game wasn’t well played, especially in the first half but it was definitely entertaining. It was like watching junior curling championships; it’s the most entertaining 60% curled game you will ever see.

The first half was an absolute nightmare for both offences with Rider quarterback Cody Fajardo throwing three interceptions, all to Jonathan Moxley, and two Ed Gainey interceptions of Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell.

The first half also saw the Riders Jamal Morrow have a missed field goal return of a touchdown called back because of a penalty only to have his revenge later with a 69-yard punt return touchdown.

All of this happened but because the football was so bad it was only 10-8 Saskatchewan at the half.

The second half was incredible.

Both teams decided to have their offences wake up. Calgary was able to move the ball a little better than Saskatchewan but the legs of Cody Fajardo kept the Riders in the game to the tune of 89 yards.

It was very familiar too Darian Durant’s performance against the B.C. Lions in the 2013 West semifinal where he ran for 97 yards on six carries to help lead the Riders to the West Final. The only difference is Fajardo threw four interceptions today and eight years ago Durant threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns.

This game reflected the three previous games between these two teams. They are mirror-images of each other and if this game was played ten times, it would end up in five wins apiece.

The game came down to the wire and beyond. A one-yard Cody Fajardo touchdown plunge gave the Riders a 27-24 lead late in the fourth quarter but there was too much time remaining. The Stampeders took advantage as Mitchell guided the offence down the field to set up a 47-yard Rene Paredes field goal and this sent the game to overtime. It was his best kick on a very bad day for the Calgary kicker. Paredes went 5-for-8 with misses from 48, 43 and 35-yards

In overtime the two teams exchanged field goals before the Riders defence stiffened and Parades missed his field goal and from there is was an easy game winning kick for Brett Lauther.

This is going to be one Rider fans will talk about for a while, especially if they are able to beat Winnipeg next week.

This will be the third straight year Saskatchewan will play Winnipeg in the playoffs. The Bombers won the 2018 West semifinal and 2019 final, both played at Mosaic Stadium so revenge will be on the Riders minds next Sunday.

There is something in the air and we will take the Riders to make it to the Grey Cup and they will face the home-town Hamilton Tiger-Cats in a re-match of the 2013 Grey Cup.

Why you ask? It’s because it’s 2021 and just seems like it’s what is meant to happen.

This Week in USPORTS

Uteck Bowl
Saskatchewan Huskies 14
Montreal Carabins 10

It took the Saskatchewan Huskies three quarters for their offence to warm up, but it was enough to knock off the Montreal Carabins 14-10 in the Uteck Bowl. 

Montreal was able to move the ball up and down the field but the Huskies defence would come up with a big play at the right time and a little help from some poor kicking game to deny the Carabins the end zone.

Late into the third quarter, the Huskies could only muster 124 yards of offence on 24 play but after that they dominated the Carabins to the tune of 24 plays and 202 yards. It was all Adam Machart. In that time span, he ran the ball 11 times for 103 yards and caught three passes for 12 yards and scored both of the Huskies touchdowns.

This will be the first Vanier Cup appearance for the Huskies since 2006 when they lost 13-8 to Laval at Griffiths Stadium.

Mitchell Bowl
Western Mustangs 61
St. FX X-Men 6

The Mitchell Bowl was all Western Ontario in a 61-6 victory over St.FX. 

The majority of the damage was done on the ground where the Mustangs rolled up 469 yards led by Edouard Wanadi’s 269 yards and three touchdowns. The Mustang defence dominated as well picking off three XMen passes and two sacks.

The Mustangs are making their third Vanier Cup appearance in the past four seasons including a win in 2017.

Saskatchewan and Western met in 1994 in one of the classic games in Vanier Cup history where the Mustangs won 50-40 in the first ever overtime game.

This Week in the CJFL

December 4 Canadian Bowl
Langley Rams at London Beefeaters

Canadian player to watch in the NCAA

Jared Wayne (Junior)
Receiver
Pittsburgh
6’3”, 210lbs.
Peterborough, Ontario
High School – Clearwater Academy (Florida) 

For the second week in a row we spotlight a standout junior receiver. Last week it was Hawaii’s Nick Mardner and this week we will head all the way across the United States to the University of Pittsburgh and Jared Wayne.

Wayne has had an outstanding 2021 with 41 catched for 591 yards and four touchdowns for a Panthers team that is headed to the ACC championship game next week against Wake Forest. He has also added a touchdown through on September 11 against Tennessee.

2022 will be an interesting senior season for Wayne as all-conference quarterback, Kenny Pickett will move on to the next level of football and it will be a new pivot under center for the Panthers.

Wayne played at Trinity College School in Port Hardy, Ontario before playing his senior high school season at Clearwater Academy in Florida.