2025 @CFL hot stove league

[GA Russell]

Calgary Stampeders 28....British Columbia Lions 26

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/foot...article1347135/

Terrific game. Six lead changes. Casey Printers is back!

Nik Lewis caught his first TD pass of the year, his first since October of last year. It looked like he would be the first in league history to go over 1,000 yards receiving in a season without scoring a touchdown.

The ending was unique to say the least. With no time left on the clock, Sandro DeAngelis kicked a 22 yard FG to win the game. But there was a 5-yard procedure penalty (no end) because the Stamps' O-line had bowed too much. So again with no time on the clock he kicked a 27 yard FG to win the game!

With the win, the Stamps clinched at least second place. Had BC won, the Lions would have clinched third place.

Edited November 1, 2009 by GA Russell

[GA Russell]

Montreal Alouettes 48....Winnipeg Blue Bombers 13

http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=s...aspx?id=4263663

Another boring Als game.

The Bombers play the Ticats next week. The Bombers knew going into today's game that no matter what happened today, the winner of next week's game clinches second place.

[GA Russell]

Here's a good article analyzing the playoff possibilities.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/foot...article1347367/

This is truly extraordinary. With only one week to go, only one team has its playoff spot settled (the Als), and only two other teams (the Stamps and the Riders) have qualified for the playoffs.

[GA Russell]

Their only touchdown came when they were quarterbacked by someone named Stephen Reaves.

The Argos are going to let Reaves start this week against the Als. He is a 24 year old rookie from Southern Miss. My high school History teacher went to Southern Miss. Reaves is the brother-in-law of Tennessee Vols coach Lane Kiffin.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/argo...article1350438/

I expect that Reaves in his first pro start is going to be sacked a bunch of times!

Edited November 4, 2009 by GA Russell

[GA Russell]

I've seen very little from Dan Ralph this season. Here's his excellent analysis of the playoff picture.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/200...1610486-cp.html

[GA Russell]

David Naylor Week 19 preview

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/cfl-...article1351736/

*****

Gregg Xenakes Week 19 preview

http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=s...aspx?id=4264257

[GA Russell]

Here's a list of each team's CFL Awards nominees.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/calv...article1352622/

[GA Russell]

Edmonton Eskimos 45....British Columbia Lions 13

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.../AJN4264796.htm

Casey Printers broke his thumb early in the game. So the Lions brought in Buck Pierce, who late in the second quarter injured his shoulder again. That left them with rookie Zac Champion for the rest of the game. But the Esks' O-line gave Ricky Ray good protection the whole game, so maybe it didn't matter who the Lions could play.

With the win the Eskimos clinched third place. I believe that the win also guaranteed the Ticats a playoff spot. The Lions' only hope for a crossover spot is if the Bombers lose on Sunday.

Edited November 8, 2009 by GA Russell

[GA Russell]

Montreal Alouettes 42....Toronto Argonauts 17

http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=s...aspx?id=4264916

The Argos were never in it. Stephen Reaves didn't do well, but what did you expect?

The Als played McPherson. In the fourth quarter they let Chris Leak play. Remember him?

Damon Duval broke Lance Chomyk's single season scoring record. Duval also tied Terry Baker's Alouettes record with seven FGs in one game. The league record is eight.

*****

Saskatchewan Roughriders 30....Calgary Stampeders 14

http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=s...aspx?id=4265068

A much better game than the score would indicate. The Riders completely dominated the first half, and led 21-8 at the half. But they did nothing for most of the second half, while the Stamps improved and closed the lead to 21-14. But the Riders scored 9 points very late with a conceded safety touch and a TD to ice the game.

With the win the Riders clinched first place. My first CFL game was in August of 1976 - the Saskatchewan Roughriders with Ron Lancaster visiting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats with Terry Evanshen. 1976 was the last time the Riders finished in first place.

So Calgary finishes in second place, and will host the Eskimos next week in the Western Semi-Final.

If the Ticats beat the Bombers tomorrow, the Lions will cross over and play the Ticats in the Eastern Semi-Final in Hamilton. If the Bombers win tomorrow, they will host the Ticats next week.

Edited November 8, 2009 by GA Russell

[GA Russell]

Hamilton Tiger-Cats 39....Winnipeg Blue Bombers 17

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/tica...article1355776/

Great first half. At the break the Ticats led 17-16. But it was all Hamilton in the second half. Michael Bishop threw two interceptions that were run back for touchdowns.

This was in effect a playoff game for the Bombers - win and you play next week, lose and the season is ended.

