OUTSTANDING FEATS APLENTY
While the playoff participants were decided weeks ago, there’s plenty on the line as the CFL season enters its final stretch.
Only one team knows when and where it will be playing its next game heading into the final weekend of action.
The Calgary Stampeders have locked up first place in the West Division and will host the Western Final Nov. 19 at McMahon Stadium.
Otherwise, there are still many scenarios in play.
The 8-9 Toronto Argonauts can lock up first place in the East and a first-round bye with a win or tie at B.C. (7-10) Saturday night. If they lose, the 8-9-1 Ottawa Redblacks — who have a bye this weekend — will finish first, host the Eastern Final and be one win away from playing in the Grey Cup at home.
The 11-6 Winnipeg Blue Bombers — who have suffered a rash of injuries to key players and are slumping badly — can still finish second and host the Western Semifinal if they can beat the 13-3-1 Calgary Stampeders Friday at McMahon Stadium.
They would also finish second if the 11-6 Edmonton Eskimos lose to the 10-7 Saskatchewan Roughriders Saturday in Regina.
If the Eskimos win and the Bombers lose, they’ll finish second, the Bombers will finish third and the Roughriders will finish fourth and cross over to the East to play either Toronto or Ottawa.
If the Riders win, Winnipeg will finish second, Saskatchewan third and Edmonton will cross over to the East.
Got all that?
You certainly can’t say the last week of the season lacks intrigue. What more could the league and its fans ask for?
FEARLESS PREDICTIONS
The CFL will announce the nominees for league awards Wednesday, which means it’s time to predict which players will be up for most outstanding player.
There are some tough choices for the Football Reporters of Canada and while there will surely be some quarterbacks nominated as usual, other positions should be well represented.
It would not be a surprise to see as many as four defensive players get their team nominations.
Here’s who we think will be the nominees from each team. Montreal Alouettes: It has been a hopeless season for the Als, who enter the final week with a 3-14 record. The only real candidates are defensive lineman John Bowman (eight sacks) and linebacker Kyries Hebert (108 tackles). This is an easy one. Winner: Kyries Hebert
Ottawa Redblacks: Quarterback Trevor Harris has had a sneaky good season, throwing for 4,679 yards, 30 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions. His No. 1 target has been receiver Greg Ellingson, who has 96 receptions for 1,459 yards and a league-high 12 touchdowns. This one is 50-50. Winner: Greg Ellingson
Toronto Argonauts: This one is a no-brainer. Quarterback Ricky Ray, 38, has thrown for 5,205 yards — the fourth time in his 15-year career he’s reached 5,000 yards — along with 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Winner: Ricky Ray
Hamilton Tiger-Cats: They started the season 0-8 and changed starting quarterbacks mid-year. Jeremiah Masoli did a nice job in going 5-4 as the starter (2,859 yards, 14 TD, five INT) and receiver/returner Brandon Banks put up 1,961 combined yards and 10 touchdowns. The dark horse here is linebacker Larry Dean, who led the team with 93 tackles and added three sacks and three forced fumbles. Winner: Larry Dean
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: At one point this season it looked like quarterback Matt Nichols (4,472 yards, 28 TD, eight INT) and running back Andrew Harris (967 rush yards, 829 receiving yards) were battling for the overall league MOP award, but injuries and offensive inefficiency have slowed their pace. Both are good candidates, but we’ll go with the team’s unquestioned leader. Winner: Matt Nichols
Saskatchewan Roughriders: How often do players score offensive and defensive touchdowns in the same year? Not very often. Duron Carter (1,043 receiving yards, eight receiving TD, one INT) did it this year for the Riders and despite his controversial personality is a shoo-in for the nominee. Winner: Duron Carter
Calgary Stampeders: We smell an upset here. Last year’s league MOP Bo Levi Mitchell had another fine season (4,700 yards, 23 TD, 11 INT), but the most impressive season by a member of the Stamps came from non-import middle linebacker Alex Singleton (121 tackles, four sacks, one INT, one forced fumble). Winner: Alex Singleton
Edmonton Eskimos: Receiver Brandon Zylstra (league-high 1,615 receiving yards) would likely be the nominee on several other teams, but quarterback Mike Reilly is the unquestioned star of this team and his numbers are too spectacular to ignore (5,536 yards, 30 TD, 13 INT). Winner: Mike Reilly
B.C. Lions: The Lions missed the playoffs for the first time in 21 seasons, but it wasn’t the fault of dynamic middle linebacker Solomon Elimimian (133 tackles). He needs 10 more this week to tie his own league record for tackles in a season. His only competition would come from all-purpose player Chris Rainey, who has an even 3,000 combined yards on the season, best in the CFL. Winner: Solomon Elimimian