CFL 'Quick Kicks': Week 14

By Chris Lawton

Welcome to week fourteen of our weekly review of each CFL game week for the 2024 season. ‘Quick Kicks’ brings you week to week news of how the games went, scores, surprises, and a general feel of ‘what we learned’ from the games.

Let’s dive right in. The first game of the weekend saw the BC Lions record their second straight win against a team from the East with a winning record. This time they won 37-23 in Montreal, in a game in which they never trailed.

It’s been a rollercoaster ride for BC fans this season as they started out 5-1 only to drop 5 straight, and now with two impressive wins are back above .500 at 7-6. But how impressive was this win? Well, Montreal were coming off a bye and had won their last six times on a weeks’ rest. Not to mention the Als had gone 18-1 over their last 19 games, including in the playoffs and Grey Cup. But it was not to be here for Montreal, as BC scored first and saw it out to drop the Als to 10-2 on the year. Still, Alouettes fans can take solace in the fact that they are the only team to have qualified for the Grey Cup playoffs so far.

This one felt like it was personal for Lions running back William Stanback, and that he had a point to prove. Prior to signing with BC this year, he had spent five seasons with the Alouettes, garnering two All-Star selections, being East MOP and taking home a Grey Cup ring. He was not offered a contract extension and came here with a point to prove. Which is just what he did, finishing with 20 carries for 128 yards which included a bruising 38-yard touchdown, as well as adding 2 catches for a further 28 yards.

Stanback has the hot hand right now, as over five games he has accumulated 637 yards from scrimmage, with 507 yards rushing and 130 yards receiving.

Not to be overlooked here was his backfield partner fullback David Mackie who is currently being employed as a short yardage QB when needed. He turned a second and one on the Lions’ first drive of the game into a 23-yard touchdown run. In fact, the Lions had much success on the ground as Nathan Rourke put the game away with an 18-yard touchdown run of his own. On the game Rourke finished up going 22 of 28 for 304 yards and throwing for a touchdown too. He did throw three picks, but arguably was only at fault for one of them.

For the Als Cody Fajardo went 27 of 37 for 240 yards with a score and an interception. The fact that he led the team with 5 carries for 34 yards goes someway to explaining why the Lions outpaced the Alouettes 188 yards to 70 in the ground game.

The second game of the weekend kicked off a Saturday night triple-header as the Ottawa RedBlacks   outclassed the Toronto Argonauts 41-27 at TD Place.

The RedBlacks started this one firing on all cylinders. It was the defence kicking things off in style, as on Toronto’s second possession Damon Webb picked off Chad Kelly and returned it for a touchdown. A feat he would repeat later in the game.  In their tenth season, this is the first time the RedBlacks have had two pick sixes in a single game, and they both came from the same player.

Brandin Danbridge picked off Kelly on the next possession and that was converted into a field goal and a 10-0 lead for Ottawa. It would be 13-3 to Ottawa after both teams scored, and Toronto were getting some momentum only for Webb to do it again and return his second pick six 96 yards for the score and a 20-3 lead. By halftime Ottawa had made it 31-3.

It would be 38-10 after three and although the Argos padded the score and their stat lines late on the damage was done. So much so that even though Toronto outscored Ottawa 17-3 in the final frame it was far from enough.

Off-season signing Dru Brown has really been making an impact in Ottawa and here he went 30 of 40 for 349 yards and a touchdown. On their own site they have been extolling the impact he has had on the team on and off the field.  

Also having an impact were Dominique Rhymes who had 10 catches for 138 yards, and the DB’s including Alijah McGhee with 11 tackles and a pick, Brandin Danbridge with 7 tackles and a pick, and Damon Webb with 5 tackles and two pick-sixes.

For Toronto the interceptions were real momentum killers early on and Kelly finished the game with a stat line showing 36 of 56 for 463 yards, 3 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Some of the positives here were padded late on when the game had already slipped away.

This was the first time in six attempts that Ottawa have walked away with a win against Toronto. Standing at 8-3-1 is their best record at this point of a season in the ten year franchise history of the RedBlacks.