So the Ticats will host the Lions next Sunday in the Eastern Semi-Final. Considering that all of the Lions quarterbacks are injured except their fourth string rookie, you've got to like the Ticats' chances. Of course, whoever wins will probably be clobbered by the Als the following week in the Eastern Final.

[GA Russell]

Considering that all of the Lions quarterbacks are injured except their fourth string rookie, you've got to like the Ticats' chances.

I forgot about Travis Lulay, who had the flu last week. So Zac Champion is their fifth string rookie!

It looks like Casey Printers' thumb problem is not as serious as I thought. Here's an article about how the Lions' QB situation looks going into this week's game against the Ticats.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/trio...article1356140/

[GA Russell]

David Naylor Semi-Finals preview

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/cfl-...article1360197/

*****

Gregg Xenakes Semi-Finals preview

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.../AJN4265744.htm

*****

Eastern All-Star team

http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=s...aspx?id=4265759

*****

Western All-Star team

http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=s...aspx?id=4265765

[GA Russell]

CFL Awards finalists

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/reyn...article1361020/

My picks to win are:

Calvillo

Chick

Cahoon

Taylor

Flory

Mallett

But I won't be too surprised if Anwar Stewart beats out John Chick.

Edited November 12, 2009 by GA Russell

[GA Russell]

British Columbia Lions 34....Hamilton Tiger-Cats 27

http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=s...aspx?id=4266869

The Ticats never led, but they were twice able to come back from ten points down to tie the game.

Regulation ended tied at 27. In OT the Lions scored a TD easily on two plays, while the Ticats did nothing.

Casey Printers showed no ill effects from his injury of last week.

*****

Calgary Stampeders 24....Edmonton Eskimos 21

http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=s...aspx?id=4266939

The Stamps led throughout, but the Esks kept it close.

[GA Russell]

The 2009 All-Star team has been announced.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/2009...article1368240/

I'm a little surprised that Duval was named both placekicker and punter, but I haven't seen the stats.

[GA Russell]

To clarify my view about Duval, I'm not surprised that he was named the placekicker because he broke the league scoring record. But throughout the year the announcers have not treated him as the punter who was having an obviously better year than everyone else.

*****

Gregg Xenakes Finals preview

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.../AJN4267583.htm

[GA Russell]

David Naylor Finals preview

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/foot...article1372511/

[GA Russell]

Montreal Alouettes 56....British Columbia Lions 18

http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=s...aspx?id=4268676

Well, what did you expect?

The Als scored at will. Calvillo threw 5 TD passes.

*****

Saskatchewan Roughriders 27....Calgary Stampeders 17

http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=s...aspx?id=4268736

The score was tied at 10 at the half, but it was all Roughriders in the second half.

*****

So now we will see the teams with the two best records during the season face off in the Grey Cup game!

Edited November 23, 2009 by GA Russell

[Chuck Nessa]

I love checking in (once in a while) on Georgia's thread. Nice.

[GA Russell]

Thanks Chuck!

I hope you'll play the contest this year. You might win a CD. Just what you need!

[GA Russell]

In case you didn't see it, go play our Grey Cup contest and win a CD here:

http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=56020

[GA Russell]

In regard to the Canadian Nielsen ratings, for as long as I can remember the Grey Cup game has been Canada's #1 broadcast for the year. Its ratings handily beat the Super Bowl's.

Last year the Grey Cup game was moved to cable tv (TSN, Canada's equivalent of ESPN), and I read that it was expected that the Nielsen ratings would drop 10% because of it.

Here is a Globe & Mail column of today that says that this year's game is expected to have the best Nielsen ratings ever.

It also says that Quebec Province is the CFL's best market (in regard to television viewing). That comes as a surprise to me.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/tsn-...article1376855/

[GA Russell]

Gregg Xenakes Grey Cup preview

Montreal 42....Saskatchewan 27

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.../AJN4269457.htm

[GA Russell]

The Vanier Cup game is for the Canadian collegiate football championship. College football isn't very popular in Canada, and not many people go to the Vanier Cup game.

This year they're playing it in Quebec City. It is sold out in an 18,000 seat stadium, and the schools (Queens and Calgary) and screaming for more tickets!

The organizers sold all the tickets without allotting any for the schools' fans!

In addition, a bank is having its annual meeting in Quebec City at the same time, so the hotel rooms are already booked.

This will be a Vanier Cup for the ages, no matter how the game goes.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nation...article1377848/

Edited November 26, 2009 by GA Russell

[GA Russell]

The Globe & Mail's website today has a terrific 30-minute podcast in which David Naylor and Allan Maki discuss the teams and the coaches.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/foot...article1378785/