CFL Week 4 Recap
BC Lions 24 Edmonton Elks 21
The BC Lions proved why the three-minute warning can lead to the most exciting few minutes of football, by sneaking away with a win against Edmonton. The Lions led at the half 13-12 and into the fourth quarter. In the fourth, Dakota Prukop scored on a one-yard touchdown to give the Elks an 18-13 lead. The Lions responded with 2:24 left with a two-yard touchdown run from David Mackie, the Lions led 21-18 after a two-point conversion. Edmonton drove down the field quickly to have Boris Bede nail a 52-yard field goal to tie the game. But it was the Lions with the final say when Sean Whyte with no time left made the game winning 42-yard field goal to give BC a last second win. Vernon Adams led all passers with 331 yards through the air with a touchdown while Edmonton’s McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw a touchdown and two interceptions to go with his 247 yards.
Montreal Alouettes 30 Toronto Argonauts 20
In a rematch of the East Final, just like last year it was the Alouettes who cruised in the second half with a ten point win over the Argos. Cody Fajardo was busy completing 33 of 41 passes for 284 yards and a touchdown in the win, while rushing for another score. For Fajardo, it is his 12th straight win as a starter. The major play of the game came on a third down in the third quarter when QB sneak specialist Caleb Evans faked a sneak and instead found a wide-open Cole Spieker for a 44 yard score to put the Als up 23-9. A lead they would not relinquish. Spieker and Tyson Philpot combined for 203 yards receiving for Montreal, with each receiver catching a touchdown. It was a rough day at the office for Argos QB Cameron Dukes throwing for 199 yards and an interception. Toronto suffers their first loss of the season while Montreal stays undefeated.
Calgary Stampeders 22 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 19 (OT)
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have been the gold standard of the CFL, but Saturday has seen the beginning of what looks to be a disaster of a season on multiple levels. Near the end of the first half, starting quarterback Zach Collaros was injured and did not return for the Bombers. Calgary led 11-9 after three quarters of play, but the fourth saw Calgary score the first touchdown of the game when Jake Maier found Marken Michel for a six-yard touchdown. Winnipeg responded with a 60 yard field goal from Sergio Castillo, before Calgary earned a point off a rouge. With 1:32 left, the Bombers got the ball back down 19-12. Backup QB Chris Streveler led a 74 yard drive in 47 seconds that led to the tying touchdown to former Minnesota Golden Gopher teammate, Drew Wolitarsky. The game would go into overtime where Streveler could not replicate heroics, Nic Demski intercepted Streveler on the first possession of overtime. Rene Paredes for Calgary put through a 52 yard field goal to climb the Stamps to 2-1 and drop the West Champs to 0-4.
Ottawa REDBLACKS 24 Hamilton Tiger-Cats 22
The three minute warning for good reason unlocks plenty of excitement in the CFL and it boded true not just in the first game of the week, but the last game too. Ottawa came into the game with a 10 game losing streak against Hamilton, and had not beaten Hamilton since the 2018 playoffs. In the closing minutes, Hamilton led 16-15. With two minutes left, Ottawa QB Dru Brown found an open Justin Hardy to put Ottawa up 21-16. Not to be outmatched, Hamilton’s Bo Levi Mitchell answered with a go ahead touchdown with 28 seconds left to Shemar Bridges. With both teams having missed their PATs, Hamilton held a slim 22-21 lead. Dru Brown would lead a quick drive which included a third down conversion to set up Lewis Ward at the gun, with the walk off 45-yard field goal to win the game. Bo Levi Mitchell threw for 322 yards and two scores in the loss. Ottawa vaults to 2-1, Hamilton drops to 0-4.
Next week:
Thursday July 4 Toronto Argonauts @ Saskatchewan Roughriders 6:00p
Friday July 5 Ottawa REDBLACKS @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers 5:30p
Saturday July 6 Calgary Stampeders @ Montreal Alouettes 4:00p
Sunday July 7 BC Lions @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats 4:00p
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