The CFL is legendary for its wild finishes in the playoffs, the game never over until the final whistle. And that axiom was once again never truer, this semi final Sunday. In both playoff matches played on the outdoor prairie this Sunday the margin of victory was two points...
Both the Eastern and Western semi finals were bitterly contested right up to the very end, though in both cases in reality they should have been over long before they produced those anxiety producing final moments.
By a curious twist of match ups to come, all three remaining CFL games this playoff season will be played in an indoor facility. So alas, there will be no famous Canadian winter like scenes to come this year, iconic Canadian celebrations for the ages, just climate controlled football with perfect field conditions.
We look back at two highly entertaining games that set the stage for the Eastern and Western finals next Sunday afternoon.
SECOND CHANCE FOR WESTWOOD, SECOND CHANCE TO SAVE A SEASON FOR THE BOMBERS
The Montreal Alouettes led by Marcus Brady were looking every bit as the team that was Eastern final bound as Brady played perhaps the game of his career, taking on both the Bombers and a swirling wind. For most of the game the Montreal Quarterback was an offensive force to his own, scrambling for yardage, throwing pinpoint passing and defying the elements with accurate passes into a strong Manitoba wind. His Alouettes held a four point lead going into the second half, mainly on the strength of Brady’s arm and legs.
Defensively the Alouettes held the Bombers in check for the first half having given up an early Kevin Glenn drive down the field, but Winnipeg managed to stay within striking distance. What went on display in the second half was a textbook example of hard hitting football, one that featured an astounding late game third and short stand that is sure to be talked about in Montreal for most of the off season.
Jim Popp concerned at the way the wind was knocking the ball around, chose instead to gamble, serving up the scene for Barrin Simpson to do what he does so well, shut down an offense and change a game. Simpson stuffed Brady before he could get near the line of scrimmage, knocking him short of the first down and setting the stage for a last second Troy Westwood field goal for the win.
For Westwood it was a much desired second chance, the notorious winds of CanadInn Stadium played havoc with an earlier attempt at a field goal that would have put the Bombers in the lead. His last gasp chance to make amends went through the uprights, sending the Bombers on to Toronto for next weeks Eastern final with a 24-22 cliffhanger of a victory.
The game was in a way a mini review of the season for these two teams. A season that has been an agonizing one for the Bombers and their fans, reflected in the surprisingly small crowd in attendance on Sunday. After a fast start which saw them run off to lead the division, they began to suffer stretches of frustration, as they stumbled their way into the final part of the season. Sunday they went two and out, or saw the wind lay their best thought out plans shut down. Daring risks went unrewarded and in the end, the fate of the game was left to the one player who was never really sure if he was going to finish the season in Gold and Blue.
The weight of an entire season must have been pressing down on Westwood in the dying seconds of the game, for most of this season as the Bombers went from favourites to just barely surviving the season, Westwood seemed to be perpetually on the bubble, one final kick away from dismissal.
As things turned out, Doug Berry kept him around, a move that certainly paid dividends on a windy afternoon in Winnipeg.
The Bombers will have to adjust their game plan significantly for a successful result next week, the Alouettes came close to ending the Bombers season, the Argos will have made their notes and will study their film this week, ready to take advantage of the cracks put on display Sunday.
SURVIVAL OF THE GREENEST
By the time the first ten minutes of the Western Final were complete, it for all intents and purposes looked like an epic thrashing was about to unfold on the plains of old Pile o Bones.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders and some 28,800 of their closest would be General Managers were celebrating a remarkable start to long awaited return of playoff football to Regina.
With an opening drive touchdown display that put seven points on the board before Gainer the gopher had a chance to look up, the Riders appeared ready to not only exorcise the playoff demons of years gone by, but to transfer them to a Calgary Stampeder squad that looked quite fragile and on the verge of a surrender.
The Stampeders could not have started a game off if it had been designed by the opposing coaches, defensive schemes were blown and fumbles were gifts for a Saskatchewan team that accepted them quickly and without mercy.
