CFL 'Quick Kicks': Week 17

By Chris Lawton

Welcome to week seventeen 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. This weekend was the first time that every CFL team had indigenous themed logos as part of support for recognising the national day of truth and reconciliation in Canada. Every one of them has been well received.

The first game of the weekend saw the Winnipeg Blue Bombers host the Edmonton Elks. And it was the Blue Bombers who dominated with an impressive 55-27 win. We noted last week that some CFL watchers had overlooked how attuned Winnipeg are to winning when they started 0-4 and later stood at 2-6. But here we are with them on a 7-game winning streak that means they became the second team to qualify for this year’s Grey Cup playoffs. An eighth consecutive playoff appearance for the Blue and Gold.

Zach Collaros, who has had a down season by his standards, had his best game of the year here completing 21 of 26 passes for 432 yards and 6 touchdowns. Sharing the load were receivers Kenny Lawler, (8 catches 130 yards, 2 touchdowns), Nic Demski, (4 catches 117 yards, 2 touchdowns), and Keric Wheatfall, (3 catches 80 yards, 1 touchdown) amongst others. Collaros, a former two-time CFL MOP and Grey Cup MVP started hot here completing nine of his first eleven passes for 212 yards and 3 scores.

Also having another fine game was running back Brady Oliveira who had 16 carries for 86 yards, and 1 reception for 33 yards and a touchdown. He now has 1107 yards on the ground and 409 yards receiving to take him over 1500 from scrimmage on the year. He also became the eighth Winnipeg running back to pass 4,000 career yards on the ground for the franchise.

For the Elks Justin Rankin continues in a rich vein of form with 14 carries for 109 yards and McLeod Bethel-Thompson went 19 of 34 for 223 yards and 3 touchdowns but Winnipeg got out to a 34-6 halftime lead here and Edmonton just couldn’t keep up with Winnipeg’s offensive barrage.

The next game of the weekend was the ‘moggy bowl’ as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats travelled to the Lions den in BC. It was the Hamilton Tiger-Cats who came away with an overtime win by a score of 32-29 following a second half comeback.

If the Tiger-Cats, (now 6-9 and on a four game winning streak), keep going in this direction then perhaps it will strengthen Bo Levi Mitchell’s case as an MOP candidate. After all, when they were 0-5 and 2-9 that looked highly unlikely, especially as Mitchell was benched for throwing too many interceptions.

Yet, following injury to Taylor Powell, Mitchell found himself starting again and has been a catalyst for Hamilton. In this one he finished 34 of 40 for 315 yards, with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. That doesn’t tell the whole story, however. In many ways Bo’s performance here was a microcosm of his and the teams’ season as he struggled early, then in the second half got it together and led the team from the Hammer to success.

Mitchell started out an anaemic 5 of 10 for 26 yards and an interception. But whatever half time adjustments were made it flicked a switch as he then went 26 of 27 for 261 yards and 2 touchdowns to take it to overtime. He actually completed 29 of his last 30 passes in the game.

In many ways it was a vintage performance in the second half and overtime from the former 2-time CFL MOP and two-time Grey Cup MVP.

Kiondre Smith and Tim White combined to be on the end of 15 passes, amassing 166 yards and a score between them. In all 11 receivers snagged a catch for Hamilton here. As a team the were held to 58 yards on the ground, but Greg Bell did the majority of that with 7 carries for 40 yards and a score.

As for BC, they will be kicking themselves after this one. They were looking secure with a 16-0 halftime lead and had they avoided a couple of two and outs in the fourth quarter then Hamilton may not have had the time and space to make a comeback. Nathan Rourke had them off to a good start running in a 7-yard touchdown on an impressive opening drive. He would wind up 22 of 36 for 274 yards on the game and with 6 carries for 30 yards and 2 touchdowns.

For BC William Stanback had another impressive showing as he rumbled for 103 yards on 15 carries and Sean Whyte finished 5 for 5 on Field Goals, including hitting one to send it into overtime and one in overtime.

The Lions, who once stood at 5-1 are now 7-8 and have not won at BC Place since Week 6 of the season, (their Touchdown Pacific game in week 12 is their last ‘home’ win).

Next week the in-form Tiger-Cats will host the in-form Blue Bombers and something will have to give!

The third game of the weekend was in Saskatchewan where the Roughriders welcomed the Ottawa RedBlacks and it was the home team who took the spoils with a 29-16 victory at Mosaic Stadium.

