ItB次元官网网址檚 Labour Day weekend in the CFL, and for many, the unofficial start of the season.
For some teams, itB次元官网网址檚 an opportunity to begin their playoff push against a bitter rival. For others, itB次元官网网址檚 time to start separating themselves from the pack and secure a post-season berth.
The action started Friday night with the East Division-leading Ottawa Redblacks hosting the last-place Montreal Alouettes. On Sunday, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (5-5) visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-4) with both teams fighting for third in the West Division.
The Calgary Stampeders (CFL-best 8-1 record) put their 5-0 home mark on the line Monday afternoon against the visiting Edmonton Eskimos (6-4), who are second in the West just two points ahead of Saskatchewan and Winnipeg. On Monday night, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (4-5) entertain Toronto (3-6) with a chance to move four points ahead of the third-place Argonauts.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just one of those games where I feel like everything is understood,B次元官网网址� said colourful Ticats linebacker Simoni Lawrence. B次元官网网址淚 love Labour Day just because especially over here in Hamilton the whole city, thatB次元官网网址檚 what everybody looks forward to.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to have a big crowd and itB次元官网网址檚 a rivalry game. The thing about rivalry games is everything is understood, you donB次元官网网址檛 have to do too much talking, you know what kind of game itB次元官网网址檚 going to be.B次元官网网址�
Marcus Ball, TorontoB次元官网网址檚 rugged linebacker, said Labour Day in Hamilton is a huge grudge match.
B次元官网网址淕rowing up B次元官网网址� thereB次元官网网址檚 always one game, one opponent, one guy you always wanted to go against, the backyard brawl so to speak,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址滻tB次元官网网址檚 exciting being an Argo because we get to go against the Ticats every Labour Day and itB次元官网网址檚 always a hard-nosed, 12-round bout type of game
B次元官网网址淵ou can throw the records out, they donB次元官网网址檛 matter. ItB次元官网网址檚 all about us beating those boys.B次元官网网址�
All nine CFL teams have played a minimum of nine regular-season games thus far. While many trends have been established, thereB次元官网网址檚 no shortage of questions that remain unanswered heading to the playoffs and, ultimately, the Grey Cup game Nov. 25 at EdmontonB次元官网网址檚 Commonwealth Stadium.
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HereB次元官网网址檚 a review of the first half of the season and whatB次元官网网址檚 to come heading into the stretch run.
IMPORTANT GAMES
Hamilton, Calgary and Saskatchewan could strengthen their respective situations with Labour Day sweeps of Toronto, Edmonton and Winnipeg, respectively. Yet a split wouldnB次元官网网址檛 hurt any of those clubs, either.
Calgary visits Hamilton on Sept. 15 and hosts Saskatchewan on Oct. 20. The Riders handed the Stampeders their only loss this season, a 40-27 decision Aug. 19 at Mosaic Stadium.
Hamilton visits Toronto on Oct. 12 to conclude that three-game series. Six of the TicatsB次元官网网址� nine remaining games are against East Division competition, including a home-and-home series with Ottawa (Oct. 19 at TD Place, Oct. 27 at Tim Hortons Field).
Receiver Duron Carter isnB次元官网网址檛 expected to play in either of TorontoB次元官网网址檚 next two games versus Hamilton. If that holds true, his first game in an Argos uniform could be Sept. 22 at BMO Field versus Saskatchewan, the team that released Carter on Aug. 11.
Edmonton plays West Division rivals in six of its final eight regular-season games. After facing Calgary, the Eskimos take on Winnipeg twice (at Commonwealth on Sept. 29 and Nov. 3) and visit both B.C. (Oct. 19) and Saskatchewan (Oct. 8). The two East Division games are against Ottawa (at TD Place on Sept. 22, Commonwealth on Oct. 13).
Winnipeg faces Saskatchewan a final time Oct. 13 at Mosaic Stadium. The Bombers also will play Edmonton twice as well as host Calgary (Oct. 26). Their two East Division contests are versus Montreal (Sept. 21) and in Ottawa (Oct. 5).
