CFL Recap: Week 6

Week 6 of the CFL is offically behind us and as always we have your CFL Recap. The season is starting to take shape. We can already tell who the most dominant team is in the Calgary Stampeders and who the worst team in the league is in the Montreal Alouettes. Funny enough they played eachother this week. Close games for the most part this week as the CFL is a league where any team can win any week.

Week 6 Bye: 

Saskatchewan Roughriders (2-2) - 31

Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-2)  - 20

Week 6 kicked off with a rematch of two teams from Week 4 after both had a bye week in Week 5. The most inconsistent team so far, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, travelled to Hamilton to take on the Tiger-Cats.

The Riders have showed an outstanding defence that was lit up by the RedBlacks in Week 2 but has had a relatively vanilla and substandard offense. Brandon Bridge once again, drew the start with Zach Collaros still out with a concussion and looked to lead his team above .500.

The Ti-Cats looked like one of the most explosive teams through the first three weeks of the season putting up 400+ yards in each game. Jeremiah Masoli had the opportunity to set the record for most consecutive games of throwing 300+ yards. The Rider D slowed that high-powered offense down in Week 4 holding them to 13 points. Both teams looked to get the week off to a fast start after having a rested week over the bye.

It was a bit of a slow first half with Hamilton showing like they may take control of the game. The Riders got on the board first. After a 3rd and 1 sneak for Hamilton on their first drive, where Willie Jefferson came off the edge and stuffed Jeremiah Masoli for a turnover on downs, the Riders ran a quick four plays before Brett Lauther kicked a 28-yard field goal giving Saskatchewan the 3-0 lead.

On the Ti-Cats next drive Masoli drove the team down the field and capped the 6-play drive off with a 6-yard John White run for the touchdown and the 7-3 lead.

Chris Jones opted to do much of what he has been early on, switching between quarterbacks Brandon Bridge and David Watford. Watford however wasn’t able get much done at all finishing 2/3 for 13 yards.

On the Riders first drive of the second quarter, the offence stalled, and Josh Bartel punted the ball. Frankie Williams of Hamilton ran it all the way back for the 98-yard punt return touchdown upping the lead to 14-3.

The Riders tried to cut the lead down on their next drive with a 40-yard Lauther field goal, but he missed it wide left resulting in just the single. Bridge would come back into the game on the Riders next drive and have some success completing 15 and 17-yard passes to Shaq Evans and Jordan Williams-Lambert respectively. The drive would result in a 36-yard Lauther field goal cutting the Ti-Cat lead down to 14-7.

Liram Hajrullahu would add a 42-yard field goal before the end of the half taking the Cats into the break up 17-7 and showing like they had all the momentum. That couldn’t be falser.

Saskatchewan built up momentum in the second half and ran with it. On the first offensive play of the third quarter, Marcus Thigpen ran the ball 80 yards for the touchdown and what was the longest Saskatchewan run since Wes Cates in 2010. It run brought the Green & White to within a field goal with the 17-14 score.

June Jones then tried to be creative….I think. On 3rd and 13 he kept the offense on the field and had Masoli attempt an onside punt…it was blocked and recovered by Willie Jefferson giving the Riders the ball at the Hamilton 47-yard line.

Bridge then threw an 18-yard pass to Williams-Lambert before hitting Naaman Roosevelt for the 24-yard touchdown down the seam for the 21-17 Saskatchewan lead.

Hajrullahu would kick another field goal cutting the Rider lead to 1 at 21-20. It wouldn’t last long before the Riders pulled away again.

On Hamilton’s next drive, Hajrullahu punted the ball 49 yards to Christion Jones who ran it back 61 yards for the punt return touchdown giving Saskatchewan the 28-20 lead.

Saskatchewan took control of the ball to start the fourth quarter and on 3rd and 2 they decided to go for it. Bridge handed it off to Tre Mason who picked up the 2 yards and 28 more for a 30-yard gain. The drive would end in a 35-yard Lauther field goal increasing the lead to 31-20.