Having previously endured a seven-game winless streak, Saskatchewan won for the second week in a row and got back to .500 at 7-7-1, good for second in the West. While the RedBlacks have dropped three in a row to fall from 8-3-1 to 8-6-1 and a half game lead over Toronto to hold onto second spot in the East.

The Defences were on top early in this one. A fact evidenced by Saskatchewan leading 15-3 after three quarters and every point in the game coming from a Field Goal. In fact, Brett Lauther would hit on 7 of 7 Field Goal attempts in this game. A new best for him, and second most in Roughriders Franchise history behind UK born kicker Dave Ridgway who hit 8 Field Goals in a game twice in the 1980’s.

The quarterbacks also put in some very different performances here, as Trevor Harris went 27 of 36 for 315 yards for Saskatchewan, whilst Jeremiah Masoli finished 26 of 36 for 278 yards, with 1 score and 3 interceptions for Ottawa. Those 3 picks came from three different players, including one for Rolan Milligan Jr who leads the league with seven interceptions.

Saskatchewan dominated possession here, with the Roughriders holding the ball for 37:39 of gametime. A stat helped by the men in green and white gaining 124 yards on the ground, led by Thomas Bertrand-Hudon who had 9 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown.

The final game of the weekend was in Toronto where the high flying Alouettes headed to BMO Field to take on the Argonauts. Prior to this game the Als were on their longest unbeaten road streak, (9-0-1), since 1979. One more win away from home would give them a new single-season franchise record too. But it wasn’t to be here as it was the home-town Toronto Argonauts who came out on top 37-31 in a tightly contested encounter.

Following Brett Lauther’s kicking clinic for the Roughriders, Toronto’s kicker Lirim Hajrullahu went one better here setting a new franchise record and tying the league record by hitting on 8 Field Goals (on 8 attempts). He would account in total for 25 of the 37 points the Boatmen put on the board with an extra point added into the mix.

Toronto also mirrored Saskatchewan in the previous game as they too dominated time of possession here, holding the ball for 35:11 in total. Having the ball for that long led to the Argonauts putting up 517 yards of net offence including 234 yards on the ground on 30 carries. Ka’ Deem Carey led the way with 13 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown, (as well as adding 49 yards on 3 catches), and was ably assisted by Deonta McMahon who had 5 carries for 67 yards and a touchdown.

Chad Kelly went 19 of 30 for 287 yards with 1 pick and his lead receiver on the day was Makai Polk who had 5 grabs for 103 yards.

For Montreal Cody Fajardo finished 20 of 29 for 225 yards with 2 scores and an interception. Cole Spieker led the receivers with 3 catches for 99 yards and a touchdown.

Despite Toronto’s dominance of time of possession and net offensive yardage the game was tied at 22-22 at halftime. Thanks in no small part to Shane Letcher Jr returning a punt 100 yards for a major.  Then in the fourth quarter it was tied again, at 31-31. The latter coming as Montreal went on an impressive drive to score a touchdown and convert a 2-pointer to tie things up.

To finish things out Toronto had two drives resulting in Hajrullahu Field Goals, whilst Montreal turned the ball over on downs to leave the Double Blue celebrating a vital win following Hamilton’s earlier success and moving to 8-7. On the flip side, whilst Montreal lost, they still have a league best 11-3-1 record, and Ottawa’s loss means they have clinched top spot and a bye in the East playoffs.

Next week whilst all the West Division teams will be playing, only Hamilton will have a chance to make some inroads in the East as Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto will all be on their final bye week of the year.  

MOP's Of Week 17:

O – Zach Collaros QB, Winnipeg Blue Bombers: 21 of 26 for 432 yards and 6 touchdowns.

D – Rolan Milligan Jr DB, Saskatchewan Roughriders: 3 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 interception, 1 special teams’ tackle/Ryder Vaga LB, BC Lions: 12 tackles, 1 special teams’ tackle.

ST – Lirim Hajrullahu K, Toronto Argonauts: 8 for 8 on Field Goals (a franchise record and ties the league record), 9 for 9 on all kicks. 5 kickoffs covering 328 yards (65.6 average).

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

Interdivisional Standings 2024 season: East Division 20 West Division 12 Ties 2

Into the Grey Cup playoffs: Montreal Alouettes; will host East Division Final, Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

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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