Tuesday Morning QB (CFL Week 11)
Week 11 in the CFL can be called Revenge Week as every matchup during Labour Day weekend was replayed the week after. The difference was the location as the home teams during Labour Day were the away teams in Week 11. This creates something special as the majority of the teams that play each other during Labour Day are some of the biggest rivals in the CFL. This was similar to other years as Calgary and Edmonton faced off in the Battle of Alberta, CFL edition, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders faced off against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in what is known as the Banjo Bowl. The biggest change was the lack of an Argos and Ti-Cats rematch but they still faced off against rivals. Hamilton took on the Montreal Alouettes who have been their Achilles heel in the past years. Meanwhile the Argos took on the B.C. Lions in another version of the Braley Bowl with both teams owned by the same man. These rivals all faced on in revenge week as some looked to continue their dominance while the others looked to reverse the fortunes. The weekend turned out to be a thrilling one as some teams came back from the loss on Labour Day while other teams continued to win. The Argos lost even with a new QB as the Lions bid farewell to Empire Stadium with a win before they move into the renovated BC Place. The Montreal Alouettes showed the Ti-Cats that they still rule the matchup dominated the play as they outclassed Hamilton. The other games were just as thrilling as the Battle of Alberta went into round two and the Banjo Bowl proved that the Riders are back.
Battle of Alberta Round 2
CGY 30 – 20 EDM
On Labour Day weekend the struggling Edmonton Eskimos looked like their old selves as they were able to get by the hottest team in the CFL. Calgary had been on a big hot streak before the Labour Day as they had taken over first place in the West from the Eskimos. This gave the Battle of Alberta a little bit more meaning on Labour Day as well as on Revenge weekend. If Edmonton could pull out the win and get back to their winning ways that led them to a 5-0 start at the beginning of the year they would be able to take over the lead in the West from the Stamps. Calgary had something to say about this as they were aiming to keep a hold on the top spot. The Stamps opened up the scoring with a field goal that was matched by the Eskies in their first drive. The Stamps scored again kicking another field goal and punting the ball into the endzone for a single point. The kickers continued to be featured as they kicked more field goals going back and forth ending with a 10-6 score near the end of the second quarter. Henry Burris (16/30, 316 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT) finally woke his offence up at the end of the half with a last second Hail Mary pass that found Nik Lewis (3 rec, 88 yds, 1 TD) for a TD. The half ended with the Stamps getting the better of the Eskies 17-6. The field goals continued in the second half as both offences unable to get going. The Stamps kept their lead as the Eskies tried to chip away but could not get a TD. The Eskies finally got their first TD with 3 minutes left as Kerry Joseph came in to plunge into the endzone on a QB sneak. It was too little too late however as the Stamps were able to put a long drive together and put the game out of reach with Rene Paredes’ 5th field goal of the day. The Stamps were able to take home the win and remain in the top spot in the West. Next week the Stampeders will take on a very hot B.C. Lions team that is beginning to make their case for a playoff spot. The Eskimos will travel East as they take on the Hamilton Tiger Cats who have had an up and down season but may give them some problems.
Banjo Bowl Marks Riders’ Return
SSK 45 – 23 WPG
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have had one of their worst seasons as they went from Grey Cup participants in 2010 to the worst team in the CFL in 2011. The Bombers had the opposite progression as they went from the worst team in 2010 to the best team in 2011. So it was a surprise to all when the Riders beat the Bombers in their Labour Day matchup that seemed to mark a Rider comeback. The rematch from this Labour Day classic has always been known as the Banjo Bowl between these two rival teams. The Riders were looking to make good on their comments that beating the Bombers marked a reverse in fortunes for their season while the Bombers were looking to get back on track and keep a hold on the top of the East. The Riders were also marking the return of their hero Andy Fantuz after he was cut by the Chicago Bears before the NFL season started. The Blue Bombers started off the game right as Buck Pierce (21/33, 287 yds, 0 TD, 5 INT) was able to march down the field twice earning a TD and settling for a field goal. After being hit hard in the first quarter and from then on it seemed like he was not the same. Pierce went on to throw 5 INTs in the game not helping his defence much giving them little to work with. After the hit the Riders went to work as they scored 24 points in the second quarter and taking over the game. Darian Durant (14/27, 230 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT) used everyone and more specifically went to Chris Getzlaf (2 rec, 46 yds, 2 TD) who touched the ball only twice but both went for TDs. The vaunted Bombers defence was not able to stop the Riders as they continued to have a short field to stop them after multiple interceptions. The Bombers never got the lead back as the Riders moved on to the Banjo Bowl winner in a blowout of their rivals. Next week the Riders will welcome the struggling Toronto Argonauts who will be in their second week with new QB Stephen Jyles. The Riders will try to continue their second half as they look to march back to the top of the Western Conference. The Bombers will try to pick up the pieces and recover from two straight losses but it will not be easy as they will be playing for the Eastern Conference lead in Montreal.
Other Scores
BC 28 – 6 TOR
MTL 43 – 13 HAM
POW Awards
Anthony Calvillo, QB (Offensive POW)
31/45
421 yds
4 TD
0 INT
Khalif Mitchell, DT (Defensive POW)
5 tkl
3 sck
0 INT
0 FF
Paul McCallum, K (Special Teams POW)
4/4 FG
39 lng
2/2 XP
14 pts
Craig Butler, DB (Canadian POW)
6 tkl
1 sck
2 INT
0 FF
Standings
Western Conference
1. Calgary Stampeders (7-3)
2. Edmonton Eskimos (6-4)
3. B.C. Lions (4-6)
4. Saskatchewan Roughriders (3-7)
Eastern Conference
1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7-3)
2. Montreal Alouettes (6-4)
3. Hamilton Tiger Cats (5-5)
4. Toronto Argonauts (2-8)
Next Week:
Edmonton Eskimos vs. Hamilton Tiger Cats (Fri. Sept. 16th; 7:30 pm)
Toronto Argonauts vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders (Sat. Sept. 17th; 4:00 pm)
B.C. Lions vs. Calgary Stampeders (Sat. Sept. 17th; 7:00 pm)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. Montreal Alouettes (Sun. Sept. 18th; 1:00 pm)
The Sport Addiction 