That would be the final score, as Hamilton would punt and fumble the ball on their next two drives resulting in Jerome Messam plowing his way into the end zone until review determined he was short and on 3rd down he would be stuffed giving the ball back to Hamilton.

Masoli then threw a deep pass to Terrence Toliver only to be intercepted by Jovon Johnson allowing Saskatchewan to run out the clock and seal the win.

The Riders looked lost and unable to move the ball in the first half, with Chris Jones opting to jumble his QBs throughout again. But they gained some momentum in the third quarter and never looked back. Brandon Bridge gained some rhythm and carried the team through the second half throwing for over 150 yards and not turning the ball over once. The defence continued to look as dominant as it has all year long holding Hamilton to 263 yard of total offense and holding Masoli to just 184 yards through the air 24 on the ground, ending the streak and killing the record. No receiver for the Ti-Cats had over 67 yards. Duron Carter has played significantly better at DB since the two bad games he had against Montreal and Ottawa. He had another solid game shutting Toliver down through most of it. The Riders forced three turnovers to their one on downs late in the game.

Hamilton has looked like their high-powered offense has been tamed through two matchups with Saskatchewan. The defense looked good early but in the second half they gave up too many big plays on the ground and through the air. They gave up a total of 396 yards to the Riders, with 218 of those being on the ground. The offense looked flustered all game and gave up two sacks. The special teams made plays but then gave up a huge one of their own and too many turnovers especially late killed the Ti-Cats. Some questionable play-calling and decision making by June Jones also didn’t help their cause.

Player of the Game: Brandon Bridge. When given time on the field Bridge found rhythm and chemistry and went 17/22 for 165 yards and 1 TD. He led the team late and didn’t turn the ball over, while making the plays needed to win for his third career win as a starter, all against Hamilton.

BC Lions (2-2)- 25

Ottawa RedBlacks (2-2)- 29

Friday Night Football is always a wonderful thing in the CFL and this week’s matchup didn’t disappoint as a pair of 2-2 teams would meet in the Nation’s capital. Both Ottawa and BC are looking to find their way this year, both coming into Week 6 with a .500 record. Ottawa was able to take first place in the East with a win, while BC needed a win just to keep up in the West.

BC won the toss and elected to receive, after a quick two passes by Travis Lulay to move the Lions downfield. The Lions would miss a field goal and leave points off the board. Ottawa on it’s first drive of the game would score off a 11-yard field gold after being stalled on the BC 4-yard line.

A quick two and out by BC and Ottawa would get the ball again, leading to an eventual 47-yard field goal kick putting the RedBlacks up 6-0 in a first quarter where they dominated the possession time.

The Lions would take the ball into the 2^nd quarter and score on a drive that lasted over six minutes as Travis Lulay would find Ricky Collins JR in the end zone for the first TD of the game. Lions would convert and go up 7-6.

The two teams would go back and forth a bit, then with two minutes left in the half the Lions would punch it into the end-zone off a Brandon Rutley rushing TD, putting them up 14-6.

The RedBlacks would finish the half with a field goal and we’d go into the half with the Lions up 14-9.

Both teams would start the second half with two-and-out drives before the RedBlacks would connect with yet another field goal, this one from 47-yards out and cut the lead to 2.

The Lions wouldn’t take long to answer back as Travis Lulay would connect with Manny Arceneaux in the end-zone for his first TD of the season. The Lions would convert the two-point conversion and go up 22-12.

Don’t count out Ottawa just yet though, with 5:30 remaining in the third quarter. Trevor Harris would find Brad Sinopoli alone in the end-zone for a 13-yard passing TD pulling the RedBlacks within 3 points. 22-19 Lions as we enter the fourth quarter.

With 11 minutes left in the fourth the RedBlacks would tie the game up after kicker Lewis Ward nailed his 5^th field goal of the night, this time from 36-yards out and would tie the game at 22.

The Lions would push down the field and with less than two minutes to play. Kicker Ty Long would drain a 19-yard field goal to put the Lions up 25-22, giving the RedBlacks the ball with time left to answer.