The third game of the weekend was in Winnipeg as the Blue Bombers held the 20th anniversary Banjo Bowl with the Saskatchewan Roughriders as their guests. It was the home team who went home happy, having done the Labour Day, Banjo Bowl double with a 26-21 win here. A win that put head Coach Mike O’Shea as the all-time wins’ leader in Blue Bomber franchise history as he notched his 103rd win in charge of the team.

The Blue Bombers, now on a five-game winning streak, continue to turn their season around. After starting out 0-4 they are now 7-6 and top of the West Division. Conversely, the Roughriders have fallen from 4-0 to now be 5-7-1 and are on a seven-game winless run and need to start winning again to stay in the playoff hunt.

As is so often the case for Winnipeg when they win, Brady Oliveira was a key component to them finding success here. He usually does it on the ground but here he was held to 11 carries for 43 yards. In fact, he has not reached 50 yards on the ground in any of the three times he has faced Saskatchewan this season. But he paired those 43 yards on the ground with 6 catches for 60 yards to keep things ticking over.

Zach Collaros finished the game 24 of 31 for 231 yards and a score. Whilst Trevor Harris completed 21 of 33 for 287 yards with two majors and two picks for Saskatchewan.

Tyrell Ford kept the Roughriders honest as he was responsible for both interceptions of Harris in the game, although he has said he “should have had four — I dropped the one diving backwards and the other one, I should have probably played the ball — but two is good for now.”

The final game of the weekend saw the second game of the home and home series between the host Edmonton Elks and visiting Calgary Stampeders. It was the home team who came out on top with a convincing 37-16 victory to do the double. This was the first time Edmonton has swept the series since 2004. Although the signs were this was possible going in, as Edmonton are on the rise and Calgary have yet to win on the road, now dropping to 0-6 away from home.

Logan Bonner, selected as the starting QB over Jake Maier for this one had a nightmare game for someone looking to stake a claim as he threw 5 interceptions.

Meanwhile Edmonton had their own ‘triplets’ style performance as McLeod Bethel-Thompson went 15 of 25 for 219 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception, Kevin Brown had 12 carries for 91 yards, and Eugene Lewis had 6 catches for 97 yards and a score.

It must have been the day for people making a brace of interceptions, as Devodric Bynum (who had 2 picks of Maier last week) did just that here to join Tyrell Ford and Damon Webb in the week 14 two pick club. Bynum’s interceptions added to a tally of 7 turnovers forced by the Elks (5 interceptions and two turnovers on downs).

We have noted before that a key to Edmonton turning things around from their 0-7 start has been finding identity in a strong ground game, and that was the case here too. They had 29 carries for 213 yards as a team, and that balanced nicely with their 219 yards through the air.

For the fourth time in five outings Edmonton have put up 30+ points on an opponent. A run that has seen two different QBs at the helm, and three different men be the featured back. With that kind of shifting pattern a shout out needs to go to the O-Line who have consistently created the chances for the ‘skill position’ players to flourish.

Edmonton are now on a 5-1 run and will have a bye before facing the also surging Blue Bombers in what should be a fascinating contest in Week 16.

MOP's of Week 14:

O – William Stanback, RB BC Lions: 20 carries for 128 yards and a touchdown, 2 catches for 28 yards.

D – Damon Webb, DB Ottawa RedBlacks: 5 tackles, 2 interceptions, both returned for touchdowns, one on a 96-yard return.

ST – Jake Julien, P Edmonton Elks: 8 punts for 348 yards (59.3 average) net, 2 singles.

Interdivisional Standings 2024 This Week: East Division 0 West Division 1

Interdivisional Standings 2024 season: East Division 18 West Division 11 Ties 1

Into the Grey Cup playoffs: Montreal Alouettes

Out of the Grey Cup playoffs: n/a.

CHRIS LAWTON

CFL ANALYST

Chris originally started following the NFL with the ‘first wave’ of fans when it was shown on Channel 4 in the 1980’s. He has been a keen supporter of the Miami Dolphins since 1983. Chris first encountered the CFL in 2016 and instantly fell in love with the Canadian game. He has been writing about the CFL 2017. Chris has a degree in history, postgraduate degree in librarianship and can be found on twitter as @CFLfanUK

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