The first half was all Saskatchewan, complete ball control, dominating defensive play and a sense of destiny seemingly hanging on every play. Yet for all of that domination, one worrisome trend kept trotting out onto the field, place kicker Luca Congi frequently found himself called to duty after a Saskatchewan drive would get bogged down, leaving the Riders to settle for three when seven was well within their grasp.
By rights this game should have been over at the half, the Riders left too many points on the field and untimely turnovers continued to provide the Stamps with life. A game that should very well have been 20-0 after thirty minutes instead was just 13-7.
A favour that the Stamps would capitalize on in the second half. Henry Burris, a former favourite son of Saskatchewan but now the Darth Vader of flatland football, had mixed results on this semi final Sunday.
When he was on he was remarkable, his passes pin point, his ability to move the team downfield impressive. But, the untimely errors of fumbles and interceptions served to sabotage their efforts.
This has been a most unsettling week for the Stamps, besides having to practice under the glare of unfilled expectations this season, the unwanted distraction of managerial turmoil arrived just in time for their biggest game of the year. All week the rumour that Tom Higgins would be dismissed were making the rounds, with an unsuccessful result despite the never say die attitude expressed it would seem that indeed, Higgins’ career with the Stamps will be done.
As the Stamps launched a last gasp on side kick attempt to try and get the ball back one more time, the Rider Nation’s faithful held their breath. A first successful attempt was called back because of an offside call.
The second attempt was recovered by the Riders, leaving them with the 26-24 victory and snuffing out any further thoughts of playing football this year for the Stamps.
The Riders storybook season will continue for one more week at least, but unless the Riders can gain better results from their hard work it may fall one game short. The Lions, rested and now anxious to get back to work will be waiting for the Riders and their traveling circus of fanatics. Thankful for the extra box office push that a Saskatchewan match up will offer, mindful that a team that has so much faith invested in it by an entire province will be a dangerous opponent.
It will all come down to execution and follow through next week. If Saskatchewan can’t finish the deal on Sunday, the Lions will take full advantage. Wally Buono will make quick work of any weakness shown by his opposition, Kent Austin will be making that point frequently over the next six days, a lesson that probably won’t be hard to share with his squad who came oh so close to letting success slip away for a province that bleeds green game in and game out.
Both the Eastern and Western semi finals were bitterly contested right up to the very end, though in both cases in reality they should have been over long before they produced those anxiety producing final moments.
By a curious twist of match ups to come, all three remaining CFL games this playoff season will be played in an indoor facility. So alas, there will be no famous Canadian winter like scenes to come this year, iconic Canadian celebrations for the ages, just climate controlled football with perfect field conditions.
We look back at two highly entertaining games that set the stage for the Eastern and Western finals next Sunday afternoon.
SECOND CHANCE FOR WESTWOOD, SECOND CHANCE TO SAVE A SEASON FOR THE BOMBERS
The Montreal Alouettes led by Marcus Brady were looking every bit as the team that was Eastern final bound as Brady played perhaps the game of his career, taking on both the Bombers and a swirling wind. For most of the game the Montreal Quarterback was an offensive force to his own, scrambling for yardage, throwing pinpoint passing and defying the elements with accurate passes into a strong Manitoba wind. His Alouettes held a four point lead going into the second half, mainly on the strength of Brady’s arm and legs.
Defensively the Alouettes held the Bombers in check for the first half having given up an early Kevin Glenn drive down the field, but Winnipeg managed to stay within striking distance. What went on display in the second half was a textbook example of hard hitting football, one that featured an astounding late game third and short stand that is sure to be talked about in Montreal for most of the off season.
Jim Popp concerned at the way the wind was knocking the ball around, chose instead to gamble, serving up the scene for Barrin Simpson to do what he does so well, shut down an offense and change a game. Simpson stuffed Brady before he could get near the line of scrimmage, knocking him short of the first down and setting the stage for a last second Troy Westwood field goal for the win.
For Westwood it was a much desired second chance, the notorious winds of CanadInn Stadium played havoc with an earlier attempt at a field goal that would have put the Bombers in the lead. His last gasp chance to make amends went through the uprights, sending the Bombers on to Toronto for next weeks Eastern final with a 24-22 cliffhanger of a victory.