Answer they would, the RedBlacks would quickly push down the field after some nice passing from Trevor Harris. Eventually leading to a William Powell 2-yard TD run that would put the RedBlacks up 29-25 and be the eventual game winner.

Friday Night Football didn’t let down in this one as this game came down right to the wire. Both QB’s played well and honestly both deserved to win this game with their performances. Only one team gets the win though and tonight that was Ottawa pushing them to 3-2 on the season and in firm control of first place in the East.

The Lions however, currently sit in the basement in the West. They won’t be there long if they can keep playing the way they did against the RedBlacks as both the running game and Lulay found their groove.

Player of the Game: Brad Sinopoli. 11 catches for 171 yards and 1 TD. Simply dominant.

Winnipeg BlueBombers (2-3)- 38

Toronto Argonauts (1-3)- 20

Our first game of the Saturday double header would see the 2-3 Winnipeg BlueBombers on the road against the 1-3 Toronto Argonauts. Winnipeg comes into Week 6 with one of the more dominant offenses in the league, led by Matt Nichols and Andrew Harris. While the defending Grey Cup Champions are still attempting to find their way with newly appointed starter James Franklin, who’s been forced into the starting role this season due to Ricky Ray’s injury.

Winnipeg would start off with the ball and it wouldn’t take them long to punch it into the end-zone. Matt Nichols would find Darvin Adams for the 21-yard TD.

Andrew Harris would find the end-zone later in the quarter off a 1-yard rushing TD and the BlueBombers would take a commanding lead and go up 15-0 early.

After a missed field goal by the Argonauts that led to a rouge, Winnipeg would take the ball into the 2^nd quarter and again find the end zone. This time Nichols would dump it off to Andrew Harris who from 5-yards out would punch it in. Putting the BlueBombers up 22-1 early in the 2^nd quarter as this game got out of hand early.

A drive from the Argonauts would lead to a missed field goal, giving the ball back to the BlueBombers who would once again drive down field and score. This time Medlock would hit a 44-yard field goal and put the Bombers up 25-1.

The first half wouldn’t end all to bad for the Argos as they would find the end zone after a bobbled punt. Llevi Noel would pick up the ball and run it to the house, after a two-point conversion the Argos would trail 25-9.

The Argos defense would come up huge again before the half forcing a fumble on Andrew Harris, they’d complete a 34-yard pass and quickly kick a field goal to go into the half down 25-12.

However, the offense would still struggle as the Argos would go two-and-out to start the second half. The Bombers would take the ball on the next possession and Matt Nichols would QB sneak from the 1-yard line to put the Bombers up 32-12.

The Argos defence simply dominated tonight despite already allowing 30 points as Jermaine Gabriel would scoop up a Nic Demski fumble and take it all the way to the house.

Justin Medlock would add on another 19-yard field goal half way through the fourth quarter as the score wouldn’t change. The Bombers would win this one 38-20.

Toronto’s offense looks bad. James Wilder JR was held to -2 rushing yards on 3 carriers, while he was effective in the passing game, Toronto needs him to pound the rock on the ground. James Franklin didn’t look to great as he went 21/36 for only 151 yards and an INT. Toronto’s defense was both the reason they lost (allowing 38 points) but also the reason this game wasn’t a blow out as they scored two TD’s.

Winnipeg simply looks great, the only reason this game wasn’t a complete blow out was because they shot themselves in the foot twice. Andrew Harris is looking like the most dominant running back in this league and Matt Nichols has proven he can run the show. Winnipeg is a contender despite their record and it’ll be interesting to see if they can start stringing wins together.

Player of the Game: Andrew Harris. 27 carries for 161 yards, 1 TD on the ground, 1 through the air.

Montreal Alouettes (1-3)  - 8

Calgary Stampeders (4-0)- 25

The week capped off with a matchup between the league’s best team and it’s worst. The undefeated Calgary Stampeders looked to take on the Montreal Alouettes at home and continue onto the path of 5-0.

The Stamps have looked like the best team in the league, as usual controlling all four games through the first five weeks. With Bo Levi Mitchell leaving the game a week prior with a knee injury it was up in the air on what his status would be for this game. He did in fact start against Montreal.

