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 four at the highlights and lowlights of the week that was in the CFL.
Three and Out Week Four CFL
Game of the Week: Ottawa Redblacks vs. Toronto Argonauts
Heading into the game, there was a lot of hype surrounding Ottawa Redblacks quarterback Trevor Harris, who played his first game back in Toronto. After leading to the league in touchdowns, Harris showed the Toronto Argonauts why they should have not allowed him to sign with the Redblacks.
Harris and Redblacks receiver Greg Ellingson were explosive in a 30-20 road victory over the hometown Argonauts. Harris went 28/31 for 392 yards and no interceptions, while Ellingson hauled in nine receptions for 218 yards, and was clearly Harris’ favourite target on the night.
Toronto took an early 13-0 lead, but Ottawa fought back to get within three at halftime and took over when newly signed returner Tristan Jackson returned a Lirim Hajrullahu punt 75 yards to pay dirt to give the Redblacks a 27-20 lead with 10:41 left in the fourth quarter. It proved to be the turning point as the Redblacks never relinquished their lead and held on for a 30-20 victory to improve to 3-0-1 on the year while the Argos fell to 2-2.
Player of the Week: Greg Ellingson, Ottawa Redblacks
The Redblacks win was due in part to the outstanding game by Ellingson, the big-time receiver.
As aforementioned, Ellingson was Harris’ main target on Wednesday night, and he was the only receiver in the game to have more than a 100 receiving yards.
He made his presence felt in the second and third quarters. He had six catches for 182 yards between the two quarters.
He had two big catches in the game which played a huge role in the win. He had a 69-yard catch in second quarter which led to a four-yard rushing touchdown by Nic Grigsby. Ellingson also had a 77-yard catch at the start of the third quarter which led to a one-yard rushing touchdown by Harris. The two big catches led to the opening score and to the team’s first lead. Ellingson’s catches altogether led to 20 points out of the 30 points scored by the Redblacks in the victory.
Ellingson and his Redblacks teammates will look to stay perfect at 3-0 against the winless, Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday night.
– Casey Dulson (@Casey_Dulson)
Unnecessary Participation: Too Many Coaches Challenges
In a segment that flags unnecessary participation in football games, LWOS is flagging coaches flags in Three and Out week four.
Back in April of this year, the CFL Board of Governors approved adding a video official in the command centre with a mandate to rapidly fix obvious errors. They also approved coaches challenges to be far more sweeping. At the time of the change CFL senior vice-president of football operations Glen Johnson stated, “Expanding what can be reviewed will not result in a slower game because coaches are not being provided with additional reviews per game … In fact, we are looking to reduce the number of delays.”
Well there were plenty of delays in week four. Wally Buono took a stroll to the middle of the field, Jim Popp threw his hat to get noticed and Mike O’Shea challenged knowing he had a low probability of winning. It seems as if coaches have come to the realization that a challenge is no different than a time out, and it messes with the other teams rhythm. So why not use them?
Sorry Mr. Johnson the game is slower, longer and some of the challenges are just a waste of time.
Main Photo.