The game was in a way a mini review of the season for these two teams. A season that has been an agonizing one for the Bombers and their fans, reflected in the surprisingly small crowd in attendance on Sunday. After a fast start which saw them run off to lead the division, they began to suffer stretches of frustration, as they stumbled their way into the final part of the season. Sunday they went two and out, or saw the wind lay their best thought out plans shut down. Daring risks went unrewarded and in the end, the fate of the game was left to the one player who was never really sure if he was going to finish the season in Gold and Blue.
The weight of an entire season must have been pressing down on Westwood in the dying seconds of the game, for most of this season as the Bombers went from favourites to just barely surviving the season, Westwood seemed to be perpetually on the bubble, one final kick away from dismissal.
As things turned out, Doug Berry kept him around, a move that certainly paid dividends on a windy afternoon in Winnipeg.
The Bombers will have to adjust their game plan significantly for a successful result next week, the Alouettes came close to ending the Bombers season, the Argos will have made their notes and will study their film this week, ready to take advantage of the cracks put on display Sunday.
SURVIVAL OF THE GREENEST
By the time the first ten minutes of the Western Final were complete, it for all intents and purposes looked like an epic thrashing was about to unfold on the plains of old Pile o Bones.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders and some 28,800 of their closest would be General Managers were celebrating a remarkable start to long awaited return of playoff football to Regina.
With an opening drive touchdown display that put seven points on the board before Gainer the gopher had a chance to look up, the Riders appeared ready to not only exorcise the playoff demons of years gone by, but to transfer them to a Calgary Stampeder squad that looked quite fragile and on the verge of a surrender.
The Stampeders could not have started a game off if it had been designed by the opposing coaches, defensive schemes were blown and fumbles were gifts for a Saskatchewan team that accepted them quickly and without mercy.
The first half was all Saskatchewan, complete ball control, dominating defensive play and a sense of destiny seemingly hanging on every play. Yet for all of that domination, one worrisome trend kept trotting out onto the field, place kicker Luca Congi frequently found himself called to duty after a Saskatchewan drive would get bogged down, leaving the Riders to settle for three when seven was well within their grasp.
By rights this game should have been over at the half, the Riders left too many points on the field and untimely turnovers continued to provide the Stamps with life. A game that should very well have been 20-0 after thirty minutes instead was just 13-7.
A favour that the Stamps would capitalize on in the second half. Henry Burris, a former favourite son of Saskatchewan but now the Darth Vader of flatland football, had mixed results on this semi final Sunday.
When he was on he was remarkable, his passes pin point, his ability to move the team downfield impressive. But, the untimely errors of fumbles and interceptions served to sabotage their efforts.
This has been a most unsettling week for the Stamps, besides having to practice under the glare of unfilled expectations this season, the unwanted distraction of managerial turmoil arrived just in time for their biggest game of the year. All week the rumour that Tom Higgins would be dismissed were making the rounds, with an unsuccessful result despite the never say die attitude expressed it would seem that indeed, Higgins’ career with the Stamps will be done.
As the Stamps launched a last gasp on side kick attempt to try and get the ball back one more time, the Rider Nation’s faithful held their breath. A first successful attempt was called back because of an offside call.
The second attempt was recovered by the Riders, leaving them with the 26-24 victory and snuffing out any further thoughts of playing football this year for the Stamps.
The Riders storybook season will continue for one more week at least, but unless the Riders can gain better results from their hard work it may fall one game short. The Lions, rested and now anxious to get back to work will be waiting for the Riders and their traveling circus of fanatics. Thankful for the extra box office push that a Saskatchewan match up will offer, mindful that a team that has so much faith invested in it by an entire province will be a dangerous opponent.
It will all come down to execution and follow through next week. If Saskatchewan can’t finish the deal on Sunday, the Lions will take full advantage. Wally Buono will make quick work of any weakness shown by his opposition, Kent Austin will be making that point frequently over the next six days, a lesson that probably won’t be hard to share with his squad who came oh so close to letting success slip away for a province that bleeds green game in and game out.
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