Six of SaskatchewanB次元官网网址檚 nine remaining games are versus West Division teams, including three against Winnipeg. The Riders also host Edmonton and B.C. (Oct. 27) and will visit Calgary while taking on Ottawa (Sept. 15), Toronto (Sept. 22) and Montreal (Sept. 30).
TOP PLAYER AWARD
Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly is making a strong case to secure the honour for a second straight season. Reilly leads the CFL in pass attempts (349), completions (234), yards (3,296) and TDs (22) as well as rushing touchdowns (eight). The Eskimos are tied with Winnipeg for touchdowns scored (32) and lead in passing TDs (22), passing yards (331.2 per game), average gain per pass (9.5 yards) and quarterback rating (91.8).
Other candidates include Winnipeg running back Andrew Harris (CFL-high 805 yards rushing, 5.8-yard average) and Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell (2,614 yards passing, 20 TD passes, 25 completions of 30-plus yards).
Top East Division candidates would include Ottawa quarterback Trevor Harris (2,735 yards, 10 TDs) and Hamilton pivot Jeremiah Masoli (2,884 yards, nine TDs, 314 yards rushing, 8.3-yard average).
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TOP CANADIAN
Like Reilly, Harris is looking to capture this award for the second straight year. The Winnipeg native has registered three 100-yard efforts so far. Harris also has 40 catches for 311 yards and two TDs.
Also garnering consideration are Ottawa receiver Brad Sinopoli (league-high 63 catches, 775 yards, three touchdowns), Calgary linebacker Alex Singleton (team-high 55 tackles) and kickers Lewis Ward (24 straight field goals, 27-of-28 on the year) of Ottawa and Brett Lauther (28-of-31 field goals, CFL-leading 101 points) of Saskatchewan.
TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER
A change of scenery hasnB次元官网网址檛 bothered Charleston Hughes. In his first season with Saskatchewan, the veteran rush end has a CFL-high 12 sacks, which is what Toronto has as a team. The Riders have 23 overall, tying them with Calgary for the league lead. The six-foot-one, 246-pound Hughes, in his 11th CFL season after spending a decade with the Stampeders, also has registered 25 sacks, forced three fumbles and returned one of his two fumble recoveries for a touchdown.
Other worthy candidates are Winnipeg linebacker Adam Bighill (58 tackles, one sack, two interceptions one of which has been returned for a TD) and Singleton (55 tackles, two forced fumbles).
MontrealB次元官网网址檚 Henoc Muamba and Chris Ackie are tied for the CFL lead in tackles with 64 apiece.
PLEASANT SURPRISES
Kwaku Boateng has quickly established himself with the Eskimos. The six-foot-two, 275-pound defensive lineman has five sacks this season, his second in the CFL after being taken in the fifth round, No. 41 overall, in the 2017 CFL draft. The native of Ghana, who grew up in Milton, Ont., had four sacks and 21 tackles last year.
Lions quarterback Travis Lulay has thrown for 1,696 yards and completed 61.6 per cent of his passes in five starts this season. Not bad considering Lulay suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2017. But the 34-year-old, in his 10th season with B.C., has come back strong.
Meanwhile, itB次元官网网址檚 been quite a start for Ward. The rookieB次元官网网址檚 96.4 per cent success ratio on field goals is tops among all CFL kickers. The former Ottawa Gee-Gees star is 19-for-19 within 40 yards and has hit eight of the nine converts heB次元官网网址檚 attempted.
ROAD WOES
B.C. (3-6) is 0-5 away from B.C. Place Stadium while Toronto (3-6) is 0-4 on the road and has scored a CFL-low 70 points in those four contests.
Coincidentally, the CFLB次元官网网址檚 two best road teams are Calgary (3-1) and Ottawa (3-2), the West and East Division leaders, respectively.
WESTERN DOMINANCE
West Division teams are 16-9 against their Eastern rivals, with Calgary being an impressive 5-0. The Lions (1-2) are the lone Western team to have a losing record against the East.
Ottawa (3-2) is the only East team with a winning record against the West.
Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press
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