CFL Week 1 Recap
Montreal Alouettes 27 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 12 –
In a rematch of the 110th Grey Cup Final last season, the Montreal Alouettes began their title defense with a 27-12 victory. Tyson Philpot who scored the winning touchdown in the Grey Cup last year scored two touchdowns with the second score a 76 yard catch off a flea flicker. Alouettes QB Cody Fajardo threw for 254 yards in the win while Blue Bomber QB Zach Collaros threw for 209 yards in the defeat.
Calgary Stampeders 32 Hamilton Tiger-Cats 24
It was the return of Grey Cup winning QB and former Eastern Washington University product, Bo Levi Mitchell to Calgary, as the former EWU Eagles’ Tiger-Cats faced his former team, the Calgary Stampeders. But it was Stamps QB Jake Maier who stole the show going 21/26 with 252 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Stamps kicker Rene Peredes made all six of his field goals, and the Stamps held a comfortable lead, before Hamilton scored late to make the score closer than the final tally may indicate. Levi Mitchell finished the day with 300 passing yards.
Saskatchewan Roughriders 29 Edmonton Elks 21
It takes a great quarterback to lead come from behind drives, particularly in a CFL where teams can comeback in the blink of an eye, that was the case for Trevor Harris against the Elks this weekend. Down by 13, Harris threw two touchdowns to give the Roughriders the late lead before Shawn Bane Jr. scored his third touchdown of the game to cement a Rider win. McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw for 336 yards and two touchdowns both to Hergy Mayala.
Toronto Argonauts 35 BC Lions 27
There were questions of how the CFL’s best regular season team will respond with a backup quarterback and plenty of roster turnover on the defense, but it was the Toronto Argonauts thanks to a defensive clinic in the second half, held off the BC Lions in an entertaining game. Cameron Dukes stepped in brilliantly for the Argos with three passing touchdowns and one on the ground. Former EWU Quarterback Vernon Adams threw for 363 yards but was stymied by six sacks by the Argos. Although the Argos led 20-6 in the second quarter, Adams and the Lions scored 17 unanswered to take the lead. Sean Whyte scored the go-ahead points for the Argos, a lead they would not relinquish.
Next week:
Thursday June 13: Winnipeg Blue Bombers @ Ottawa REDBLACKS 4:30 PDT
Friday June 14: Montreal Alouettes @ Edmonton Elks 6:00 PDT
Saturday June 15: Calgary Stampeders @ BC Lions 4:00 PDT
Sunday June 16: Saskatchewan Roughriders @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats 4:00 PDT
