Every CFL week includes enough highlights for fans to talk about until football returns a week later, and a few lowlights that keep fans shaking their heads. The LWOS CFL team takes a look with Three and Out Week 6 at the highlights and lowlights of the week that was in the CFL.
Three and Out Week 6 CFL
Game of the Week: Calgary Stampeders vs. B.C. Lions
Week 6 saw another chapter entered into the long standing rivalry between the B.C. Lions and Calgary Stampeders. A late surge by Bo Levi Mitchell and the Stamps in the fourth quarter forced overtime in game that could only be described as another instant classic.
The Lions got off to a hot start with Chris Rainey’s 95-yard punt return touchdown score to open the scoring less than two minutes in. B.C.’s defence appeared to have Calgary’s quarterback’s calling card, sacking him 3three times in the first half along with an interception. After another highlight reel play by B.C., which saw receiver Shawn Gore made a difficult dragging toes catch at the corner of the end zone, the Lions appeared to have control of the game pulling away with 17 points in the third to take a 34-19 lead heading into the fourth.
Incredibly, the Stampeders battled back scoring 22 points in the fourth quarter forcing overtime, despite many fans leaving the game. Mitchell put the city of Calgary on his back, with two touchdowns just over a minute apart in the last three minutes of regulation. Greg Wilson received the first touchdown on a 42-yard score. On the next possession B.C. quarterback Jonathon Jennings threw up a questionable ball under pressure that was intercepted by defensive back Ciante Evans, giving Calgary the ball at the Lions 32-yard line with 1:19 to go. Two plays later Stamps receiver Bakari Grant celebrated a 12-yard touchdown with 1:06 left to play, and Calgary tied the game with a two-point convert.
In overtime the comeback was completed by Calgary at McMahon Stadium. After Rene Paredes hit a 42-yard field goal to make the game 44-41 for Calgary, B.C. needed at least a field goal to continue the game. With 2nd and goal from the Calgary 10-yard line Jennings eyed Gore in the end zone looking to hook up again, this time for the winning touchdown. However, Jennings was picked off by Tommie Campbell from the Stamps ending the game and completing the comeback for the Calgary with a final score of 44-41 in OT for Calgary.
Calgary capitalized on the momentum swing and good field position, eventually taking the “W” away from the hungry Lions while completing their comeback win. The victory gives the Stamps their third win and first place in the West entering Week 7.
Player of the Week: Bo Levi Mitchell
A big reason for the Stamps win in this wild game was Mitchell, the face of the franchise and their quarterback.
Mitchell completed 29 out of his 44 passes in the game and threw for 364 yards. He also threw three touchdowns and one interception in the win. Despite his three sacks and the interception, Mitchell did have one touchdown in the first half, as he completed a 75-yard touchdown pass to receiver Wilson in the second quarter.
Mitchell in the second half demonstrated why he is one of the elite quarterbacks in the CFL. He went 17/24 for 191 yards. Mitchell was sensational in the last two minutes of the game when the Stamps were down 41-26. He completed two touchdowns, the 42-yard strike to Wilson and the 12-yard touchdown to Grant. Mitchell then converted a two-point convert to receiver, Anthony Parker to tie the game at 41. Mitchell was responsible for 15 out of 22 points scored by the Stamps in the fourth quarter. Mitchell altogether was responsible for 21 points out of the Stamps 44 points in the game.
Mitchell with his three touchdowns performance is now tied for first in the CFL for touchdown passes with 11. The Stamps once again are at home this week where they are undefeated this season. They will host the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Thursday night.
– Casey Dulson (@Casey_Dulson)
Unnecessary Participation: Penalties on Incidents That Do Not Affect the Play
CFL officiating has been heavily criticized early on in the season, with seemingly a rain of flags that extend games past three hours in length. With many rules unique to Canadian football, including coaches challenge on pointless plays, the league remains flag-happy and doesn’t seem intent on changing that anytime soon.
It is not only the nylon flags flying out of the officials pockets that are killing the game, but also those from coaches. On Friday night, Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Chris Jones threw two challenge flags within four minutes of each in the second quarter. Although the latter was overturned, both were useless and wasted time.
He first threw a challenge on a clear holding by running back Michael Dyer after the Riders failed to earn a first down on a 2nd and 10. They were at their own 30, ready to punt, down by 15, so in reality, there was no point in challenging. But it’s the CFL, so he challenged, and it stood.
The following challenge was even more CFL-like. After John Bowman sacked Mitchell Gale, Jones threw a challenge for illegal contact on the receiver by Chip Cox. Surprise, surprise, Cox gets an illegal contact on the receiver call – albeit minor and accidental – when it had absolutely nothing to do with the play. This is not the first time this happened to Cox this season, as a review deemed he made contact with a Toronto Argonauts receiver last week just prior to an Alouettes interception on another receiver.
Why make a call, one that needed video review, on incidents unrelated to the play? Why kill the momentum of the game with these? This is football, let them play and let the officials do the review with their own eyes. Technology is useful in sports when a black-and-white call is needed, like a fumble, whether or not a player crossed the goal line, etc., and not for subjective calls like pass interference and illegal contact on (irrelevant) receivers?
The CFL is losing youth interest rapidly, and everytime a useless challenge flag is thrown, one fan turns away and they are shooting themselves in the foot.
– Nicholas Di Giovanni (@LWOSNick)
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