A look at the Canadian Football League at the halfway mark

It’s Labour Day weekend in the CFL, and for many, the unofficial start of the season. For some teams, it’s an opportunity to begin their playoff push against a bitter rival. For others, it’s 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. “It’s just one of those games where I feel like everything is understood,” said colourful Ticats linebacker Simoni Lawrence. “I love Labour Day just because especially over here in Hamilton the whole city, that’s what everybody looks forward to. “We’re going to have a big crowd and it’s a rivalry game. The thing about rivalry games is everything is understood, you don’t have to do too much talking, you know what kind of game it’s going to be.” Marcus Ball, Toronto’s rugged linebacker, said Labour Day in Hamilton is a huge grudge match. “Growing up ... there’s always one game, one opponent, one guy you always wanted to go against, the backyard brawl so to speak,” he said. “It’s exciting being an Argo because we get to go against the Ticats every Labour Day and it’s always a hard-nosed, 12-round bout type of game “You can throw the records out, they don’t matter. It’s all about us beating those boys.” All nine CFL teams have played a minimum of nine regular-season games thus far. While many trends have been established, there’s no shortage of questions that remain unanswered heading to the playoffs and, ultimately, the Grey Cup game Nov. 25 at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium.