Week 13 CFL Wrap

HAMILTON 31 TORONTO 28

Bo Levi Mitchell is still unbeaten on Labour Day.

Mitchell threw for 347 yards and two TDs as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats earned an exciting 31-28 win over the Toronto Argonauts on Monday at Tim Hortons Field. Mitchell improved his Labour Day record to 7-0, although his first six wins came with the Calgary Stampeders.

And Monday’s contest was his first Labour Day start since 2019.

“We all know Labour Day is a crazy game … it always brings out the best,” Mitchell said. “The records never matter.

“It just makes it so much fun to play football in front of a packed house … all these kids go back to school (Tuesday) so hopefully we gave them something fun to talk about.”

Mitchell finished 20-of-30 passing for Hamilton (3-9), which snapped a four-game losing streak. Marc Liegghio’s 55-yard field goal at 12:23 of the fourth quarter gave the Ticats their 10th victory in 13 Labour Day games but first since 2021.

DaVaris Daniels and Chad Kelly had Toronto’s touchdowns. Hajrullahu kicked five field goals and a convert.

Kelly finished 24-of-30 passing for 322 yards with a TD and interception. Ka’Deem Carey ran for 78 yards on 12 carries while Daniels had seven catches for 74 yards.

“I’m not happy with the performance, I’m happy with their fight,” Toronto head coach Ryan Dinwiddie said. “We’re just not there yet, we’re an average football club.

“Luckily we’ve got a few more weeks to get to where we need to be. The fight is there, the execution has got to just be a little bit cleaner.”

EDMONTON 35 CALGARY 20

A memorable performance by receiver Tevin Jones led the Edmonton Elks to a big Labour Day Classic victory.

Jones caught a pair of touchdown passes from quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson as the Elks beat the Calgary Stampeders 35-20 on Monday in front of 28,467 fans at McMahon Stadium.

But it was an 81-yard run by Jones after he picked up a fumble by teammate Eugene Lewis that set up a timely touchdown by backup quarterback Dakota Prukop.

Bethel-Thompson, who completed 25-of-36 passes for 486 yards, had high praise for Jones after the Elks’ third win in their past four games.

“He’s the dragon, man,” Bethel-Thompson said. “He’s living right now and we’re riding his wave. He’s got a unique ability just to be a great person, bring the right energy, find the right vibration and ride the wave. We’ll ride his coattails so I’m happy he’s with us.”

Jake Maier tossed a touchdown pass to Kylin Hill in a losing cause for the Stampeders (4-7), who have dropped three straight games.

Maier, who completed 22-of-34 passes for 297 yards, had a rough outing as he was picked off four times, including twice by Loucheiz Purifoy and twice by Devodric Bynum

“There’s no way to positively paint four interceptions, there’s really not,” Maier said. “And we got what we deserved because of it.”

WINNIPEG 35 SASKATCHEWAN 33

Kicker Brett Lauther almost gave the Saskatchewan Roughridersa Miracle at Mosaic, but his 60-yard field goal attempt on the final play of Sunday’s game came up a couple yards short, allowing the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to escape Regina’s sold-out stadium with a 35-33 CFL victory in Labour Day Classic LIX. The Riders scored a TD with 14 seconds left to trim the deficit to two points, then recovered an onside kick, setting up Lauther’s chance to play hero.  

BC 38 OTTAWA 12

Victoria-born quarterback Nathan Rourke made his first-ever professional start at home memorable as the BC Lions blitzed the Ottawa Redblacks 38-12. Rourke connected on 21 of 30 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns, and he also rushed for a major, as the Lions snapped a five-game losing skid in the Touchdown Pacific game. The Redblacks were unbeaten in six straight games heading into the first-ever CFL game on Vancouver Island.

(Canadian Press)