The Al’s have looked like a lost team through the early half of the season. They too had an injured quarterback with Drew Willy missing their last game with a head injury. His replacement Jeff Mathews was roughed up in his only start and was also injured so the Al’s went back to a healthy Willy. For a team that has given up the most sacks in the league and a young o-line they braced for a long night against the stout D-line of the Stamps.

The Stamps took control early after Montreal scored the first point on the opening kickoff, with it being downed in the end zone. Mitchell then took the team down the field on the opening drive, hitting Eric Rogers for a 40-yard pass and capping it all off with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Rogers himself. They added another two points on a pass to Kamar Jorden for the 8-1 lead.

Rob Maver would add another single after a 13-play drive took the Stamps from their own 32-yard to the Montreal 33, but it stalled there.

Montreal would lead another dead-end drive resulting in a punt causing Calgary to put up more points. DaVaris Daniels caught a 20-yard pass and Rogers a 16-yarder before Mitchell hit Kamar Jorden for a 30-yard touchdown strike for the 16-1 lead.

Mitchell also passed Doug Flutie for most passing yards in Stampeder history, sitting behind only Henry Burris now.

On the next drive Matt Shiltz came into the game over Drew Willy, who left with a hand injury. Schiltz did seem to spark something in the Al’s and got the ball moving but couldn’t get points on the board.

When it looked like Montreal might get on the board a strange turn of events transpired. It appeared Shiltz hit Eugene Lewis for a 42-yard pass down to the Calgary 17-yard line. Dave Dickenson however, challenged that the ball was dropped, and after review it was clear he did drop the ball and the play was overturned.

BUT! Mike Sherman then also challenged that there was pass interference. It looked like Emmanuel Davis had pulled down Lewis’ left arm and PI was called moving the ball to the Calgary 18-yard line.

WAIT! On the next play Shiltz was caught staring down his receiver and threw an interception to veteran Brandon Smith.

Rene Paredes would add a 40-yard field goal giving the Stamps a 19-1 halftime lead.

Montreal tried to make it interesting in the second half. On their first drive of the third quarter Shiltz took the team down the field and threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to the BJ Cunningham cutting the lead down to 19-8.

That is all the Al’s could muster with Shiltz throwing an interception to Emmanuel Davis, along with the team being stopped on third down three times for turnovers throughout the half.

Rene Paredes would also add 15 and 19-yard field goals bringing the lead up to 25-8 allowing Calgary to hold onto the victory and the 5-0 start on the year.

Calgary’s defense was monstrous all game. They held Montreal to 239 yards of total offense with just 62 of that coming on the ground. They forced Willy out of the game with a hand injury and forced 5 turnovers. Two interceptions and three turnovers on downs. They sacked the QB three times as well, dominating the Al’s all game. The offense wasn’t explosive, but they seemed to do their job. Mitchell threw for almost 300 yards and 2 TD’s. They couldn’t get much going on the ground with Don Jackson only rushing for 46 yards and let their foot off the pedal a little late, but they found a way to keep the lead and stay undefeated.

Montreal continues to struggle dropping to 1-4. The defense had a good game holding Calgary in check through most of the night, but an inept offense made it difficult to maintain, tiring out the defensive side of the ball. They did give up over 300 yards of total offense, but they gave the O plenty of opportunities to succeed. Matt Shiltz had a decent game going 16/25 for 160 yards 1 TD but threw 2 INT. Montreal needs to figure its offense out with it cycling through QBs at an alarming rate. Albeit Willy and Mathews are injured but there seems to be inconsistency on who is leading the team, especially with the plethora of QBs rotated through since the days of Anthony Calvillo.

Player of the Game: Eric Rogers. Rogers had 9 catches for 113 yards and 1 TD including a huge 40-yard play. This may be a biased opinion coming from a former receiver, but I feel Rogers is who set the Stamps up early on with huge catches and one of only two TDs for Calgary helping lead the team to victory.

CFL Standings:

Win Column: