CIS Headlines: Archive of CIS University notes for the 2015 season

Our Monthly Archive of developments with CIS teams for the 2015 season

September
August

CIS 2015

Our homepage for items of note on Canadian University Football for 2015

CIS Homepage

CIS Schedule for 2015

CIS Standings

CIS Headlines for 2015

CIS Live Feeds

OUA
Canada West

Sportsnet U


CIS Conferences and Team Websites

Canada West

Alberta Golden Bears
Calgary Dinos
Manitoba Bisons
Regina Rams 
Saskatchewan Huskies
UBC Thunderbirds

OUAA

Carleton Ravens 
Guelph Gryphons
Laurier Hawks
McMaster Marauders
Ottawa Gee Gee's
Queen's Golden Gaels
Toronto Varsity Blues 
Waterloo Warriors
Western Mustangs
Windsor Lancers
York Lions

Quebec

Laval Rouge et Or
Montreal Carabins
Sherbrooke Vert et Or
Concordia Stingers
Bishop's Gaiters
McGill Redmen

Atlantic

Acadia Axemen
Mount Allison Mounties
Saint Mary's Huskies
St. Francis Xavier  X-Men

CIS Headlines: Archive of University Notes for August 2015

Our archive of notes from August on the CIS training camps heading into the September launch

Canada West

Alberta Golden Bears

August 13 -- 2015 Football training camp preview


Calgary Dinos

August 26 -- Dinos too much for Rams in Non-Conference tilt
August 14 -- 2015 Dinos Football Training Camp Preview Offence
August 13 -- 2015 Dinos Football Training Camp Preview Defence
August 11 -- 2015 Dinos Football Training Camp on Tap This Weekend

Manitoba Bisons

August 22 -- Bison Football ends pre-season game in 33-33 tie against Guelph
August 18 -- 2014 Canada West Champion, host first-ver CIS pre-season game at Investors Group Field to start 2015 season ...
August 16 -- CIS Football player hated death, surviving plunge off waterfall
August 18 -- Bison Sports announce Bison Football single game tickets and season tickets on sale for upcoming 2015 conference regular season
August 13 -- 2015 Bison Football Training Camp begins on Saturday August 15 and runs until September 3

Regina Rams 

August 30 -- Gray named to U18 coaching staff for 2016 International Bowl
August 26 -- Rams open year with 25-9 non-conference loss to Calgary
August 26 -- Non-Conference Game Preview -- Offensive Line Analysis
August 24 -- Fall Camp Day 8 Report -- Defensive Backs Analysis
August 22 -- Fall Camp Day 6 Report -- Receivers Analysis
August 17 -- Fall Camp Day 1 Report -- Quarterback Analysis
August 14 -- Rams open fall camp on Sunday

Saskatchewan Huskies 

August 28 -- Huskies' Johnson slides from track to gridiron
August 22 -- Huskies launch pre-season with a bang
August 21 -- Pre-season match is 'full-go': Huskies coach
August 21 -- Huskies Defeat Golden Hawks in Non-Conference Tilt
August 20 -- Huskies host Golden Hawks for Non-Conference Season Opener
August 19 -- CanadaWest TV expands coverage
August 13 -- Pre Game Festivities announced for 2015 Football Season
August 13 -- Huskies Hit the Gridiron for Fall Camp
August 12 -- As Huskies return to field, coach Towriss expects 'real fun league'

UBC Thunderbirds

August 30 -- UBC Thunderbirds coach starts season with a bang
August 29 -- Blake Nill-era opens in style for UBC, football 'Birds get historic win at powerhouse Laval
August 29 -- UBC beats Laval in Blake Nill's debut with the Blue and Gold
August 27 -- Q and A with coach Blake Nill on the eve of Birds clash with Laval's Rouge et Or

OUAA

Carleton Ravens 

August 30 -- Carleton Ravens' 473 yards of total offence not enough in season opener
August 27 -- Week #1  Ravens at Queen's
August 25 -- TD Place to host 2015 Panda Game
August 24 -- 2015 OUA Football Fan Vote
August 22 -- Dexter Brown scores 2 TDs in Ravens' 16-12 preseason win over Sherbrooke
August 21 -- Carleton Ravens vs Sherbrooke Vert et Or
August 21 -- 2015 Carleton Ravens Football Season Preview

Guelph Gryphons

August 31 -- Gryphs roar to opening-night win at Waterloo
August 30 -- Gryphons wallop Warriors to open campaign
August 28 -- It's team first for Gryphons all-Canadian returner
August 28 -- Gryphons on mission to win Yates Cup
August 27 -- Hutchison, Gryphs anxious for OUA football season to start
August 27 -- D10 and Varsity Gryphs all-star Brodie commits to Gryphs
August 26 -- Running back Augustine ready for bigger role with Gryphons
August 23 -- Gryphons, Bisons battle to preseason standoff
August 21 -- Gryphon football camp has been awesome, says coach
August 15 -- Vanier Cup winning QB Skinner commits to Gryphons

Laurier Hawks

August 29 -- Surya embraces offensive co-ordinator role at Laurier
August 23 -- Hawks fall to Huskies in preseason tilt in Saskatoon
August 19 -- Hawks vs. Huskies: A rematch 10 years in the making

McMaster Marauders

August 31 -- Mac attack shows off its teeth against U of T
August 30 -- McMaster opens season with win over Toronto
August 30 -- McMaster looks good in 55-33 win over U of T
August 18 -- Meet the Marauders' good hands people
August 13 -- TSN adds McMaster Marauders football to mix

Ottawa Gee Gee's

August 27 -- Football Opens at Home September 6
August 25 -- TD Place to host Panda Game -- Tickets on Sale September 4

Queen's Golden Gaels

August 29 -- Gael's opener 'critically important'
August 21 -- Hobbs to start at QB for Golden Gaels
August 20 -- Gaels feeling the heat

Toronto Varsity Blues 

--

Waterloo Warriors

August 28 -- Waterloo Warriors have high hopes
August 17 -- Coaching carousel halted, Warriors new head coach here to stay

Western Mustangs

August 28 -- Guelph Gryphons and McMaster Marauders will pose the biggest challenges to the Western Squad ...
August 28 -- Western University's Will Finch a true Canadian quarterback in the making
August 27 -- Western Mustang football team set to earn No. 1 rank
August 25 -- Key injuries and poor defensive play plagued Western, but that's not the whole story
August 19 -- Western Mustang backfield goes long in talent
August 19 -- Heat's on Western Mustangs defence
August 17 -- Western Mustangs training camp opened with sour memories of a lost season
August 14 -- Western Mustangs early favourites with a lot to prove

Windsor Lancers

August 30 -- Lancers rolled by Western 76-7 in OUA football opener
August 29 -- Lancers figure they are up to speed on the gridiron


York Lions

--



Quebec

Laval Rouge et Or

--

Montreal Carabins

--

Sherbrooke Vert et Or

--

Concordia Stingers

August 23 -- Concordia stings Queen's in preseason football match
August 21 -- Looking ahead to football's preseason game vs. Queen's
August 19 -- Football camp update with head coach Mickey Donovan
August 12 -- Mickey Donovan ready to evaluate 140 players

Bishop's Gaiters

--

McGill Redmen

August 21 -- McGill Redmen kick off 135th season of university football


Atlantic

Acadia Axemen

--

Mount Allison Mounties

--

Saint Mary's Huskies

--

St. Francis Xavier  X-Men

--

Tom Higgins the first to hear the Reapers' wail for 2015

Als Head Coach Tom Higgins
was fired following Montreal's
road victory in Vancouver August 20th

We were away for a week from our CFL blogging duties so we missed the rather surprising news that the Alouettes had fired head coach Tom Higgins last week.  A puzzling decision it would seem from Als owner Bob Wettenhall, who apparently did not like what he was seeing down in the Alouettes locker room.

The move to turn once again to GM Jim Popp came following the Als  23-13 road victory over the Lions in Vancouver, something that they hadn't been able to accomplish for 15 seasons, making the decision to jettison the coach even more of a head scratcher.

We imagine, no one would have picked his name as a coach in trouble at the start of the season, the Als in a rebuilding phase this year, should have benefited from the patience that Higgin's has shown with some of the miscues and other distractions of the season.

Still, when the guy signing the payroll isn't happy, change is going to come it would seem, so the answer to the CFL's Trivia Challenge question of who was the first coach to be fired in 2015 will be Tom Higgins.

"We have made this change as we believe it is in the best interest of our team, and especially our fans. We all wish to express to Tom our affection and respect, as well as our appreciation for the contributions he has made to the franchise." -- The Alouettes announce the dismissal of head coach Tom Higgins 

The Alouettes statement of August 21 was short and to the point, the full review of it can be found here.

The media notes on the departure of Higgins from the Als managerial ranks can be found below.

It also offers us the opportunity to introduce our archive page for CFL dismissals for 2015, giving the now former Alouettes head coach the ice breaker status he probably didn't think he was in line for.

The Hired to Be Fire Archive can be found here.

CFL.ca -- Als part ways with Higgisn; Popp takes over sidelines
CFL.ca -- Popp to Replace Higgns as Montreal Head coach (video)
CFL.ca -- Popp: We need to be 'one of the elite teams'
Montreal Gazette -- Alouettes fire head coach Tom Higgins
Montreal Gazette -- Popp comfortable at Alouettes' helm as Als prepare for Ticats
Montreal Gazette -- New coach Popp looks to tweak, not wholesale change, the Alouettes
TSN -- Higgins fired as Alouettes head coach
CBC-- Tom Higgins fired as Alouettes head coach
CTV -- Montreal Alouettes fire head coach Tom Higgins
Sportsnet -- Did Higgins deserve the axe?
Winnipeg Sun -- Als canning Higgins could be wrong move

Hired to be Fired: Coaching and Management changes in the CFL 2015 Season

Coaching in the modern era of sports is not the thing of long term security, the CFL, like many professional leagues in North America features a coaches' graveyard crammed with tombstones of the once hopeful left to the side of the CFL's coaching carousel.

It's the reality of sport these days, that for many fans and a few owners, the concept of what have you done for us today seems to be the guiding principle when it comes to those tasked to make use of the players that are provided on the field.

It at times doesn't seem very fair and with any number of factors that can quickly change the promising to the problematic, it probably wouldn't be a surprise to find that ulcer medicine is the bevaeage of choice of coaches everywhere.

And while the CFL coaching carousel may move a little slower than some of the other professional sports out there, change does come, particularly as a team struggles or ownership grows restless, usually having heard the rumblings of the paying customers.

The Archive page for our Hired to Be Fired collection can be found as part of our right hand column of features.

August 31 -- Saskatchewan Roughriders -- With a growing chorus of frustration and at times outright rage from the loyal RiderNation, The Saskatchewan management collective delivered the call that a number of fans had been clamouring for.  Dismissing not only head coach Corey Chamblin, but General Manager Brendan Taman as well, a move made in the week long lead up to the annual Rivalry Game with the Bombers on the Labour Day weekend.

Our archive of notes on the departure of the pair can be found here.

August 14 -- Montreal Alouettes -- The first casualty of the CFL season found Tom Higgins dismissed from his duties, a surprising announcement considering the Alouettes victory in British Columbia the night before. However, when the owner gets something into his mind, change is going to come.

Our archive of notes on the departure of Higgins can be found here.

CFL Week Ten

The CFL kicks off week number ten by saluting a Titan, as the Hamilton Tiger Cats prepare to retire Number 68, the iconic number of black and gold that earned Angela Mosca adoration in the Hammer and outrage pretty well everywhere else that the Ti Cats would wander into.

The long overdue salute to one of the CFL's greatest characters will provide the backdrop to a Thursday night showdown that puts the TiCats home field unbeaten streak to the test against a Montreal Alouette squad steeped in a bit of controversy with the surprise dismissal of Tom Higgins as head coach.  The Als turn once again to GM Jim Popp to try and position Montreal towards a playoff berth by the time the regular season comes to an end.

Friday night Football brings the Argos into Edmonton, with Toronto currently one of the CFL's hottest squads led by Trevor Harris who since taking the reins from the injured Ricky Ray has had a remarkable time as the Toronto pivot.  For the Eskimos, a bit of redemption for the home town fans will be on the agenda after taking a thumping from the TiCats at Commonwealth last weekend.

The Stampeders will look to make the Blue Bombers season just a little bit worse on Saturday as John Hufnagel looks to keep the Stamps on the winning path as they take to the field at Winnipeg's Investor's Group Field.  The Bombers who despite two weeks of losses, still hold close to a shot at the upper reaches of the CFL West, though it is a task that will be a tad tougher without the injured Drew Willy and facing down the CFL West leading Stamps.

Week Ten wraps up with the Ottawa RedBlacks hosting the winless Saskatchewan Roughriders at TD Bank Place, the RedBlacks who took one on the chin in Toronto last week, aren't about to let the Riders horrid record creep into the back of their minds.  Focused on the fact that many of the Riders losses have been last minute affairs, which could have found a significantly different statistical review ahead had the ball bounced the way of Saskatchewan a few times over the previous nine weeks.

At some point Saskatchewan one imagines will pick up their first win of the year, the RedBlacks will be looking to delay that destiny by at least one more week on Sunday afternoon.

Below our archive for week number nine.

Check back regularly through the weekend for updated material.

Thursday, August 27

Montreal Alouettes  26 at Hamilton Tiger Cats 23
24,212

Game Preview


-- Ticats to retire Mosca's No. 68 jersey
-- Popp comfortable at Alouettes' helm as Als prepare for Ticats


Game Reviews:

CFL. ca Game Wrap
CFL. ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, August 28 

Toronto Argonauts 15 at Edmonton Eskimos 38

31,573

Game Preview

-- Eskimos rookie QB James Franklin a natural leader
-- Argos Quarterback Trevor Harris has had an outstanding first half


Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca  Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, August 29

Calgary Stampeders at Winnipeg Blue Bombers
27,148

Game Preview

-- Defence preparing for yet another new QB
-- Blue Bombers looking at starting four import receivers Saturday against Stampeders

Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, August 30

Saskatchewan Roughriders 13 at Ottawa RedBlacks 35 
24,468

Game Preview

-- Red Blacks wary of winless Roughriders
-- Riders haven't given up hope


Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

CFL Top Performers, Week Nine

A Black and Yellow sweep for the top Performers of Week number Nine, as the Hamilton Tiger Cats impressive roll continued with three of the Hammers' roster claiming all of the positions from the selection panel.

With the Cats defensive unit making life a misery for visiting teams, it's not surprising to find Defensive Back Mike Daly, listed atop the rankings of the week, the McMaster grads two interceptions and seven tackles against the Eskimos last week set the pace for a punishing Tiger Cats defensive unit.

Zach Collaros collared a second place finish for the second week in a row, as he ripped apart the Eskimos secondary, collecting 325 total yards, with 18 completions on thirty attempts, a number which adds to his 70 per cent completion rate on the season.

Terrell Sinkfield Jr. proved to be a popular target for Collaros, grabbing two touchdowns and 118 reception yards last week, including an impressive back corner reception.

No results from the fan voting for week number seven have been released as of yet.

The CFL's Shaw Top Performers for Week Nine 

1st -- Mike Daly -- DB -- Hamilton Tiger Cats -- 100 points

2nd -- Zach Collaros -- QB -- Hamilton Tiger Cats -- 50 Points

3rd --  Terrell Sinkfield Jr. -- WR -- Hamilton Tiger Cats  -- 25 points

Fan Vote -- Ballot Results not released yet--10 Points


CFL.ca review of the Players of the Week


Twelve Men on the Field Archive of the Shaw Top Performers Listings for the 2014 season

CFL Week Nine

Two teams that need some wins kick off week eight action on Thursday night, as the Montreal Alouettes currently on a three game losing skid head into BC Place to take on the BC Lions, a team that has been highly inconsistent and a little bit snakebite when it comes to the final fifteen minutes.

For Montreal a win is of some urgency as they continue to fall behind the pack of the suddenly explosive Eastern Division, while  the Lions look to try and gain some ground on the Western Division leading Stamps and Eskimos.

Friday night provides for a much anticipated showdown as the Hamilton Tiger Cats who haven't lost a game since week three leave their lair and head for Commonwealth Stadium looking to serve notice that all that success is truly warranted. And while the football will be of the most physical considering the nature of the two teams, the real action may be with the 50/50 ticket sellers, considering the highly touted match up, those tickets may be flying and the jackpot be a rising as the game winds down.

Saturday delivers what normally would be a marquee match up, with the Stamps heading into Regina to take on the Riders, however, while the game has the sold out notices already posted, the home fans might be in a foul mood by the time the first half is done.  The Riders have yet to win a game this year, while the Stamps shifted into domination mode last week against the RedBlacks, so far this year the Saskatchewan crowds haven't taken to the losing skid kindly, the Riders can aid their cause significantly with a strong start and consistent play through the full sixty.

Week eight wraps up in Toronto, where the Argos will have already discovered if the Tiger Cats have provided a window for the Double Blue to take first place for themselves.  For Ottawa, redemption is on the menu, after an embarrassing thrashing at the hands of the Stamps, the RedBlacks will want to recapture their play of the start of the season, ready to stake a claim for the upper reaches of the CFL East against an opponent that they'll be quite familiar with by season's end.

Below our archive for week number nine.

Check back regularly through the weekend for updated material.

Thursday, August 20

Montreal Alouettes 23 at British Columbia Lions 13
20,977

Game Preview


-- Alouettes admit they have a curse to break in B. C.
-- Lions eye Shaq attack for big boost


Game Reviews:

CFL. ca Game Wrap
CFL. ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, August 21 

Hamilton Tiger Cats 49 at Edmonton Eskimos 20

28,858

Game Preview

-- Ticats look to solve the riddle of the road
-- No David in this Esks vs. Ti-Cats matchup, both defences are Goliaths


Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca  Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, August 22

Calgary 34 at Saskatchewan 31
33,427

Game Preview

-- Dickenson set to enter Hall
-- Riders' defence is looking to force the issue

Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, August 23

Ottawa RedBlacks 24 at Toronto Argonauts 30
14,748

Game Preview

-- Twenty-point plan: What the Redblacks must do to beat the Argos
-- Argos stayed afloat in Swayze Waters' absence


Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

CFL Top Performers, Week Eight

Bo Levi Mitchell became something of a nightmare for the Ottawa RedBlacks last weekend, as the Stampeder QB had a remarkable night in the Stamps thrashing of the visitors from the east.  On the night Mitchell completed 17 of 25 passes for 248 yards and a pair of aerial TD's.  Not content to let his arm do all the work, Mitchell also scrambled for two more major scores, all of which provided more than enough evidence of the forensic audit of the Stamps victory, making Mitchell's selection as Top performer a pretty easy exercise on the week.

On any other weekend, the work of Zach Collaros probably would have found his name atop the Top Peformers' Listings, as it was, the TiCats QB would have to settle for second place, but a well earned second throwing for a total of four TD's as the Cats destroyed the BC Lions secondary during the course of the sixty minutes at Tim Horton's Field. By the time Collaros would finally give his arm a rest he had collected a total of 290 passing yards on 19 out of 23 passes

Such was the total control of the Lions by the TiCats that Hamilton found itself double winners for the Top Performers of Week eight, third place was secured by the Cats Eric Norwood as the Defensive End forced a fumble for a TD to keep a wave of scoring by Hamilton going strong. When he wasn't scooping up a fumble or delivering punishing hits, Norwood was making for a pretty lousy night for the Lions Travis Lulay, frequently in his face, shutting down running lanes and rushing the Lions plays on a regular basis.

No results from the fan voting for week number seven have been released as of yet.

The CFL's Shaw Top Performers for Week Three 

1st -- Bo Levi Mitchell -- QB -- Calgary Stampeders -- 100 points

2nd -- Zach Collaros -- QB -- Hamilton Tiger Cats -- 50 Points

3rd --  Eric Norwood -- DE -- Hamilton Tiger Cats  -- 25 points

Fan Vote -- Emmanuel Davis -- DB -- Hamilton Tiger Cats --10 Points


CFL.ca review of the Players of the Week


Twelve Men on the Field Archive of the Shaw Top Performers Listings for the 2014 season

CFL Week Eight

The only certainty heading into week eight of the CFL season is that the Saskatchewan Roughriders at least will have a good week, with the Riders holding the bye and a chance to regroup after their horrid launch of the 2015 campaign.

After that, all bets are off for the most part, as we kick off the week in Montreal on Thursday as the Eskimos, who have had a strong start to 2015 look to keep the Als on a losing skid that numbers two heading into week eight action.

Friday night takes the Argonauts into Winnipeg, where the Bombers find themselves in a familiar spot, with starter Drew Willy out for at least six weeks, leaving the offence to the understudies once again, with indications suggesting that the ball gets tossed to Robert Marve who will get his first career start at Investors Group Field.

Saturday delivers a double-header of CFL action, the BC Lions have the daunting task of trying to hand the Hamilton Tiger Cats their first loss at Tim Horton's field, the Cats have been monsters at home, rattling off the wins and inflicting some serious damage on competing teams, making any trip into the Hammer the kind of road trip that courts much in the way of trepidation.

Week eight wraps in Calgary, with the Ottawa RedBlacks who have made some significant progress in year two heading to McMahon Stadium for the Saturday night cap.  The RedBlacks will be looking to show that their home town victory over the Stamps was not the thing of fluke, while Calgary, well rested after their bye week of the last seven days will be anxious to knock the easterners down a peg from their current lofty heights of the CFL East.

Below our archive for week number eight.

Check back regularly through the weekend for updated material.

Thursday, August 13

Edmonton Eskimos 15 at Montreal Alouettes 12
21,170 

Game Preview


Eskimos overhaul road trip game plan
Alouettes hoping rookie QB Cato hasn't already reached his plateau

Game Reviews:

CFL. ca Game Wrap
CFL. ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, August 14 

Toronto Argonauts 27 at Winnipeg Blue Bombers 20

 27,246 

Game Preview

Argos running back Chad Kackert appears set to return
Bombers fans pile on coaches

Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca  Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, August 15

British Columbia Lions 22 at Hamilton Tiger Cats 52
24,110 (TSN)

Game Preview

Ticats ready for the running of the Lions

Lions' dilemma: To kick or not kick to the Ticats' ace return man

Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, August 15

Ottawa RedBlacks 3 at Calgary Stampeders 48
27,566 (TSN)

Game Preview

Calgary Stampeders running back Matt Walter wants the football
Marcus Henry to make 2015 debut as Redblacks face Stamps

Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

CFL Top Performers, Week Seven

Drew Willy factored into the notices of top performers this week, with the delivery of the fan vote from week six which selected the Winnipeg QB as the fan's choice for his efforts of two weeks ago, though we suspect Mr. Willy would trade those accolades in for a trip back into the time machine for week seven, which saw the Bombers pivot sidelined for at least the next six weeks.

Beyond the fan recognition of a job well done for the last week of July, Week Seven's selections take a defensive shift as the Shaw Top Performer's panel went to the defensive side of the ball two out of three times for the week just passed.

The punishing play of the Tiger Cat defensive unite was highlighted with the selection of Emanuel Davis as the Top Performer of the week, Davis had a quite remarkable game as the Cats knocked off (and out) the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, among the highlight reel work, four tackles, to picks returned for touchdowns and a pass knockdown were key to the Cats victory.

BC Lions Andrew Harris broke the defensive domination on the week, taking second spot on a strong offensive display in the Lions last minute comeback over the Eskimos one week ago. Harris had 175 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns as part of that fascinating finale to the Thursday night match up, while on the ground he rushed 20 times for 118 yards and one touchdown.

Ottawa's victory over the Als on Friday Night Football once again served up the defensive side for recognition with the RedBlacks Defensive Lineman Keith Shologan making a name for himself with five tackles, three sacks and some serious shut down football on the offensive plans of the Als Rakeem Cato.

No results from the fan voting for week number seven have been released as of yet.

The CFL's Shaw Top Performers for Week Three 

1st -- Emanuel Davis -- DB -- Hamilton Tiger Cats -- 100 points

2nd -- Andrew Harris -- RB -- British Columbia Lions -- 50 Points

3rd --  Keith Shologan -- DL -- Ottawa RedBlacks  -- 25 points

Fan Vote -- Emmanuel Davis -- DB -- Hamilton Tiger Cats 10 Points


CFL.ca review of the Players of the Week


Twelve Men on the Field Archive of the Shaw Top Performers Listings for the 2014 season

CFL Week Seven

The top team in the CFL kicks off week seven of the 2015 season looking to add to its West division numbers against a familiar rival and a team that is still trying to find its way five games in.

The Edmonton Eskimos will take their 4 and1 record into Vancouver tonight, once again no doubt counting on  a league leading defence to shut down any thoughts the Lions might have of knocking the Esks off their perch.

So far over their five games, the Eskimos have surrendered but 63 points on defence, as good an indication as there can be as to how they have launched their streak of four consecutive wins after a week one loss.

The Lions with a 2 and 3 recored are still trying to sort out some of the new pieces on offence, while the Defensive unit tries to hold the fort until the scoreboard turns in their favour.

Friday night brings a new test for the Ottawa RedBlacks as their rivals from down the road in Montreal make the trek into TD Place Stadium at Lansdowne Park.  The RedBlacks will be a well rested group coming off the bye week, having opened a few eyes in week five when they edged the defending Grey Cup champs from Calgary.

Montreal was on the losing end of a Calgary match up last weekend dropping a hard fought contest by just three points, a loss that dropped them into fourth spot in the suddenly quite competitive eastern division.  An Ottawa win on Friday would propel the RedBlacks temporarily back to the top of the division, while an Als victory would make for quite the bottleneck between first and fourth to this point.

The Eskimos on the other hand are playing with some renewed confidence after a convincing trouncing of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last week, a successful evening that launched them into top spot of the CFL West.

Saturday night features the struggling Saskatchewan Roughriders seeking their first victory of the year as the Riders head into Toronto, a game which will mark the first home game of the year for the Argos in front of a home town crowd.  With a range of stadium commitments through June and July the Argos found themselves on a legendary road trip, with even a home game of week one destined for the tree lines of northern Alberta in Fort McMurray.

Still despite the disadvantage of a home routine, the Argos did quite well for themselves while on the road, securing a 3 and 2 record over their first five appearances this year.

The week wraps up on Sunday, with another chance for the Hamilton Tiger Cats to pack Tim Horton's Field as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers come to town.

Playing in the Hammer has never been an easy thing for visiting squads dating back to the early days of Civic Stadium/Ivor Wynne.  And while the hometown fans have some creature comforts in their new digs, the snarling football mad gathering continues to make a visit into Hamilton a fairly unpleasant three hours or so.

Winnipeg will be looking to break the 500 mark on Sunday, having had some impressive games over the first six weeks of the season, leaving points on the board in a couple with only one real stinker of note since the season started.

The bad news is that stinker was against the Cats during the Bombers week two match up, making this weekend a chance for bit of payback for the rough times in their own yard.

Below our archive for week number seven.

Check back regularly through the weekend for updated material.

Thursday, August 6

Edmonton Eskimos 23 at British Columbia Lions 26
20,316 

Game Preview

Lions quarterback Travis Lulay finds his drive from within
Eskimos look to keep defences guessing with unexpected plays

Game Reviews:

CFL. ca Game Wrap
CFL. ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, August 7 

Montreal Alouettes 23 at Ottawa RedBlacks 26

24,427 (TSN)

Game Preview

CFL debut of Alouettes' Sam is close at hand
Aston Whiteside makes great first impression with RedBlacks

Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca  Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, August 8

Saskatchewan Roughriders 26 at Toronto Argonauts 30
20,642 

Game Preview

Argos finally begin their Dome stretch

Riders out to snap streak in Toronto

Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, August 9

Winnipeg Blue Bombers 8 at Hamilton Tiger Cats 38
24,068

Game Preview

Bombers hope to end Ticats' home undefeated streak
Ticats ready to defend their field of fun against Bombers

Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

CFL Top Permformers: Week Six

A big game for Winnipeg's Drew Willy, propelled the Bombers QB towards the top of the listings for the year when it comes to the Shaw CFL Top Performers.

Willy's work against the BC Lions last Thursday night, left the BC Lions wondering what had happened in their appearance at Investors Group Stadium, by the final gun Willy had completed 17 of 25 passes, or 269 yards and two touchdowns.

The full day at the office for the Bombers QB provided him with 100 points for his efforts adding on to Willy's totals on the year. However, despite a strong week six performance, Willy is still looking up the standings in the push for first overall.

With the Monthly awards handed out last week, the Bombers QB still trails Toronto's Trevor Harris and Montreal's Rakeem Cato in the overall leaderboard numbers for 2015.

Week six also focused on the other side of the ball with the defensive unit of the Edmonton Eskimos gets its due this week, with the selection of Patrick Watkins as the 2nd place finisher. Watkins was key to the Green and Gold's defensive work on Friday night as the Eskimos shut down the Riders in their dominating 30-5 victory.

Marquay McDaniel's receiving stats helped move more than yardage, as the Stamps SB  caught 7 passes for 126 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Stamps 25-22 victory over the Als. His dominant play of Saturday night helped secure the third spot from the Top Three listings for the week.

The CFL's Shaw Top Performers for Week Three 

1st -- Drew Willy -- QB -- Winnipeg Blue Bombers -- 100 points

2nd -- Patrick Watkins -- DB -- Edmonton Eskimos -- 50 Points

3rd --  Marquay McDaniel -- SB -- Calgary Stampeders  -- 25 points

Fan Vote -- Drew Willy -- QB -- Winnipeg Blue Bombers 10 Points


CFL.ca review of the Players of the Week


Twelve Men on the Field Archive of the Shaw Top Performers Listings for the 2014 season